The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-07-03
Clusters Men Had Presentiment They
Would Not Survive Indiam Conflict
After Most Tragic Event
in Montana's History,
Wives of Massacred
Soldiers Agreed Never
to Remarry; Pact Was
Kept by Some.

Sixty years ago, on June rs. 1876,
the most swiftly tragic event in
Montana's history Occurred|he
humiliation of Gen: George Arm
strong Custer and five companies
of the Seventh cavalry in h bat
tie of the Little Big Horn. The fol-
lowing article attempts to present
come little known sidelights on the
battle, events leading up to 1t and
its aftermath.
Clusters comrades of impending doom.
One came on the morning OF May II,
1875. when the Seventh cavalry rode
westward from Fort Abraham Lincoln
on its campaign against the Sioux.
It was a sitting morning. Mist rose
from the prairie. AS the smart reglnent
faded from view, n watcher among
those left behind at the tort crleo oue
and the others saw a mirage mt nan
the distant regiment from the earth.
Nearly half the regiment died on the
Little Big Horn six weeks later.
A presentiment of disaster was felt
by most of Clusters officers as carry
as June 81, four days before the iatal
encounter with the Sioux and Chey-
enne. Gen. E. S. Godfrey, in his &C
count of events before the battle, pub
lished in the Century Magazine IN
1892, wrote: r
Wills: others gave verbal Instructions
as to the disposition Of personal prop
erty and distribution OF mementoe IS
They seemed to have a presentlment Oh
their fate"
At noon June "a, as Custer halted on
the march from the Rosebud to the Llt-
tie Big Horn, he summoned MS OIL
GERS. They gathered around ms sta.a
flag. After Custer warned ms oIIlcers
to use utmost caution, as the !ndlan
trail indicated a large number OF nos
tiles to the west. he dismissed them;
AS Godfrey started to leave, the Wlno
blew over Clusters headquarters nag.
It fell toward the rear: Godfrey re-
-aanted it. It again teH-toWard me
-; He picked IT up sss y a : SAGE eee
brush. It stood this time but later some
of those who had seen it fall twice;
pointing toward the rear, remembered
this augury of doom. .-;+,
Godfrey, of course, was not WIN
Clusters force in the fatal battle, having
been sent with the detachments OF Zen
and Benteen.
Mystery, human interest, drama
these abound in the post mortem exam
nations: L..
Jack Victory, colorbearer. said to
have been the most handsome trooper
in the regiment, WdS 1Ou11u d1GCt eAiC
fight with his right arm cut of at
the shoulder. The colors had dlsap,,
peared. It is believed the Indians found
It impossible to wrench the staff from
his grasp and amputated his arm 10
get the flag.
Mrs. George A. Custer, the generals
widow, never visited the battlefield. Al
attempts to have her attend the battle
anniversary ~observances were futile.
She lived, until her death a few years
ago, at Bronxville, N. Y. 49,,
After the fight, wives OF the siam
soldiers agreed never to remarry. Some
kept the pact. .
Comanche, the mount of Captain
Myles Keogh, was the sole survivor.
Comanche was found by the rescue
party two days after the battle, badly
wounded. He was carefully nursed by
Reno's men and transferred to Lincoln,
Neb., thence to Fort Riley, Kan, where
he spent the remainder of his life.
Saddied but unridden, Comanche par
ticipated in every formal parade OF the
Seventh cavalry during the later years
of his life. After his death his skin was
mounted and placed in the basement OF
the natural science building at the
University of Kansas. Lawrence.
Bodies of all the officers except one
Lieut.. John J.. Crittenden-were re-
moved from the battlefield. Cr1ttenden