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RonH
Private
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 Posted - July 19 2005 : 7:17:42 PM
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Years ago, I read a book based on Peter Thompson's account of the LBH battle. He describes how his horse went lame and he and another soldier named Watson who had the same problem with his mount wandered around until they ended up on Reno hill. Thompson described watching Custer's battalion get slaughtered, and many other episodes which are very hard to believe. It's been over 20 years since I read this book, and I cannot now recall many of the things he described, but it read like fiction. Has anyone else read his account?, or where I can obtain a copy of his narrative? I think I borrowed that copy from a library. Like I say, it's been a long time but I remember it was an interesting read.
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joseph wiggs
Brigadier General
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Posted - July 19 2005 : 9:59:23 PM
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| RonH, Peter was there, Crow scouts reported seeing a soldier attempting to get his fallen mount up. Peter survived the battle. To my knowledge, those are the only confirmed facts Regarding Mr. Thompson's story. I have not had the opportunity to read his book as yet. I bet his narrative was interesting. |
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movingrobewoman
Lt. Colonel
USA
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Posted - July 19 2005 : 10:10:46 PM
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Ron--
A friend of mine is an expert regarding Peter Thompson's story and has researched his writings concerning LBH. I had the opportunity to meet PT's granddaughter and great-granddaughter last year. If you would like to get in contact with him, just private message me through this board.
Hoka hey!
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movingrobe |
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dave
Captain
Australia
Status: offline |
Posted - July 20 2005 : 02:25:56 AM
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I find it slightly curious that more hasn't been made of Thompson's testimony - I guess it must have been outlandish to say the least, given the general lack of commentary on it.
If anyone is feeling in a particularly generous mood I would be very interested in hearing what Thompson had to say.
Did Pvt. Watson or any of the other stragglers leave any supporting statements? |
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wILD I
Brigadier General
Ireland
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Posted - July 20 2005 : 04:27:31 AM
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I believe that Thompson was awarded the medal of honour for being a member of the water party.
It is rather amusing that Theodore Goldin who also was awarded the MoH for claiming [now generally accepted as false]to be a member of that party discounts Thompson's story.
One is left wondering was there ever a water party. |
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wILD I
Brigadier General
Ireland
Status: offline |
Posted - July 20 2005 : 08:35:15 AM
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Further
I think Goldin told a similar story to Thompson's.Did he not claim to be the last messenger from Custer leaving the doomed command just in time and then joining up with Reno.
Just to look at Thompson's story.-----
Assuming he drops out near MTC [he claims he saw the start of the action]and heads back along the trail in the direction of Reno. The time would be approx 4pm.with a broken down horse it would have taken him an hour to cover the two miles back to Reno's position.So from 4pm to 5pm he is out on that trail which would have been by this time swarming with Indians leaving Reno to attack Custer.Remember that Martin had been fired at and his horse wounded on this trail and Sergeant Butler [who I have always believed to be the last messenger from Keogh]was killed on it.So our hero survives and joins up with Reno about 5pm just as they set out for Weir Point.Does he report to anyone?No.Does he inform Reno/Benteen as to the whereabouts of Custer?No.If he did in fact drop out I feel it was much earlier probably just after the command divided so he linked up with Reno from the South a much safer direction.
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movingrobewoman
Lt. Colonel
USA
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Posted - July 20 2005 : 10:11:06 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by wILD I
I believe that Thompson was awarded the medal of honour for being a member of the water party.
It is rather amusing that Theodore Goldin who also was awarded the MoH for claiming [now generally accepted as false]to be a member of that party discounts Thompson's story.
One is left wondering was there ever a water party.
You're quite right, wILD. Thompson was awarded the MOH for being a member of the water carriers' party.
Regards, |
movingrobe |
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RonH
Private
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Posted - July 20 2005 : 10:37:33 AM
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| In his narrative, Thompson describes watching the Custer battle with Watson, and as the indians encircle Custer on horseback, scenes from They died with their boots on, Watson shocks Thompson by proclaiming that he believes the "7th is going to be whippped". His narrative is full of nonsence like this. But as I say, it was in the early 80's that I read it and would like to read it again before I comment on very much of what I remember about it...Indians on rafts, Crows capturing Sioux women and dragging them by the hair are things I recollect. |
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joseph wiggs
Brigadier General
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Posted - July 24 2005 : 8:56:40 PM
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Interestingly enough, all that Thompson said may not have been nonsense. Your last line, "Crows capturing Sioux women and dragging them by the hair are things I recollect" stirred a reminder in me of an incident reported in The Arikara Narrative. A member of the Arikara scouts, or "Rees" as they were better known,relays the following:
With Little Sioux there was Red Star, Strikes Two, and Boy Chief. As they stood there together looking across the river they saw at the foot of the ridge three women and two children coming across the flat and hurrying along as best they could, on a slant towards the river. Little Sioux fired twice at them and so did Red Star. Then all four of the scouts rode through the timber toward the river to kill them." The narrator goes on to say that they were suddenly distracted by their observance of a Sioux, pony herd and pursued the animals instead, thereby sparing their original prey. Or did they?
According to the Bismark Tribune of July 7, 1876, ten women were found slain in a ravinescouts.,"evidently the the work of Ree or Crow "
According to the Scout Herenden, "our men did not kill any squaws, but the Ree Indian scouts did. The bodies of six squaws were found in a little ravine."
MovingRobeWoman corroborated these deaths as having occurred during the open phrase of the battle. Ree or Crow, six women or ten, children or no children dead, who knows. What is important that while Thompson may have been guilty of exaggerations, there remains a kernel of truth to his story. I think I'll go out and get a copy of this book myself, I've never read it. |
Edited by - joseph wiggs on July 24 2005 9:02:31 PM |
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joseph wiggs
Brigadier General
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Posted - August 02 2005 : 8:54:41 PM
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| Absolutely interesting point Paul. Other than a reference , by an Indian witness, that Isaiah DORMAN actually shot a warrior, there appears to be an extraordinary minimum amount of references addressing specific soldiers shooting Indians. This makes one wonder, does it not? |
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Thompson's Narrative
