I am reminded that on this day in 1876, General Terry entered the Little Bighorn valley and found the spot where Custer was defeated. Several miles awa he found the remnants of the 7th Cavalry, where Reno and Benteen had mounted a defense and successfully repelled subsequent attacks.
Every cavalry officer since then has come to look at the decisions made and have come to their own conclusions. My conclusion is that several officers were wrongly judged and that one of the true heroes of that battle was an Army contract surgeon, Dr. Porter , who established an aid station on Reno hill and saved many lives.
Now, if you will excuse me, I have a project to complete.
1 comment:
A lesser hero was Capt. Marsh who has his steamboat moored at the mouth of the Little Big Horn River. He took the wounded from the battle aboard, then made the fastest passage ever down the Big Horn River to the Yellowstone River. Then down the falling waters of the Yellowstone to the treacherous Missouri River down to Bismack (in what is now ND) bringing them and the news of the battle.
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