The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-01-16
PAY new HONOR
TO FAMOUS OLD
CUSTER HORSE
Comanche, Ridden Into Fatal
Battle by a Private, Only Liv-
ing Thing Left by Indians
REMAINS OF ANIMAL TO
LIE By CUSTER SHAFT
For l6 Years He Was Neither
Saddled Nor Bridled, But Ac-
companied Old Company

SHERIDAN. wyo, Jan 1-.-Coman-
che. the famous old horse which es-
capped humiliation at the hands OF
the Sioux Indians at the massacre OF
the Little Big Horn In 1875. is soon
70 receive a military burial beside the
Custer monument where are buried
the bones OF all the soldiers killed In
the battle.
The Custer battlefield Is just across
the state ftne from Sheridan, and at
cording to reports at Fort Mckenzie,
arrangements are being made TO dis
inter the bones OF the horse from
where they now rest at old Fort Lin
coin, and TO have them reburied close
to the monument
Comanche was ridden In the battle
by Private Miles Keogh, Two days
later. when relief came, he was stand
ing on the battlefield, head down,
wounded in six places every one
a desperate wound. Around him were
dead men and horses and at his feet
was his dead master He was the only
living thing on the battlefield. Every
man Of Clusters command was there;
all but two had been scalped. One
was yellow Hair" Custer, the other
was soldier who Rad saved hts last
bullet for his own heart, and as no
indian would so much as touch a sui
eide, his body was neither scalped nor
mutilated.
Old Comanche was carried almost
bodily down TO the Little Big Horn
River and his wounds bathed and
bandaged. At first it was thought
necessary to shoot him. but the sol
diers begged so hard the colonel gave
permission that they might make an
effort to save his life. His master,
Keogh. was buried with the other
dead soldiers. and when the relief
boat came down the Yellowstone, II
carried Comanche.
The horse was taken in charge by
other troops OF the Seventh Caval.
ry and nursed back to health Gen.
Sturgis then issued an order that
Comanche should not be ridden again.
IL was ordered that he never again be
harnessed, never know the sting OF a
spur, never feel rein upon his neck.
His rations should be the full measure
OF those OF a cavalry horse and he
was 10 be given a special stable in
which no other horse should be kept
Furthermore, at regimental forma-
lions Comanche was ordered draped
In mourning and led by one OF the
men OF Troop |, Seventh Cavalry
Wherever the regiment went Conan
che was to GO The Seventh was the
Custer regiment.
This order was carried out literally
and specifically, and for sixteen years
old Comanche was the idol OF his reg
iment. From post TO post the Seventh
cavalry went; the organization was
stationed at practically every fort
west OF the Mississippi And at every
one OF these stations Comanche was
the guest OF honor Because OF their
pride In the old horse, Troop |. be-
came the crack" company of the reei-
ment. Comanche grew fat and lazy
with years OF ldleness and little ex-
ercise.
Sixteen years after the Custer bat
tie, Troop I, of the Seventh was back
at Fort Lincoln where Comanche had
recuperated and recovered from his
desperate wounds. One day he refused
10 eat his oats. There was consterna-
ton in the regiment. The veterinary
was called. The regimental surgeon
offered his services also. The next day
Comanche died and the entire regi-
ment went into mourning The old
horse was buried with full military
honors and volley was fred over his
grave.
After the Custer battle, the Sioux
fed to Canada. where they remained
several years. Then they made peace
with the government, came TO South
Dakota, and we're settled upon reser-
vations.
Today. Comanche is simply a tradi-
ton in Troop l. All his old friends
have been retired, or pensioned or
buried Some time ago it was decided
20 have his bones transferred to the
Custer battlefield and there reburied
near the monument But the Custer
battlefield is a national cemetery and
is under the direction of the war de-
partment.
Advices at Fort Mckenzie are that
permission OF the department has now
been secured and the transfer will be
made shortly. Troopers OF Company
will be detailed To give old Conan
che another, and final burial.