Never heard of Mark Kellogg? Well, you should: he was the New York Herald reporter who perished with Custer and the Seventh Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. He deserves to be honored in the same breath with Ernie Pyle and all the other war correspondents who died in battle.
One of his last dispatches described Custer thus:
And now a word for the most peculiar genius in the army, a man of strong impulses, of great hearted friendships and bitter enmities, of quick, nervous temperament, undaunted courage, will and determination; a man possessing electrical mental capacity and of iron frame and constitution; a brave, faithful, gallant soldier, who has warm friends and bitter enemies; the hardest rider, the greatest pusher, with the most untiring vigilance, overcoming seeming impossibilities, and with an ambition to succeed in all things he undertakes; a man to do right, as he construes the right, in every case; one respected and beloved by his followers, who would freely follow him into the “jaws of hell.” Of Lieutenant Colonel G. A. Custer I am now writing. Do not think I am overdrawing the picture. The pen picture is true to life, and is drawn not only from actual observation, but from an experience that cannot mislead me.
Four days later, they were all dead.
If you’re a Custerologist — or even if you’re not — be sure to check out Nathaniel Philbrick’s riveting new book, The Last Stand. You won’t be sorry.
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Try to imagine a modern reporter writing about a military man like that… and try not to laugh while you're doing it.
I stopped at the battlefield at the Little Big Horn and it was fascinating. Markers where the soldiers had died, scattered about. Custer's fringed leather jacket on display — probably just a size 34 slim.
He was no doubt much bigger than life and a colorful character for sure.
.
You would never, ever see the current press write about a military man like this reporter did for Custer.
There are two sides to every story.
Sometimes, the truth lies in the middle.
I won't get off on a rant about Custer. My opinions are too strong regarding that topic.
When I first heard about another Custer book, I thought, good God, what is there left to say? But Philbrick wrote it, and that means it's good reading.
I'm not a "Custerologist," but I will tell you that anybody who has even the slightest interest in Custer and the Sioux and/or Mount Rushmore (there is a connection which I won't get into here), get Dan Simmons' recently published novel, "Black Hills."
To paraphrase somebody or other, historians (Philbrick) tell you what happened; novelists tell you how it felt. Simmons brilliantly recreates two historical events: the Custer affair and the carving of Mt. Rushmore, and links them seamlessly.
Remember, Custer had a plan, too.
Yes. He did.
His plan was to exterminate Indians, reclaim his status and honor, and run for President.
The Sioux did America a favor, by cutting short those plans.
Definitely not an Ike like General (Brevet)
Don't know much about Custer
'cept I know for sure he distained "Arrow Shirts"…..
Someone was gonna say it….sorry…
Sadly I reply, I'm sure it is our loss, CL.
He subscribed to General Phillip Sheridan's Indian Policy.
"The only good Indian, is a dead Indian."
Nah.
In the scheme of things, my rants and opinions aren't that relevant. My family has been here for a long time. It is twisted, and conflicted. I have many good friends and relatives, whose ancestors fought against Custer; just as I have kinfolk who fought on both sides of the Civil War. Sometimes, it is hard to decide what to feel and believe.
Whatever they are, I urge you to read Philbrick's magnificent book, along with — of course — Connell's "Son of the Morning Star." One of the things you'll learn from Philbrick is that Custer's brother Tom is the only man to win two Medals of Honor in battle (in the Civil War). Whatever else you can say about the Custers — and Custer died along with his brothers Boston and Tom, his brother-in-law and his nephew, Autie — they were stone brave.
Yup^…
That, in fact, was not his plan. His plan was to win glory on the field of battle, return east in time for the Democrat convention and hope to win his party's nomination for President in 1876; Sitting Bull, Inkpaduta and Crazy Horse had other plans.
But Custer's mission was to bring Sitting Bull onto the reservation — a mission he hoped to accomplish by repeating his tactics at the Washita by corralling the women and ponies and forcing the braves to surrender.
Oops.
"By the time this reaches you we would have met and fought the red devils, with what result remains to be seen. I go with Custer and will be at the death."
That is all I needed to read, I'm quite sure the man resides in the same place as his Idol Custer and the great Andrew 'trail of tears' Jackson….
May they all remain in Hell forever…..
" In the scheme of things, my rants and opinions aren't that relevant."
Well sir, I guess that reply could be used by any of us on just about any subject, when you get down
to the nut-cuttin'. I regretfully respect your choice to abstain.
.
Last words: "Where did all those f**king indians come from?"
That, in fact, was not his plan. His plan was to win glory on the field of battle, return east in time for the Democrat convention and hope to win his party's nomination for President in 1876
Yup and of course if you want to make an omlette, you have to break a few eggs…….
The massacre at Little Bighorn was payback for Sand Creek a few years before…
I respect your opinions Mr. Walsh.
I have read "Son of the Morning Star" and am halfway through "The Last Stand" as we speak. I am a very open minded person. I read everything, with an open mind, and force myself to stretch my mind, on a daily basis.
I have an "Uncle" who has adopted me. He lives on the Rez in Mission, SD. He is Sioux. His Great-Grandfather was from Scotland, and was a Scout for Custer. He quit Custer, 8 days before the battle. He said Custer would "get us all killed". I have another close friend who is Crow. He owns the ranch in Montana at the bottom of Medicine Tail Coulee, where Custer fell. That is only about 30 miles from me, as the crow flies. I have another good friend, who is Northern Cheyenne. The Cheyenne never talk about who killed Custer, because with the racism through the years, they fear retribution. These men are all in their 70's, and I rodeoed with them, as a boy.
My earlier statement that there are two sides to every story, and the truth lies in the middle? it might be erroneous. I just named the Sioux, the Crow, the northern Cheyenne, and of course the whites, makes four sides to this argument.
Your last statement that they were stone brave? I admit that is so. Custer was a zealot however, and could certainly motivate his followers. (A phenomenon that is an everyday occurrence is some religions).
As a half-assed military historian, I eat this stuff up.
After reading every single word on this thread…. I conclude…. There will never be peace in the Middle East.
Sorry Cowboy Logic, that is not completely accurate. Custer admired many of the Indians. (this is where we get into trouble.) There was no "Single Indian" group. Tribe fought tribe. Cherokee we so able to merge and accept the European people that they became farmers, businessmen and slave holders. As a 'group' they would most likely owned much of the eastern US (purchases not reservations) if not for the 'benign' travel arrangements of Andrew Jackson.
Custer often slept with the Indian scouts on the bases and when in the field. Custer was a mixture of the best and the worst of America, but he was NOT a subscriber of Sheridan's philosophy.
By the way, to show how the Indian thing works, when I was a Senior in Blackfoot Idaho, my church group invited Les Purce, then Student Body Vice President (and black and supposedly part Indian) spoke to us dogooder Episcopalians that we had to be more understanding of blacks, one of the high school kids ask him why the local tribe (Shoshone-Bannock) seemed to have many problems. Les's reason was '.. everyone knew, the Shoshone were the rejects kicked out of the other tribes'.
So, here we had a local college student body VP (black/red) insulting and stereotyping a local minority. At that moment, I simply considered the matter as pearls before swine and ignored the whole thing. If I could go back to that moment I would have piped up and asked him why he was such a racist.
Les later went on to head up University in Washington.
Hello my friend.
If you think this is entertainment, just wait until next week. We will discuss Picketts Charge at the battle of Gettysburg…………………
My apologies in advance for what I am about to say is off the topic here and I will be brief……
It deeply disapoints me how few people even begin to appreciate the sheer depth and breadth of the 'dividends' of Manifest Destiny….
I realise most 'public government run' schools for obvious reasons are going to teach this matter with the depth and sensitivity it deserves…but don't expect me to bite my tounge….
The information is out there for all who care to know…….
http://www.unitednativeamerica.com/hanging.html
Being part American Indian myself (First Nations, Nova Scotia), I too see both sides…
Where are the Sioux when we need them?
Thanks Bil,
I was waiting, and hoping for someone to bring that into the discussion.
Manifest Destiny, in its time, was the original concept of "Share the Wealth".
We'll see how well it'll work this time.
At home.
Drunk.
Fun fact: Custer fought valiantly at Gettysburg and was present at Lee's surrender at Appomattox, His brother, Tom Custer (who died with him at the Little Bighorn) is still the only soldier to win two Medals of Honor on the field of battle — both in the Civil War. Whatever you may think of the Custers, they were not cowards.
Custer also took an Indian mistress after the battle of the Washita, and had a son with her, Yellow Bird Custer.
Well…me too.
You are correct.
They were not cowards.
( As a footnote to history, I always wondered how much of a role cheap whiskey played in these "exploits".)
As an aside Mr. Walsh, if you really want to start some thought provoking dialogue, do some research, and write a thread on the "Fort Laramie Treaty" of 1868.
Michael
Are you aware there may be a software problem on BJ..?
My wife "SnakeEyes59" and my son "NoHalo", tell me their posts are immediately "deleted by Administrator"
upon launch…On all the other sites here, no problem…
I have informed the "Administrator" countless times, and nothing is done..
Thanks, HPD
Will look into it — Intense Debate is sometimes very finicky, but we'll get it straightened out. Please tell them to keep posting. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
That was the treaty that guaranteed the Lakotas ownership of the Black Hills, but once gold was discovered…
Lots. Reno was probably drunk during the Little Bighorn battle…
Didn't intend to sound cavalier….It was a futile attempt at humor comparing our short bout of animosity to a region embroiled in it for thousands of years.
God rest his (and all of there's) souls. I live near the Custer Battlefield and it is truly a somber place, in the middle of nowhere. What we did to the Indians may have been misguided and wrong but those were gallant men to be sure, and they died a terrible death.
Thanks Jeff
http://www.unitednativeamerica.com/aiholocaust.ht...
I can get that, CL — my sister and I used to joke that we had "ancestors on both sides of every American war except the Indian battles." That was before we started digging into our maternal line genealogy and discovered we have ancestral ties to both sides there, too. The upside to our circumstance is that it provides a reason and an opportunity to "walk in (the other's) shoes," even if just metaphorically. Once over that hill, you just can't find hatred or contempt for anyone unless they personally earn and deserve it.
Sadly, you'd never read such a glowing account of a soldier in today's news.
I visited the battlefield years ago, and I found it to be sort of haunting.
Thank you for introducing me to Mark. Kellog and his hearfelt observation. This made me want to know even more about him and Gen. Custer.
The upcoming book sounds really interesting.
If the book you mention is 1/2 as good as the Kellogg exerpt, I'll be very pleased.
Again, thanks for expanding our knowledge.
Historically, Prehistorically, biblically, legally, land belongs to whomever can take it for as long as they can hold it.
In the current struggle for control of this land, if we native americans lose, you indians will also lose.l
nice mensa boy
LOL
to think custer is a hero by murdering women and children is absurd.when custer won a great victory when he loses a massacre
You're welcome. Philbrick's book is available now.
You might also want to check out Custer's own "My Life on the Plains."
Custer and his men were United States soliders who died in the performance of their duty. We may disagree with that duty, as many have disagreed with American missions in Iraq and Vietnam, but it doesn't change the sacrifice they made. Custer never ordered a massacre and took great efforts to make peace with various tribes (which you would know if you read a history book instead of watching television). Its sad that the gurus of political-correctness continue blaming Custer for all the sins committed against the Indians. Why not try blaming the politicians (you know, those people you elect to represent you?) instead of blaming our soldiers?
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