Comanche - Why a Legend?

Born sometime around 1862 during the Civil War years, Comanche was a bay horse, about 15 hands high and 900 pounds.  He earned the name Comanche during his battle days with the Indians when his bellow from a arrow wound sounded more like the scream of Comanche warriors.  He was known for his courage and stamina as a Calvary house , seemingly able to survive on just grass and willow bark as an Indian pony would.

As Captain Myles Keough's horse, Comanche saw lots of battle experience.  He and his owner were inseparable.  Keough and Custer had a close officer relationship in the 7th Calvary.  In fact, it is said that Keough was the last to fall at the Battle of Little Big Horn. 

The legend is that Keough died holding onto the reins of his beloved Comanche.  Usually horses were taken by the victors in battle, but no Indian would claim Comanche because it was believed to be bad medicine to take a horse held by a dead man.  Over 100 - 150 horses were captured that day - the rest were put down by the returning Calvary because of serious wounds.  But Comanche, found with the Captain's saddle hanging upside down and suffering from numerous bullet and arrow wounds and unable to walk on his own, was saved. He was carefully taken to Fort Abraham Lincoln where it took a year of constant care for Comanche to recover.

After recovery, Comanche was retired from active duty and became a four-legged celebrity around the fort.  He was the only living representation of the bloody battle of Little Big Horn, so for 15 he walked in parades and lived out his life in ease.

When his second owner, Gustave Knave was killed at Wounded Knee, Comanche's health began to decline and in 1891 at nearly 30 years old, Comanche died.  But that's not the end of the story of Comanche.  The 7th Calvary wanted a permanent reminder of the regiment at Little Big Horn, so $400 was set aside for the taxidermist, and in 1893, Comanche went on exhibition at the University of Kansas, even appearing at the Chicago Expo.  He has been the subject of numerous written pieces, including a Disney movie. 

Today Comanche is still behind climate-controlled glass at the University of Kansas where you can visit him year round if you are so inclined.

Next time:  Sitting Bull - Did he really kill General Custer as some historians claim?

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Today in History:  On April 7 ,1805  the Lewis and Clark expedition departs its camp among the Mandan Indians after a long winter and resumes its journey West along the Missouri River. 

The "Legend" of General George Custer

General George Armstrong Custer's legend is romantic, glamorous, dashing and mostly arrogant and selfish.
He has one objective - a great decisive victory over the Indians.  Had he lived a long life, perhaps his legend would have more reality into his character which was ruthless and insubordinate when his own goals didn't match his superiors.  He and his entire Calvary never saw that great victory, due to his single-minded and stubborn belief that he was above any authority when it came to Indians.

In 1867, he had his first experience with the Indians in Kansas where he pursued the Sioux and Cheyenne without any orders to do so. Originally ordered to set up a fort at Sturgis, SD, once that that was done, Custer set off on his own after the Indians without any orders.

Custer had a bad reputation among Indians already by invading Indian villages and killing most of them and sending the rest off to prison. For what it is not known...He was thought to have premonitions about his own death and history records it all at the battle of Little Big Horn (called Greasy Grass by the Indians) along with all his men.

His death was sent by smoke signals as far away as Montana and was said "his grave marked a Sioux high point" Somehow Custer was given full West Point honors.

Next time...the towns of the Gold Rush.