Lot 582

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Description:

7TH CAVALRY SURVIVOR DESCRIBES THE FATE OF CUSTER'S SCOUTS
WILLIAM O. TAYLOR American cavalry soldier who served in Co. A of the 7th Cavalry, a witness to the battle of Little Big Horn as he fought under Major Reno's command. In 1917 Taylor wrote a detailed first-hand account of the battle. Fine content A.L.S., 2pp. 8vo., Orange, Ma., Mar. 14, 1922 to a man in North Dakota. In part: "...the Indians have ever been treated in a mighty bad way. I have heard of John Grass [Oglala Sioux leader] and may have seen him at Standing Rock...was Grass at Little Big Horn...the Official Report of Major Reno gives us killed "[?] Scouts Bloody Knife, Bob-Tail-Bull, and Stab, some one else calls him Little Horse...he got his information from Lieut. Varnum who had charge of the scouts...[Varnum] says he had to reports 21 [C]Rees as 'missing' when he made out his muster roll...later on they were found at Powder River, where 'he paid them off and dropped them from the Rolls'. Forked Tongue and Goose remained on the hill with Reno, Goose being wounded in the hand...I think your opinion of Curley, the Crow, is all right, and you might say the same of three more of his gang who started in with Custer and Mitch Bouyer [scout killed in the battle]. Bouyer stayed, and is there yet, the other three did not...the greater part of the Scouts went into the fight (on the bottom) on our extreme left...the [Crees]...passed near Benteen's Battalion...a badly demoralized gang with arrows still sticking in some of their horses...I am going to inclose a list of enlisted men of L Troop killed at the Little Big Horn...I shall have to 'chew' on your story about Custer's death and who killed him...". Also included is Taylor's list of the 44 enlisted men from Troop L killed at the battle, which he has also signed at conclusion. File holes affect a few words of text, paperclip stain at top, and a purple signature across text, still very good.

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September 10, 2013 11:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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