Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-05-11
Three Omens of Disaster Warned Clusters
Officers of Impending Doom 81 Years Ago

Sixty-fOur years ago, on the 10Th
Of june, 1875, the most swiftly
tragic event In MOntana's history
Occurred-Ghe humiliation Of Gen.
George Armstrong Custer and ESQ
men Of the Seventh cavalry In the
battle Of the Little Big horn.
Scores Of books and magazine ar
ticles, hundreds of newspaper fea-
ture stories, have been written
about the battle. The only excuse
for another is to present seme
sidelightS on this most dramatic
hour In the history Of our state
TO a new generation of readers.
Three omens of disaster warned
/ Clusters officers of impending doom
one as early as May II. 1876, when
! the Seventh cavalry rode bravely
westward from Fort Abraham Lincoln
on its campaign against the Sioux.
1t was a sitting morning Mist rose
from the prairie As the smart regi-
ment faded from view, one watcher
among those left behind at the fort
cried out, and the others saw mirage
lift half the distant regiment from the
earth.
A presentiment of disaster was felt
by most of Clusters officers as early
as June 81, four days before the fatal
encounter with the Sioux and Chey-
enne. Gen. E. S. Godfrey, in his story
of events before the battle, published
In the Century magazine in 1892, wrote:
Some of the officers made their
wills after an officers conference on
the evening of June %; others gave
verbal instructions as to the DISPOSE
ton of personal property and diStri-
button of mementoes. They seemed to
have a preSentiment of their fate"
And then, at noon on June "a, as
Custer halted on the march from the
Rosebud to the Big Horn, he sum-
moned his officers They gathered
around his staff flag Custer cautioned
his Officers to exercise extreme vigil
lance, as the Indian trail indicated
large number of hostiles to the west,
then he dismissed them. AS Godfrey
started to leave, the wind caused
Clusters headquarters flag to fail. It
fell toward the rear. Godfrey replanted
it. 1t again fell-toward the rear. He
picked 1t up, dug 1t into the earth
and propped it against a Sagebr1lsh.
1t stood this time, but later some of
those who had seen it fall twice re-
membered this as an augury of doom.
Godfrey, of course, was not with
Clusters force on the fatal day, having
been sent southwark with Reno's and
Benteens attachments.
Mystery, human interest, drama
NA&NCN eSCAAAA 4AA SAAN ENoS ~@AS% S~~@@ "a
aminations:
Jack Victory, colorbearer, said to
have been the handsomest man in the
entire regiment, was found. after the
fight with his right arm cut off at
the shoulder. The colors had disap-
peared. 1t is believed the Indians found
1t impossible to wrench the staff from
his grasp, and that they amputated his
arm to get the flag.
Mrs. George A. Custer, the generals
widow, never visited the battlefield.
ALI attempts to have her attend battle
observances were futile.
Until her death in New York city
several years ago. she had lived at
N. Y.
After the fight the wives Of the
slain soldiers agreed never to re-marry.
Some kept the pact.
Comanche, the mount of Capt. Myles !
Keogh, was the sole survivor. Conan
che was found by men of the rescue
party, badly wounded. He was care
fully nursed by Reno's men and trans
ferred to Lincoln, Neb., thence to Fort /
Riley. Kan, where he spent the re-
nainder Of his life. Saddled, but I'M