The Bismarck tribune., 1921-07-20
REVIEWS TRIP
OVER CUSTER'S | S
BATTLEFIELD
+. L. Anders, Who Was Born
At Old Fort Lincoln, Visits
Montana Fields
COULD TRACE POSITIONS

An interesting trip over the Custer
battlefield was taken by f.. l.. Anders,
Fargo engineer, who was in Bismarck
yesterday. returning from long auto
mobile journey through the west. Mr..
Anders is a student of the history OF
the Custer massacre, having partic-
ular interest in it because he was
born in old Fort Abraham Lincoln, on
the west bank Of the river south Of
Mandan, in 1875 when General Gus.
ter was in command Of the post. This
year also is the 50th anniversary OF
the first survey of the Northern Pa.
cific rail1pad line to the mouth OF
Glendive creek, and MIR. Anders' ia
tho~ was a member of the party.
Fully $4,000 people were on the bat
tlellelu OF the Little Big Horn June %
when the massacre was reproduced,
Mr.. Anders said. Thousands of Crow
and northern Sheyenne Indians were
present. He also was at the unveilling
OF the Custer monument at Hardin.
Mrs. Custer was represented by a
cousin, Mr.. Case, of st. lgouis. There
were 1S survivors OF the Seventh
cavalry who were with Reno, among|
them being Peter Thompson, of Troop
ID, who was presented with congress
sional medal of honor for volunteer
ing to 60 after water for the wound
ed, he himself being wounded.
nv Follows Old Trail
Mr.. sAnders spend four days follow
ing the trail of Clusters men from the
mouth of the Rosebud. He ended the
tour on Clusters old camp ground.
The speedometer on Mr.. Anders' car
registered mileage almost exactly
the same as that given in Gen. Cod
frey's book on the battle. Mr. Anders
also visited Reno's battle-ground. .~,
Markers have been placed on spots
where some of the heroes of the bat
tie are supposed to have fallen. They
do mot coincide in many instances
with the spots named by General God
frey, Mr.. Anders said, and pointed out
as an instance that the Keough
marker is about 900 feet from location
assigned to the position where he fell.
There are no markers on the ridge as
signed by General Godfrey as the
position Of Smiths troops. The main
line of defense, from military stand.
point. did not seem to have been 0c-
cupied, Mr.. Anders said, except inso-
far as Calhoun's troop was concern
ed. All others seemed to have fallen
into positions in ravines or similar
places that were similarly disadyant-
ageous for proper defense, he said.
The marker showing where Ser
geant Butler fell is about 600 feet
from the position assigned as the
place OF his death by Godfrey. This
also was true as regards the marker
to Lieut. Hodgson The marker show
ing the place Of death Of Charles
Reynolds, the scout, is a five.inch pipe
in an alfalfa field, he said.
Can Trace Position 80
Reno's position of defense can be
easily traced, Mr.. Anders said, by the
trenches which still exist. 1t was the
only place in the vicinity that could
be selected for the purpose, taking in.
to consideration the fact that the
command was a cavalry command,
Mr.. Anders said. One OF the ques-
tions arising from the battle is wheth.
er or not Custer tried To ford a creek
he said, and added that there is no
doubt but that the Godfrey account,
given by Indians, is correct and that
neither Custer or his command was
nearer the Ford than the ridge.
Sergt. Butler, who was killed, was the
only one within half mile OF it, And.
erS said. ..... -.
Many absurd and unusual stories
were heard about the famous Indian
fight Of 1876, Mr.. Anders said, indicat.
ing lack of study. Great interest is
felt by people in the vicinity in the
history Of the battle, he added.