The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-05-03
Story Of q Brave Horse.


has earned the reputation of caring
in the most liberal manner for all
soldiers who have in any way suf-
fered in sustaining it. The most
unique of all its warrior pensioners,
however, is the brave horse that is
the subject of this sketch.
Comanche is the only horse in
the country, probably, that leads a
life Of entire leisure and has SER
wants 10 see that he wants for moth
ing, He is fed on the choicest hay
and oats, with frequent Jumps OF
sugar to sweeten his declining days.
A recent dispatch from Col. James
Forsythe Of Fort Riley, Kansas,
where Comanche now is, says that
he is still in good condition.
Comanche first entered the gov
eminent service about twenty-five
years ago. He was cavalry horse
in Kansas. He smelt powder there
in several bloody fights between the
government troops and the Indians,
and in one of these he received a
painful though not serious wound.
Comanche was evidently a horse
intended for warfare, for his cour-
age made him great favorite at
the outset of his career. From
Kansas he went to Nebraska, and
thence to Dakota.
His present enviable condition is
due to the excellent showing he
made in the Custer massacre. His
master at that time was Captain
Keogh, one of Clusters officers, and
he had carried him through many
a desperate brush with the Indians.
At the battle of Little Big Horn,
the one in which Custer and his COM
mand were surrounded and killed
Keogh was shot early in the fight
and fell from Comanche's saddle.
1t was impossible for any Of the
soldiers or even their horses to get
through the surrounding ring of
savages. When the latter withdrew
they supposed that horses and men
were all dead. This was true of
all but Comanche. He was wounded
by many bullets and bleeding pro-
fusely, but he managed to reach a
brook, and here he was found by
Major Reno's men some time later.
He was standing in the water, look
ing mournfully over the battle
ground. His legs were swollen to
three times their normal size, and
his sufferings were so intense that
orders were given to shoot him and
his misery. The orders were re-
scinded, however, and every effort
was made to save him. He was
treated with the utmost kindness,
and slowly his wounds healed. He
was the only survivor of the terrible
fight. After his return to Dakota,
Colonel Sturgis, of the Seventh U.
S. Cavalry, issued this order
HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH U. s. CANAL
RY, Fort ABRAHAM LINCOLN, d. T.,
April 10, 1S7S.-General Orders No. 7.
1. The horse known as "Comanche,"
being the only living representative of
the bloody tragedy of the Little Big
Horn, June 20, 1875, his kind treatment
and comfort should be matter of special |
pride and solicitude on the part Of every
member of the Seventh Cavalry, to the |
end that his life be prolonged to the ut
most limit WOnndp1 and scarre1 az no |
is, his very existence speaks in terms
more eloquent than words Of the desper-
ate struggle against overwhelming num-
hers; of the hopeless conflict, and of the |
heroic manner in which all went down
that fatal day.
2. The commanding officer of Company
l will see that special and comfortable
stall is fitted up for him, and he will not
be ridden by any person whatever under
any kind of work.
3. Hereafter upon all occasions of Ger
emory (of mounted regimental forma-
tion) Comanche, sadded, bridled, dra-
ped IN mourning, and led by mounted
trooper of Company l, will be paraded
with the regiment.
Although there are many scars
on his body he does not appear to
be suffering. The orders regarding
his care are faithfully followed, and
no one is allowed to mount him.
Before going to Fort Riley he was
stationed at Fort Meade.-N.Y.Sun