Re: Trooper Nathan Short

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: : : : I'm about half-way through reading Richard Fox's excellent book "Archaeology, History and Custer's Last Battle".  What an excellent book it is.  However, on page #156, the author is trying to sort out some of the field markers and also mentions that "Bodies of four of the nine men were found elsewhere(on the battlefield)".  The author goes on to say: (Trooper Nathan) Short (was probably found)miles away on Rosebud Creek".  Unless the author mentions this again toward the end of the book, there was no further reference to this Rosebud body discovery.  CAN SOMEONE PLEASE ENLIGHTEN ME. I'm EXTREMELY INTERESTED in reading more about this.  Thanks in advance.  

: : : Shorts body was found on the Rosebud in August. He was from Tom Custers C troop. Some beleive he may have been a messenger to Terry. He was identifed by his regiment number on the gear found with him. I would imagine 2 months after the battle not much was left of his body. He was found with his carbine so he had not been stripped by the hostiles. I am researching the man now, waiting on his pension records.

: : James, thanks for the reply, and I have some questions. If Short was trying to get a message to Terry, wasn't he heading  the wrong way if he was at the Rosebud?  Also, if his body was found and his carbine was still intact, wouldn't that mean that he must have been wounded elsewhere but died at the Rosebud? It seems as though he most likely was not killed there.  Also, could you please supply me with a reference source where I may read about this. As I stated, I'm very interested in this.  Thanks, John

: The Short story is hard to research. The most recent mention of it is in "Custer and Company Walter Camps notes on the Custer Fight"1995  One Camp discovered is one the men said the body was that of Oscar T Warner of C troop not Short. 4 other accounts said Short. Kanipe who never saw the body or horse said all the markings on the equipment were # 50 which was Shorts C troop number. Like I said I dont believe Short was a messenger I do think he just got wounded and broke through the lines and made it to where he died of his wounds. Im curious myself as to see if any excavation was done at the site to try to recover the remains. Short was born in Lehigh Co Penn in 1854. He enlisted in St Louis in 1875 I dont see Custer sending so a new soldier on a message run.


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