WHERE CUSTER WAS SHOT Battle of the Little Big Horn. Custer was hauled up DEAD. CHIEF JOHN GRASS

Custer was among the first shot as they came down Medicine tail coulee. and its terrible that historians refuse to correct it their heads stuck in the sand.He was hauled up between horses to the area they finally found him on last stand hill. He could have had to be hauled from spot to spot maybe not all at once. The account by Chief John Grass who was there saw the first five shot immediately since they knew quite well how to spot the leaders.

When reading the John Grass account keep in mind bias and also misunderstanding of the words he used such as the name Custer. Many used the name but at the time barely a few if that knew it was Custer and John Grass being a top chief smoked the peace pipe with Custer over in the black hills. Not only MAY he have recognized the voice but also the face. He almost CERTAINLY was one of the "identifiers" of Custer as he was there even before they finished killing them. That is likely why Custer was not mutilated. In other words everything Grass said rings true both in details and by the way he comes across. In the statement he tells the interviewer the adopted son "say nothing of this till I and the others are dead" THAT RULES OUT GLORY HUNTING AND LYING.

Why have historians and Custer groups ignored him. There could be many reasons but bias is a big one most analyses coming from modern whites who will not break with the old cliches and movie images over the decades. Also the way Grass spoke the wording honestly could confuse people since he said "Custer" also I spotted that he interwove the Rosebud battle a few days before MIXING IT IN with the Custer battle. That and other details which match greatly increase the truth of what he said. He also was and described that he was in the correct spot in the camp and at the correct time to be waiting for them to come down the sloped ravine.

[H.pylori]

Strange that you should post this. I have studied the battle since high school and have been a long time member of the LBHA and the CBMHA. Visited the battlefield three times, one of which was a guided tour from a former superintendent of the battlefield. I have not been too much into Custer recently since I shifted my attention to the Hoover Dam History, and now the history of Spring Mountain Ranch. I am not that familiar with the John Grass account but it makes since. Most agree that Custer made it to the river at MTC as part of a scout to see if he could cross. At the time most of the attention of the village was focused on Reno, and according to David Miller about 5 warriors Sioux and Cheyenne were hiding behind a big log and when Custer and his scouting party stopped at the river the warriors fired, fatally wounding Custer. The troops then retreated with Custer to last stand hill. It has been stated that the chaos of the troopers was due to the fact that their leader was dead or lay dying. However, based upon the arrangement of the dead horses and the spent cartridges, the men did put up a brave fight. Even without Custer you had Tom Custer and Myles Keogh as experience leaders. It is likely that the men ran out of ammo and were overwhelmed. They were only issued 24 rounds for their 1873 SA colt revolvers and 100 rounds for the trapdoor Springfield. This is why the remaining members of E company did their suicide charge down the ravine towards the river.

I had always read that after Reno retreated, or as he put it "charged, " out of the valley and on up to Reno Hill the entire weight of the Indian forces was thrust against Custer. Of course a group of warriors stayed to contain Reno. Gall turned Custer's left flank and Crazy Horse the right flank. As you stated, Sitting Bull, way past warrior age and more of a shaman, had taken off with the women and children when the battle broke out. They were headed to the safety of the Big Horn Mountains. An Indian messenger had to go get Sitting Bull and tell him that the battle was over and the Indians had one. It was only then that he and the women and children returned.

My take in the battle is that Custer might have pulled it off if: 1. He had listened to his scouts at the Crow's Nest that morning on how big the village was 2. Had not sent Benteen off to the left to "pitch into whatever he found." This could have been done by a few scouts and Benteen should have been held close by in reserve to support either Reno or Custer. 3. The pack train with the much needed ammo should not have been left so far behind and should have been with Benteen, ready to support either Reno or Custer. 4. He had waited for 24 hours, the Indian scouts would have detected Gibbon's column coming down the Big Horn River and the village would have hastily packed up and headed for the Big Horn Mountains. However many believe that Custer attacked 24 hours before what was planned in the belief that he had been discovered (the lost tack box). 5. Lack of really good defensive terrain for cover.

Custer should have learned from his earlier experience at the Washita, but he did not. At that battle The splitting of forces led to the annihilation of Maj. Elliot's troop.

On June 25, 1876 Custer's Luck ran out! Please forgive me for this long reply.

[patrickroy]

The last man to see The General alive was Martin and other confirmed he wasnt wearing his buckin jacket in near 90 degree weather, it was tied to the back of his saddle like most others did, remember reading is fundamental Garryowen

[nickelliott]

The Native Americans at the battle all said the same thing, they had no idea who Custer was. They simply wiped out all the Calvary men they could. Most of what happened was guess work by the burial parties after the fact.

[ivannio]

Great you point to Custer being hit near Medicine Tail coulee. I use to feel alone in this theory, but it makes a lot of sense. All initiative is lost after the shooting at the ford. I cannot imagine that being the case if Custer still was unharmed. Also great you provide maps. Top stuff. Thank you. Cheers from Denmark.

[thomastammaro]

Fascinating video.
I always believed from the books and accounts I've read, that Custer was blown outta his saddle early on and his troopers upon seeing him mortally wounded lost their nerve to go forward and dragged up the hill in a retreat. His arrogance finally caught up with him. But every thing you alluded to and said makes total sense . Thank you!

[jamesivie]

Makes perfect sense. Custer liked to lead the troops in. Generally, when attacked, the Indians would make a running defense. This time the Indians stood and fought like the white man. Custer had one shot in the chest and one in the side of the head probably administered by Tom Custer to prevent him from being killed by the Indians as he lay wounded.

[Hurricaneintheroom]

It's sad when the military was used in such a bad way by the politicians. Both sides lost out.

[jimdavis]

I'm always amused that some doubt the Indians but put full trust in the White version of the story. The Indians had no reason to lie, but the propaganda of the White man never ceased.

[shaynehereim]

I live close to the battlefield and i have always believed Custer was mortally wounded at the rivers edge, the reason for this is a native account that they saw Soldier Chief(what they called Custer) on the opposite side of the river and a young brave shot and hit him, they also said that soldiers dismounted and dragged him up and formed a skirmish line just as the main body of warriors showed up after the encounter with Reno. I also know that Custer had different Caliber rifle and Pistol rounds. the only place that you find his ammo spent is across the river in a Native firing position. The last shot to Custer was probably from one of his own men or family at the very end. thanks for the video!

[kilcar]

Ive walked the battlefield. It gives a new perspective. There was so much comfustication of events by the US Armys version by the Reno and Bentern Officers, and in process not giving credit to the Troopers who gave their lives by following orders..I could see the Troopers recovering the body of their leader, and that shows additional valor itself. All who fought on both sides were valiant. Strange how those who are 150 years detached snd not there disbelieve those who survived and were there who were victors. What would the Victors( Cheyenne and Sioux) have to hain by lying? Shain, after all, They were the victors! I believe grass's account completely.

[tritontransport]

Too bad nobody will ever completely know. Everybody has their own ideas and theories of whose story is true or not and what’s fact vs hearsay

[klackon]

If, as a police officer witnessing the shooting of Custer, but not knowing at the time the victim's identity, only discovering that detail later, I would write my statement in this fashion: " I then saw a man I now know to be George Armstrong Custer." I don't suppose for a moment, that whoever recorded Chief John Grass' statement would have thought to record it that way. But had he done so, there would be far less argument about the accuracy of the account of the shooting of Custer.

[wyodutch]

Great Presentation I learned a lot. Thank You.

[herenowjal]

While recently reading -online - Indian eyewitness accounts (sic) of the Little Big Horn battle ... Custer's wounding at Medicine Tail coulee occurred with attempting to cross the river (the account described Custer (unknown at the time) fell from his horse into the river after being shot -- his wounding immediately stalled the attack across the river into the village as troopers attempted to rescue Custer) ... All actions of his men were defensive after his wounding in the river ... (Thank you for your video - btw)

[SKEptic-mgdd]

"Custer's Fall - The Native American Side Of The Story" by David Humpheys Miller Copyright 1957 spells it out in great and exciting detail what you say here. Made me go to Medicine Tail Coulee in 1973.

[mtcoiner]

Videos like this are alot of fun for me. I have lived in Montana my entire life, but, only now nearing the age of 30 have I become interested is this historic battle. I can't seem to get enough.

[richardcutt]

I think that Co E was deployed around deep ravine to give time for HQ and Co F with Custer, dead, wounded or whatever, to establish a post on the High ground of last stand Hill. Cos L and C were esrliet posted on Finley and Calhoun hills to give similar blocking. They were overrun and Co I in support was surrounded and annihilated quickly. It was a running fight from start to end with futile attempts to stand here and there. Into the jaws of death rode the 600...

[ZiaAnnouncer]

Also, it is important to note and visualize that the grass was summer tall grass and up to horses shoulders in most areas of the Custer battle area. Also there is a map drawn by Benteen of where bodies were that he spotted. It looks very little like what is present today, also suggesting MANY bodies were moved or there were attempts to move what was left of them. Another interesting marking by Benteen on his map is a good number of bodies - (may or may not have been a skirmish line? ) - in a ravine which is near the park's entrance gate. And several troopers were actually successful at fleeing the battle only to be tracked down for days by warriors and then dispatched far from the battle site.

[hughsmith]

Interesting. I have been reading about Custer for about 20 years and this is a first.

[ElkoJohn]

Much obliged for this report using the topo map.