I have seen old photos of what some tribes done to people while they were still alive and I see suicide a very real possibility.

@daryllebeau4333

Жыл бұрын

LMAO!!!! Then show those pictures. Had to been from the 1870's on back.

@NK73080

4 ай бұрын

@@daryllebeau4333 Daguerreotypes have existed since the 1840's. Photography is not as recent of an invention as some might think

@micnorton9487

4 ай бұрын

​​@@garymills562You're right,, in southwest Minnesota the Sioux went on the warpath and horribly s assaulted children and women, tortured people, cut them up, all sorts of hideous stuff... But this was after the band had been given moldy grain and rotten beef, they were basically starving and they went and tried to ask for food and were violently refused.... So in a way I agree with all the native men being killed in the ensuing military action and the entire band being marched off to South Dakota but at the same time, I can't make that recommendation without doing the same thing to the company that was supposed to supply the food, running them down and hunting them and basically giving them the same hard time they were giving the natives...... I mean isn't turnabout fair play? And the people at the Territorial government, and the people who didn't supply the food, all sorts of stuff but obviously endless vendetta gets no one anywhere and learning from the incident is what's important......

@cody7812

4 ай бұрын

@@daryllebeau4333 There were so many photos ghosted on glass from those old cameras that had the class slide in-between the tin type photo that people would buy the "useless" glass and it was so cheap that all over the country greenhouses started popping up that on each glass pane you had a picture of a solder or a bloody field hospital or the actual battle just ghost printed on the glass, after time in the sun this ghost on the glass would fade so much it would with a little age just look like a normal green house. The U.S Civil War if you do not count video is one of the most photographed wars because of the easy access for private photographers and all the newspapers and just curious observers. Photos are old old, older than people think 1816 was the first made and by the 1820's the upper classes could afford to get a sitting photo and by the 1840-50's it was so cheap the poorest of people could at least afford a family photo, by the 1860's it was super cheap note every U.S/C.S solder made a tin type for their mother or special lady.

@Truth_Teller_101

4 ай бұрын

The Blackfoot would do things like skin people alive, or tie them down and cover them with honey and then let fire ants eat them alive. With John Colter they stripped him naked and made him run for his life while they had a turkey chase with him. But no, you didn't see any pictures of it, and yes, mountain men and soldiers would unalive themselves to avoid being captured depending on the reputation of the tribe they were up against.

The first time I heard anyone say that Custer had killed himself was when I was serving in the Marine Corps in 1973 with a young Souix from Canonball, ND. He and I were close friends. His great grandfather had fought at the Little Big Horn. Chuck didn't want to tell me for a long time because he figured no causcasion would believe him because Custer was so romantizied and revered. He told me that his ancestor had witnessed the incident. That there was a small group of soilders still fighting, Custer was standing and looking as if he were in shock and disbelief. He put the pistol to his head and pulled the trigger. He was not the last man to fall, and he did not die fighting. I was stunned by the story when Chuck told me, but I could see it clearly in my mind. I tend to believe it.

@lddcavalry

11 ай бұрын

Some people will believe anything they’re told .

@bobd9868

2 ай бұрын

Wow, 1973 isn’t really that far removed time wise. And, that’s not a small detail that could get twisted over time.

@rileywhite722

23 күн бұрын

Custer kill himself ????,,nah,,,surrounded by hostiles,,,his troops totally discombobulated,,,,,scattered ,,running,,,dead,,,,only a portion of men left,,,seasoned officers and first sargents cut down,,,,the enemy remembering Washita,,,,,,,thats not Errol Flynn......could anyone blame him.......??......Anyone else wonder why Hollywood does not make a movie with all the grit and realism they now put in films?....Re-made Alamo back in 04...Seems Custer fight should be ripe....

@kathrynleaser5093

10 күн бұрын

Great story! Thanks for sharing it. 😊

@Marco90731

7 күн бұрын

He was shot through the Torso at the River , brother Tom took him up to Last Stand Hill and when the Indians closed in shot Custer through the Left Temple , neither made it to Deep Ravine. Custer's 2 Relations died there with him , a Steamboat went down the Missouri with the wounded and arrived at Ft Lincoln 3 weeks later . Many of Custer's Command Families lived there.

Good video. I really enjoyed listening to your breakdown on it. You stick to relevant topics and sources. Thank you for sharing.

This is the first time I've watched a video from this site & I want to applaud the host for presentation of the story. No hype or showboating or yelling at the camera to draw attention to himself AND distract from the story. Well done indeed!

@frontierwesternheritage1356

Жыл бұрын

George, Thank you for watching and for your kinds words. Todd

This is one of the best presentations I have seen for a historical topic. I love it. You have a new fan.

@Truth_Teller_101

4 ай бұрын

If you like milquetoast fence-sitting takes on topics that were settled a hundred and fifty years ago by historians and experts in the field, this is a great channel. The fact is the entry wound to Custer's temple was evidence enough at the time to conclude that he likely Epsteined himself (or had one of his officers do it). The channel host is correct on why it wasn't reported on, but this has been a settled mattered since the day it happened. Apparently only recently has this been dredged up because it looks like manufactured controversy generates clicks.

what a fascinating story. it is amazing how the little details can come together to reveal this story to the world. not only in terms of the article, but that you thought to create a video out of it and that different people chose to view it and take it seriously. If no one watched this video the story could very well have been forgotten.

Thank you for such a well researched video. Also, what good luck to be mailed those magazines.

I thought that I had heard just about everything regarding Custer at the Little Bighorn, but this was news to me. Although, I had always thought it odd that Custer died from a headshot in the temple. Thank you for the insightful investigation and thank you for sharing!

Great story & show. Also neat to see you have the Time-Life western series on your shelf. I have those as well and re-read them often. All the best.

GENUINELY good historical info, as well as good KZread content Subscribed!

I like your way of thinking to verify, layered and specific, very good unbiased discussion on potentials and possibles, when they all start hitting together the facts and possibles self verify it seems

Very nice gathering of historical information regarding these events. New sub...thx

I want to thank you for an extremely interesting and informative subject. Keep up the good work

I'd often thought that Custer had killed himself. The first article you read pretty much summed up my own view. And Custer wasn't the only one to do so. Nice video. Very informative and respectful.

@withcheeseproductions

4 ай бұрын

He was also shot twice in the left side of his lungs which would have killed him. Whenever they saw the headshot wound they assumed it was done afterwards. The natives said he shot himself and they also said a native stabbed him to death

@jotrutch

2 ай бұрын

He probably shot himself and order his men to shoot him just to be sure

Very interesting video; thank you for taking the time to do the research and present it! 👍

Nice Job Doc! Very Entertaining, Informative & Educational. Thanks Again. 👍

Thank you very much for making this. It is definitely food for thought.

@frontierwesternheritage1356

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching, Todd

Wonderful presentation! I live in Billings-been at the battlefield many. many times. My long-lost cousin 1st Sgt Michael Kenney, of F Troop, died right below Custer on the hill.

Very well done! Out takes are GREAT! New sub

Committing Suicide was the only good decision he made that day! Great job Todd! As a 1st grader I was fascinated by the famous painting and battle! Still am!

@jwdundon

Ай бұрын

Your ignorance is astounding!!! The Indians would not engage unless they thought they could win. Custer was told there's only a few hundred Indians so he brought a force just big enough to get them to engage but still win. In reality he was unaware how many thousands of Indians were there. Of course, I guess he wasn't an expert like you are!!!

@drewwagner4802

Ай бұрын

I agree!

This was EXCELLENT ! ! ! I'm so happy I came across your channel today, I always loved the history of the 'old West' and reading about the 'Battle of the Little Bighorn'. I often thought Custer could of taken his life with that last group of his troops. Again this was EXCELLENT ! ! !

@Idahoguy10157

Жыл бұрын

Had a well read of the Indian War military history professor. His take on the army officers of the time was refusing to be taken alive by the natives was common and accepted

@aaaaaa-uv2ig

9 сағат бұрын

@@Idahoguy10157 Did they just undress and ask to be taken?

Very interesting video, very well organized around the main three questions ... thanks 👏👏👏

Thank you so much for this. I'm from the UK but have always been fascinated by Custer and Lifeguardsman Shaw at Waterloo. This was a perfectly researched and presented video.

This was very credible information. Thanks for sharing.

This story about Custer sounds very believable, to where it took a lot of courage on your part for you to give it out to all of us!! Thank You for sharing this story with us!!! It was much appreciated, I have seen one of those thunders before, to where I do have two of those lightnings, still.

A fascinating account. Thanks for sharing. I love your collection of The Old West books by Time Life books. I only have The Indians one, fabulous book. Full set looks great on the shelves behind you.

@frontierwesternheritage1356

Жыл бұрын

I haven't read a bad one yet. Thanks for commenting, Todd

Great video I enjoyed it very much so glad I found your site 😁

I have long heard that many of Custer's men took their own lives, rather than be captured by the Sioux or Cheyenne Indians. Firstly, many of the soldiers were very young and likely never faced a foe like the one they saw that day. They were probably aware of the fate that previous prisoners faced, if captured. It's hard to blame any of these guys (including Custer) if they did commit suicide.

@JackDiamond21

Жыл бұрын

It's a story told to lessen the effects of the battle that most of the recruits were green. Less than half of them were new recruits, doesn't sound as bad of a defeat when you say only new soldiers were there. In fact most of them already had experience fighting. Custer had what 7 companies with him?? About 3 of those companies were the new guys. Very common to make your enemies victory over you look not that bad. The new recruits had experience fighting in the civil war, the older crew had experience fighting both in the civil war and the war with my people the Sioux (I'm a Dakota, related to people who were at the battle). It was also done by the people who didn't like Custer to make him look stupid. Thus his defeat was because he has new recruits with him, they just couldn't accept that Custer was beaten so easily. And they are many factors at play that gave us the win that day. A group of warriors took up a suicide pact to fight to the death. Their final suicidal charge is what broke the defenses on last stand hill. Had that not happened the battle as we know it today wouldn't look like a one sided massacre. When they broke the defenses the other warriors all hit the point that got broken and that's when the described buffalo run happened. There was violent hand to hand fighting, the attack gave the soldiers no time to reload their weapons. You have 1000+ warriors follow a suicidal attack of 24 warriors who just start doing whatever they can do kill anything. If not for that charge from the suicide warriors we would have at least half of the men on last stand hill survive.

@JackDiamond21

Жыл бұрын

Custer was not well liked by Reno, Benteen, and general Crook. They had every reason to make Custer look bad, yes it was a short and violent fight, some men managed to shoot themselves. Others fought to the very end, others made a run for deep ravine. Which 28 of these men did reach but they ended up running into more warriors. Some men were scared, but they fought like demons. It was bitch ass Reno and Benteen say that Custer and his men got beaten so easy due to green soldiers. And the mutilations it was cause the soldiers were scared, all the brave men were left alone. Yup even though they fought they will got scalped if we thought you weren't brave. Most of the men were mutilated, most of the work done by the women and children. How do I feel saying all this?? Makes me really wish things went different between our people. It feels ugly inside to know what was done to us and what we done to you. No he said she said shit, I don't care who started it first. What can we do moving forward so we don't go through some bullshit like this again? But that's some view of the battle coming from our side. And fyi Custer was shot at Fjord B under the left breast area. He was dying during the fight on last stand hill, he had to have been shot by his own people before the fight was over. Cause Custer's Cheyenne relatives found him first, they said his head was still bleeding. So he had to have been shot while still alive.

@JackDiamond21

Жыл бұрын

All this happened in a time frame of 30 mins to 45 mins, pure chaos is what happened that day. The fight was described as over as quickly as a man can eat lunch.

@dolinaj1

Жыл бұрын

Most of the 7th Calvary were foreign, non-English speaking recruits. Had Custer survived this battle, he would have been courtcourt-martialed again, for disobeying orders.

@andygossard4293

Жыл бұрын

Better than being skinned and roasted. That happened to soldiers going into Ohio the previous century including one of George Washington's friends

Saving the last round for yourself was not uncommon in situations where the enemy were well known to torture captives to death. And that was not just in North America.

@aaaaaa-uv2ig

9 сағат бұрын

Why would you bring bullet's on someone else's land in the first place?

Thanks for posting. I enjoyed it.

This was brilliant. Many thanks. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Very interesting video! I have read a lot about Custer and the events leading up to the battle of the Little Bighorn but have never heard or considered a suicide angle. You have presented a very plausible scenario and with what must have been a very daunting situation, several thousand Indian braves against a couple of hundred soldiers, knowing you were facing certain death.

@user-tv6mw8vx3w

2 ай бұрын

Out of interest how about the Zulu warriors against the British at Rorkes Drift 1879, 4000 Zulus against 150 British. There’s a 1964 film Zulu with some inaccurates, and hype, but tells the basic story well. Very watchable.

@aaaaaa-uv2ig

9 сағат бұрын

@@user-tv6mw8vx3w Attend your own zumba festival.

Everything I’ve ever read, says the wound was through the chest near the heart, not high on the shoulder… The only other wounds were the left temple shot with powder burns, punctured ears and a missing finger… At any rate “Libby” Custer would have never allowed a suicide story to gain any traction while she was alive anyway…

@donaldksiazek8404

Жыл бұрын

Your account is exactly what I have read...

@paulmicheldenverco1

4 ай бұрын

Libby would be very upset, especially if the suicide would jeopardise Custers' state of grace.

@TheJaxxJackson

4 ай бұрын

Anyone with common sense would have known the suicide story is pure hog wash.

@user-wj1xp8uo8e

3 ай бұрын

A arrow was shoved into his penis tom Custer was so mutilated all that could be identified was a tattoo on section of arm

I LOVE these kind of stories, and if you have more, it would be awesome if you made more of this kind of videos. You make a pretty convincing argument that makes sense. However, having written quite a few history research papers in college courses, i know how easily it is to write a paper to make a convincing case for a position, I've often noticed that an argument could easily be made with the available information bringing out the other side. Great video.

@wheelchairhillbilly

Жыл бұрын

Part of what makes the little bighorn battle so interesting to me, is the large amounts of claims that don't collaborate. None of the survivors had any reason to tell the whole truth, because the folks on the US side were trying to save their own hides, and plus the lack of any survivors of the last stand battle, would have made it pretty easy for the survivors to not have to defend their claims. And on the Indian side, they had every reason to gloat and they had so many differing accounts. I would love to know if the Dr ever shared more detail of exactly how he found the condition of Custer, besides the story he told, because I think it would paint a more accurate picture. He described the shoulder would as non lethal, which wouldn't make him fall from the saddle in my opinion considering the lack of power the repeating rifles the Indians were using, and I wouldn't expect it to affect a fighter of his caliber during the heat of battle from still being in charge of the battle. If he was hit right above the heart as others claimed, that theory would seem much more plausible, and I don't know the mortality of such a hit with the rifles being used, but if it would have been enough to take him out of the battle, I would certainly think that would have had to be a mortal wound, which the Doc said wasn't the case. I would give more credence to the Dr's claims because he was the expert on such things, but either way both claims can't be true. It would also be interesting to know the exact damage caused by the head wound. I might have missed it, but did he find the bullet inside the skull? Or, did it exit? From what I understand about bullet design, pointy bullets seldom penitrate in a straight line, and would probably for sure have bounced around in the skull without exiting for sure with the rimfire version, where possibly extra velocity from a center fire version could have created a different result possibly, but maybe that version wouldn't have had any more power. In any case makes me wish more info was available. Very interesting no matter what the truth is.

@frontierwesternheritage1356

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Eric, There are so many different accounts, it is impossible to know what really happened. In that kind of chaos, everyone could have a different perspective. I like your point about a convincing argument. It all sounds good until you hear a rival story and start to doubt the first story. Dr. Porter said the bullet was under the skin just outside the skull. Thanks for watching, Todd

@wheelchairhillbilly

Жыл бұрын

@@frontierwesternheritage1356 It's interesting where he found the bullet. A person could actually try a test and figure out pretty close to the actual velocity. I have no idea if research would produce accurate enough results to know if it was shot from a rimfire or a more powerful centerfire or not, but either way it would be very expensive. Yah I can't imagine the amount of dust and smoke involved, so it's not suprising people would have such different points of view. But you would think people could agree where he was previously shot, but it was probably very hot and the smell probably led most of the non dr kind of people in the early aftermath to want to hurry up and get out of there.

Nice bit of detective work Dr. Thank you.

Your thought process and methods on this are so historically sound. Start with primary sources, assess the credibility of those sources, look for confirmed examples of comparable events, and determine the overall plausibility. Fascinating thesis. You earned a sub.

@felixcat9318

Жыл бұрын

You said exactly what I wanted to say, and you said it better than I could and you said it first! I too was impressed and subscribed to this particularly impressive channel.

@brianmincher716

Жыл бұрын

He’d have been smart if he did. Getting caught by American Indians to be tortured to death is about as bad if a fate as anyone could ever face.

@MJ-we9vu

Жыл бұрын

Actually, his reasoning isn't sound at all. He didn't use primary sources. Those aren't Dr. Porter's words. It's the account Bigelow Neil claims Dr. Porter told him. While Mr. Kesner makes some effort to establish Dr. Porter's credibility, he ignores the credibility of his source, which is Bigelow Neil, not Dr. Porter. It seems unlikely to begin with that Dr. Porter would entrust this information, which couldn't be shared while Mrs. Custer was alive, with a 14-year-old boy. Also, the details of Mr. Bigelow's story are at odds with many already well-established accounts. To paraphrase Carl Sagan, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence and no extraordinary evidence is presented here. Mr. Kesner's methodology and reasoning are flawed.

@rickhancock-il7vt

Жыл бұрын

😅

@frankpienkosky5688

Жыл бұрын

@@felixcat9318 in the painting I have...Custer was holding a pistol that would match the one you mentioned...just sayin'....

"When, in the roaring charge of fierce melee, you stop a bullet clean, and the hostiles come to take your scalp, just empty your canteen...and put your pistol to your head, and go to Fiddler's Green."

Thanks for sharing your DETAIL video

great presentation and great subject matter. Well done Sir.

Fascinating story, thanks for sharing. This sparked memories of my grandfather talking about the possibility, when I was a kid growing up in the 50's. He was born around the Moscow, Idaho area in 1889 and had tons of old stories. I don't remember him having the .41 Colt piece of the puzzle. I always thought it was a fabricated story because my grandfather had a huge dislike & distrust for the US Army and white folk in general. This magazine article certainly lends some credit to the story's credibility. Thanks again for covering the topic.

@frontierwesternheritage1356

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for commenting. I am happy to hear that you recall stories from your grandfather. A lot of kids won't listen to their elders. Like you, I did and I'm better off for it. Thanks again, Todd.

@Brian-zp1df

7 ай бұрын

Supposedly it was his left temple so if he was right handed and shot in his right shoulder he might have shot himself with his left hand

My Dad owned a Colt Thunderer in 41 Colt. We weren't allowed to shoot it because ammo was no longer made for it and it was a fragile firearm easly broken. My Dad had a lot if old firearms he got me interested in shooting and reloading he was a big fan of the old west. He was born 15 Oct 1903 and a young man in the 1920s when these old guns were still in use.

@mrbreck1

Жыл бұрын

Fascinating story. What worries me is the doc said the bullet fit perfectly with the diameter of his pistol. No deformation has me worried but i know old lead bullets were very hard, had something like arsenic added to the lead as a hardening agent. Its a plausible story. On the con side skulls are hard on bullets and i dont have enough info on how those bullets would present after such a situation.

@bjmartin5225

Жыл бұрын

I’m about to turn 60 in May so as they say my race is about finished . My gran was born about 1866 after the war of yankee aggression so he did fight some N.A. In Texas and New Mexico and Arizona maybe even some places higher like Colorado Montana punching cows . I remember my dad saying he always told him in fight that always save the last one for yourself . It’s wasn’t like the silly people think with revisionist history that they could throw up their hands an surrender an the noble appoint would treat good . Chances if they did that you would of lost two important things from your body an they would have raped them as they were no longer considered a man . That’s just the way it was .

@phoradio1277

Жыл бұрын

​@@bjmartin5225 I believe the thing that gets lost to "revisionist history" as you say is that, I don't like the word savages but let's say a very non-european culture. I'm part Native American so I completely understand that you desecrated an enemy because that's how he entered the afterlife. Being deceased was not a prerequisite to gouge out eyes and chop of body parts so that he couldn't find you in "the great beyond" and exact his revenge. These "Woke" people have no concept that both sides were aggressive towards each other for a multitude of reasons but as Sherman said "War is Hell".

@grumblesa10

Жыл бұрын

Billy The Kid/Kid Antrim/William H. Bonney (your choice) had a .41 Thunderer that he kept as what would now call his CCW/back up gun.

@snappers_antique_firearms

Жыл бұрын

I have a thunderer and yeah ammo is not easy to get. If you reload its not so bad. But the 1877 being fragile. its no where near as fragile as people make it sound. The biggest problem is the trigger spring. If you just replace it with a new one. you wont have any real problems. I did a video on who fragile the action is. with all new springs i put snap caps in it and ran it over a few months. i got over 12,000 trigger pulls. the trigger spring started to fail. But its a eazy 2 min fix and the gun is still working perfectly.

Had to subscribe after watching this video! Nicely done.

Thanks for the fantastic video. Educational, very investigative and not trying to force stuff to fit a narrative. A+++

Thank You, for a very well investigated story and also a very well thought out report of your findings. I was never to keen on Custer, however I would cast no aspersions on him after reading reports on what happened to captives nor anyone in those circumstances. Thanks again for a very good video.

@d.a.2742

Жыл бұрын

Can you imagine that Porter was in possession of the bullet that felled Custer and not a murmur of this extraordinary relic escaped him or anyone else who was on that hillside when he took it? It beggars belief that if there was a shred of truth to this that our only reference to it would be a letter years later from someone who alleges he had heard it as a 14 year old boy! No, to my mind this smacks absolutely of someone who, as a youngster, most probably did listen in on a conversation regarding Custer's wounds between Porter and his family. I also have no doubt that Porter confined himself to describing the wounds which he and others observed externally upon Custer. Years later, Neal - now an adult - writes a letter describing his boyhood meeting with the LBH veteran Porter, and his description of Custer's corpse. But he can't resist embellishing his 'brush with history' by ascribing things to Porter which the latter never said anywhere else. In other words, Custer is famous history by this time - and Neal chips in with an exclusive 'new' revelation! In a way, it's akin to some of the survivors of the Benteen/Reno battalions who, as the years passed could not resist 'gilding the lily' of their actual experiences by inventing adventures or knowledge which they did not actualy have. I totally reject Neal's account of a battlefield 'post-mortem' by Porter.

@d.a.2742

Жыл бұрын

Second part of that excerpt (continued)"Can you imagine that Porter was in possession of the bullet that felled Custer and not a murmur of this extraordinary relic escaped him or anyone else who was on that hillside when he took it? It beggars belief that if there was a shred of truth to this that our only reference to it would be a letter years later from someone who alleges he had heard it as a 14 year old boy! No, to my mind this smacks absolutely of someone who, as a youngster, most probably did listen in on a conversation regarding Custer's wounds between Porter and his family. I also have no doubt that Porter confined himself to describing the wounds which he and others observed externally upon Custer. Years later, Neal - now an adult - writes a letter describing his boyhood meeting with the LBH veteran Porter, and his description of Custer's corpse. But he can't resist embellishing his 'brush with history' by ascribing things to Porter which the latter never said anywhere else. In other words, Custer is famous history by this time - and Neal chips in with an exclusive 'new' revelation! In a way, it's akin to some of the survivors of the Benteen/Reno battalions who, as the years passed could not resist 'gilding the lily' of their actual experiences by inventing adventures or knowledge which they did not actualy have. I totally reject Neal's account of a battlefield 'post-mortem' by Porter."

@andrewstevenson118

Жыл бұрын

@@d.a.2742 Yeah, I think you're right. As for the suicide theory, I think we'll never know. And it doesn't really matter anyway.

@bougeac

Жыл бұрын

I’m inclined to agree with but strongly suspect that Custers death was either from his own hand or one of his men. Tbh, under the circumstances I think I’d probably have done the same thing

@frankpienkosky5688

Жыл бұрын

for a similar scenario...I would recommend that one scene in "Ulzana's Raid"....

I've been following this moment in history most of my life and I had read before that some other troopers committed suicide that day. I enjoyed watching your insight and theory. I believe there is a lot of credibility to your thoughts on this

Excellent research and deduction. Add to this the historical facts of torture and your thesis makes perfect sense. If we could travel back in time and witness how these types of things really happened, we probably couldn't stand to watch another Hollywood production again.

Very good video with lots of info. Really enjoyed it

Nice research. Good sources. Thanks

Very interesting and informative. I tend to believe the good Doctor had no reason to lie or that Custer would have wanted to be taken alive.

Back in the 1980's I read a long article about the Army sending a detachment out to the Little Big Horn battlefield to retrieve the soldiers bodies and it mentioned that soldiers in the detachment reported that Custer's body had a powder burn on his temple. The articled posed the question as to whether Custer took his own life or one of the other soldiers shot him - not necessarily out of malice, but, because Custer may have been wounded to the point where he couldn't do it himself.

@dolinaj1

Жыл бұрын

Speculation was his brother shot GAC in the temple.

@sticksbass

Жыл бұрын

@Scandals, the Unusual & Unsolved Crimes maybe his left shoulder was shot so had to use his right.

@richarddavenport31

Жыл бұрын

According to Indians, I read that Custer was wounded in the shoulder and fell off his horse when they tried to cross the Little Bighorn river and was picked up and put back on his horse and taken to Last Stand Hill, so he may have been shot by someone else!!!!

@D60433

Жыл бұрын

That would be another source worth tracking down as it was evidence from contemporary testimony and may have leads to evidence realvent to history.

@robpolaris5002

Жыл бұрын

Same thing could happen if he was restrained and shot at close range with his gun by someone else. Shot placement, angle, powder burns, powder residue and stippling are often able to determine if it was self inflicted or not.

This is so interesting! Thank you!

Fascinating information! Thank you!

Wow, that makes sense. Never thought of it. Nothing against Custer, but he was known to be flamboyant, narcissistic to a fault and somewhat of a dandy in his attire and his looks. I could understand his not wanting to be captured and possibly tortured or even mutilated. He was probably of the opinion of what we would say today, "live fast, play hard and leave a good looking corpse!"

@aaaaaa-uv2ig

9 сағат бұрын

His prowess in the battle field was near unmatched among his peer's for his tactic's. In all of the battle field of the frontier during Mr. Lincoln's presidency.

Fascinating. I’ve never heard this theory before, although it sounds very plausible.

Excellent research. Good job.

Thank you!. I had never heard that about Custer and the Little Big Horn and it seems like there's some good evidence to support it. Appreciate your excellent sleuthing work!

Credible historic inquiry. Thank God, and found it on KZread. Thanks for your thoughts.

I always thought that after Custer had been mortally wounded with a bullet near his heart, his brother Tom shot George in the temple to keep him from being tortured. I also read where where their were many empty shell casings around where Toms body was found near George. Toms body was so badly mutilated, the only way he could be recognized was a tattoo on his arm. Toms head was beaten and flattened into a thin, gelatin, pancake. Squaws rammed long knitting awls into Custers two ears so he would hear better in the after life. They did this because he had not listened to the Indians who warned him eight years earlier in 1868, after he murdered woman and children at Washita in Oklahoma. In closing, George had an arrow jammed up into his penis. This detail was kept from his wife Libby. There is speculation that Custer had fathered a chid with a Sioux squaw named Meotzie (SP?). The childs name was Yellowbird. Custer went to Montana to attack and exterminate a race of people who were simply defending their homeland. I believe Custer reaped the consequences of picking a fight with a larger force. Custer had eleven horses shot out from under him during the Civil War. He believed in what he called "Custers Luck." He thought if you attacked a larger force, "fate would favor the bold." The day he died, his scouts warned him "We don't have enough bullets to kill them all." Custers response was "Then make every shot a killer." It is my personal opinion Custer got what he deserved.

@deaddocreallydeaddoc5244

11 ай бұрын

You got some of this from a semi-fictional book and film, "Son of the Morning Star." Custer's ears were not perforated. In fact, the women did not get to the Custer position. They mangled and looted the dead of the Reno line near the camp.

@4thamendment237

11 ай бұрын

​@@deaddocreallydeaddoc5244Ouch! As a student of the battle myself, some of what skyking5032 says is true; some of it is not. I could take it apart piece by piece but that would take too long. I'm curious though -- what's your source of information on the fact that the women never made it to Custer Hill? Just one random comment Tom Custer's body was mutilated so badly probably done by Rain in the Face. Those two knew each other as a matter of fact -- Tom had arrested him in an episode some years earlier and were essentially sworn enemies. And Custer didn't go to exterminate the native Americans. He was following orders. The extermination of the native Americans was the explicit policy of the United States government. You want to blame somebody? Blame William Tecumseh Sherman. The one on his deathbed regretted the fact to his son that he had not exterminated all native Americans. So don't put this on Custer.

@gib59er56

11 ай бұрын

Custer was not a coward. That is about the only good thing I have to say about him. He was committing genocide along with the U.S. govt. They lied every time they promised the Sioux land and never kept their word or contract. It makes me sick thinking about it. Govt. double talk, and it reminds me of Josie Wales and 10 Bears. I find the loss at LBH a loss for both the U.S. and the Native tribes. After LBH the Native tribes faced Wounded Knee and the Trail of Tears. Just a plain extermination of a race of people who were here long before any European people arrived and stole everything they had, including their lives. Sad tale of total rape of land, Bison and Tribes covering the whole continent. Custer got what he deserved. The U.S. got everything else pretty easily.

@BillyBob-wq9fl

11 ай бұрын

Of course no person of color ever did anything wrong. You would love how marxists view the world. You would absolutely love it.

@BillyBob-wq9fl

11 ай бұрын

@@gib59er56The indian was committing genocide as well. The indians attacked and killed, raped and enslaved other indians. I know this is painful to hear. But the “history” had been sanitized so the marxists can convince Americans that their land is stolen and that they are inherently evil.

Really enjoyed this analysis

Sitting Bulls great grandson's video brought me here. This is very interesting. Thank you.

Another great video and extremely interesting facts presented. As one familiar with combat, I find no disgrace in this action, especially in light of the probability of torture from such an enemy. No judgement of either side from me.

@soylentgreen7074

Жыл бұрын

I agree, I’d probably do the same. There are worse things than death.

@rickobrien4025

Жыл бұрын

@@jimbob465 This makes zero sense..."might not...absolutely were .

@onearnedbandit

Жыл бұрын

Been shot twice 9 years army veteran suicide never an option

@johngriffiths118

Жыл бұрын

@@onearnedbandit were you scalped ?

@onearnedbandit

Жыл бұрын

@@johngriffiths118 dead men don't care only cowards do

thanks Todd, great story and thanks for sharing. This makes a lot of sense. It is not a new hypothesis that Custer may have taken his own life. Given the enduring interest and fascination pertaining to the Battle of the Little Bighorn it should get wider recognition than it does. One way of gaining more insights into this matter might be by forensically examining Custer's skull. Had he placed the gun snug to his temple and pulled the trigger, the projectile should have caused an exit wound.

@aaaaaa-uv2ig

6 сағат бұрын

He was defeated in battle. Let him rest. Besides they just used a token corpse from the second viewing the year later. You'll never find the right corpse.

Excellent insight, thank you sir. ❤

Great video and I am now a subscriber to your channel. One respectful suggestion--at 8:49, it sounds like you said "Calvary" when you meant "Cavalry." I'm pretty sure this was just a slip of the tongue, but there is a huge difference between the meaning of these two very similar sounding words, as I'm certain you know. Thanks again and please keep up the great work!

@frontierwesternheritage1356

Жыл бұрын

Craig, It was Sunday afternoon following church. Maybe the morning service was still with me. I probably did slip up. Thanks for watching, Todd

@aaaaaa-uv2ig

8 сағат бұрын

They are basically interchangable in meaning anyway.

One author claimed that Tom Custer had a smaller caliber pistol and when the end was inevitable, he shot his brother who had previously POSSIBLY been wounded at the Medicine tail crossing and was already dying being unable to order any kind of troop deployment ,which might explain why Benteen , when viewing the battlefield concluded that it was " an utter rout". No reference was made to a .41 caliber pistol. Custer was said to have carried 9-shot twin British Bulldog short barreled revolvers which of course, were never found.

@franklinarchambault-ik5xg

10 ай бұрын

according to the Souix Tom was the last one standing and was killed by a Cheyenne to revenge the Washita and Sandcreek masseurs of the unarmed Blackkettle villages

@kjwinston77

3 ай бұрын

It has been many years since College but I also did a paper on the massacre of Custer. I also heard that Boston had a smaller caliber pistol to now makes me think George let his brother use it. If that is the case and Custer was hit maybe Boston did the shooting to save the glory of the last stand.

@user-wj1xp8uo8e

3 ай бұрын

And no casings were found either from the British gun anywhere

Great video. I had read about this quite sometime ago. Along with several other things Custer had done in his life post civil war and all was hidden to protect his legacy.

Awesome presentation!

Great investigation! Thanks

If you want to hear a crazy story, I grew up with my buddy Glenn Custer a direct descendant of general Custer. I'm a direct descendant of a Cherokee Chief. We literally grew up playing cowboy and indians together when we were kids.

@-MattMcCauley-

Жыл бұрын

George and Libby Custer were childless, thus he has no "direct descendants".

@EdCustard

Жыл бұрын

There are no direct descendants of General Custer. Plenty of relatives, no descendants.

@christineweiler-allen8448

Жыл бұрын

​@Ed Custard The Cheyenne disagree. They claim he raped a Cheyenne woman and had a daughter named Yellow Flower.

@ antles49 I recommend you read "Save the Last Bullet for Yourself." It was written by a U.S. Army doctor stationed on the Indian Res where the battle took place which is next to what I believe was a Cheyenne Res after the battle. He has at least a part of a chapter on soldier and civilian suicide thoughts and even claims that a friend had given Custer a derringer for the express purpose of his being armed in order to commit suicide if he felt the need. Custer kept the derringer reportedly and as you said .41 was the caliber of derringers in that day. He also reports several Indian/Cavalry battles in which the cavalry always won except in one case where it is known that the whole unit committed mass suicide because it was in sight of their fort and was witnessed by those within the fort.

Excellent Report!!!!!!

A very thought provoking theory and one I wasn't aware of, definitely not beyond the realms of possibility.Very interesting video.

I don't believe Custer committed suicide, I think he thought that he and his troops could win the battle right to the very end. I think it's possible that his brother (Thomas) could have shot him. There's a reference to Dr. Porter examining the bullet in Custers head, there was no autopsy and Custers remains were only retrieved a year later and very few (and disputable) remains at that.

@daryllebeau4333

Жыл бұрын

LMAO!!!!! Coward shot himself.

@aaaaaa-uv2ig

6 сағат бұрын

“his brother (Thomas) could have shot him.” Is this doubting Thomas story from the bible?

I had a very old Chippewa friend told me that his grandfather was a boy when the Sioux warriors rode in with new scalps. They were angry. They had heard they were being accused of killing Custer at the battle at Greasy Grass (Little Bighorn). They said he killed himself early in the battle. They viewed him as a coward and that is why he wasn't scalped.

@wheelchairhillbilly

Жыл бұрын

The problem with so many of the accounts from the Indians, was that very few collaborated. One big issue I know, was that a good amount their language was untranslatable. So, the interpreters had an impossible job at getting detail, and few stories matched up.

@stevenpine1939

Жыл бұрын

@@wheelchairhillbilly Also...Indians NEVER told lies!

@tedwojtasik8781

Жыл бұрын

@@stevenpine1939 Of course, because us white folk never did that. You do realize it was the American govt. who broke every treaty they had with the Natives.

@justiceforall6412

Жыл бұрын

They were right. It is my understanding that he always took the women and children while the warriors were away. Brave coward huh?

@wheelchairhillbilly

Жыл бұрын

@@stevenpine1939 Never! Lol

Awesome Content!! Thank You!!!

I recall this having been written and talked about years ago, and it remains an interesting (and logical) possibility. Thanks for an interesting post.

The idea that some of Custer's men committed suicide first gained prominence (first I heard of it anyway) in the book Keep the Last Bullet for Yourself, by Thomas Marquis. He was a physician working with the US Indian Agency after WW1 who learned sign language and sought out native veterans of Little Bighorn. Marquis said his interlocutors told him only after they had known him for a while, that they saw a number of Custer's men kill themselves at the end of the battle. They learned to keep their mouths shut though, as this report met a lot of resistance from whites whom they told; so they typically said, yes, the cavalry all fought gallantly to the last man. Marquis made a case that a percentage of the 7th were fairly new men who had not fought Indians before but who had certainly heard the adage "keep the last bullet for yourself" because of the horrid tortures the Indians would inflict on a prisoner, real and fanciful. And so when confronted with the certainty of no escape in the midst of literally thousands of warriors, they took an easier way out. Something similar to the mass suicide of Japanese civilians in Okinawa during WW2, which Marquis did not live to see. Marquis's book has been just about universally panned by historians, though many liked the book he wrote about Wooden Leg. And about Custer, who knows. He was reported to have a bullet wound to the temple, but maybe he didn't really. It was also reported that amongst all the dead he was the one not mutilated. That just strains credulity; why would he be spared that indignity? Some say a suicide wouldn't be touched, but how many would have witnessed that from the many hundreds on the scene when it supposedly occurred, or the hundreds of noncombatants who came upon the scene later to pick up something useful and express their displeasure with the soldiers? So the temple wound and the lack of mutilation of the body could be a simple palliative to the public; the great hero left this world quickly and was not dishonored. It could also be that Custer was given a coup de grace by his own brother Tom, found not far away, to keep him from further suffering.

@johnemerson1363

Жыл бұрын

According to some of the contemporary stories Custer was held in some esteem because of some of his prior contacts with the Sioux and Cheyenne. Apparently, the only damage done to his body was that a woman punctured his ear drums to open his ears so he could hear what was being said. Apparently he didn't take the advice of a war chief and dishonored his word.

@pilot968

Жыл бұрын

@@johnemerson1363 The story I saw about the punctured ear drums was reported by a native woman who said she saw it done by two southern Cheyenne women (Washita survivors) who first stopped warriors from mutilating Custer's body, except for part of a finger, as they wanted his body for themselves. In addition to awls in the ears, they shoved an arrow up his penis in revenge for killing of women and children at Washita and rape of some of those captured women by Custer personally and by some of his officers. Though if they were that angry, and seeing that Custer was attempting it all over again, one would think they would have gone much further than that. Supposedly Custer was not scalped as he had cut his hair fairly short when the campaign commenced. Several warriors later took credit for killing Custer. One thing I wished I had more information about is whether anyone in the Indian encampment could even recognize Custer. I'm only aware of warriors later saying they had no idea he was there or, for that matter, who was the soldiers' commanding officer. The cavalry were just all attacking soldiers. None of this speaks to the real question at hand, it just points out that, like other reports about the battle, there is a lot of conflicting testimony.

@jimbob465

Жыл бұрын

​@@johnemerson1363 he had a child with a Cheyenne woman so for her sake they didn't chop him up. But earlier in the battle when warriors were taking scalps, his was passed over because he committed suicide and tainted the scalp.

@jasonbutler7054

Жыл бұрын

Its all hear say, we will never know what happened in those last few minutes. Personally I think he killed himself when he realised the fight was over. He probably witnessed his brother Tom fight like a mad dog going out swinging and knew then it was done. I think what grates on us all is the fact that Custer was a hero an idol to so many, the thought of him taking his own life seems impossible. Maybe just maybe though that was his last bullet and that bullet was in fact his last defiant stand.

@prestonpreston8082

Жыл бұрын

@@jimbob465 It was his brother, Tom Custer, who actually was the father of the child. George Custer was impotent due to a venereal disease.

I read an account by a native who was at the battle who mentioned the soldiers shooting themselves and he put it down to the 'medicine' of the Lakota making them do it. In a way he is right, because we could interpret the natives fearful torture methods, instilling terrible fear, as a psychological medicine that the soldiers carried in their minds during a battle. Very interesting video.

@frontierwesternheritage1356

Жыл бұрын

Great take on this. Terror was indeed a tactic and it worked. Todd

@Idahoguy10157

Жыл бұрын

@@frontierwesternheritage1356 …. They had reason to be terrified. The average warrior greatly outmatched the fighting abilities of the average soldier. The Army’s tactic was to lay down volley fire and aimed shots at distance. Beyond the weapons range of the natives. The army revolvers were issued as back up weapons. Letting the warriors get that close in would be fatal

@charleslange7619

Жыл бұрын

After visiting the Sandcreek Massacre site in Colorado, I wonder who really was scared of torture/atrocities. The Natives certainly had reason to believe the US soldiers were capable of barbarism after Sandcreek and then the burning of the Cheyenne/Lakota village by Gen. Hancock(Custer was there too, attempting to chase down the fleeing women/children) near Ft. Larned in 1867 starting the Hancock War. Were the soldiers fearful that the Natives would do to them what other soldiers had already done to women/children of the Cheyenne/Lakota/Arapaho? Would be interested to know what came first-'white barbarism' or Native 'savagery'?

@frontierwesternheritage1356

Жыл бұрын

@Charles Lange Thanks Charles, It is disgusting what people are capable of regardless of race. The aftermath of Sand Creek was about as horrific as the battle with body parts brought back as trophies. Thanks for the point that these things go both ways. Todd

@Idahoguy10157

Жыл бұрын

@@frontierwesternheritage1356 …. There were congressional hearing about it. Colonel Chivington was the guilty party. Commanding Colorado volunteers. He was also a civil war hero. I don’t think he was ever punished in any meaningful way

I think that you have a good argument for that. Great discussion!

Wow. I had never considered this for whatever reason, though to be fair my interest in the battle of Little-Big horn has only been mild. Though there was a time when I was a kid and my dad drove us from Washington state out to see the site of the battle, and it affected my young mind greatly seeing those stones. Noticing how they converged in a central location and multiplied. There were many that were in pairs (though I don't remember where I got this information at the time) who had apparently either shot their horses in order to create cover, or perhaps their horses had been dead already. Anyway, what a fantastic look into an intriguing topic that really puts a different perspective on things. I appreciate the time and effort you put in to this, and it has rekindled my interest in the battle. Take care.

At least one report -by an Indian participant in the battle- stated that Custer had been shot and unhorsed at the very start of the cavalry charge. He was quickly saved, propped up and re-saddled, but the troops under his command were demoralized and rattled, and hastily retreated to a defensive position. This makes sense, as it was always Custer's way to attack, attack, attack. The loss of Custer's leadership, coupled with the catatonic behavior of a panicked Reno, turned the two heavily armed wings of his calvary from a mobile, rapid attack force, to two poorly situated,and separated defensive positions, at the near total mercy of the Indians. This not only saved the Indian village, but guaranteed the annihilation of Custer's direct command, and the humiliating neutralization of Reno's forces.

@emiconstantino5434

6 ай бұрын

I read that book too.He is called yellow hair and was shot with a lucky long shot.

@bobgriffith1810

10 күн бұрын

@@emiconstantino5434 It was chief Gall who said he saw Custer take a shot close to the river with his soldiers assisting him to his horse and back up the hill

One of the accounts I heard was a young Lakota rode up and touched a pocket revolver or derringer to his head. There’s a museum in Mitchell SD and a book by its curator Wendell Grangaard, that have a lot on this subject.

@frontierwesternheritage1356

Жыл бұрын

That could be true as well. Todd

thank you very much for making this video. it was an eye opener and you wonder what did those men do and why. thank you very much..

Food for thought thank you ❤

Great video; however, there is one point you overlooked. The native American cultures were heavily invested in the torture of captured enemies. For them, if you bravely faced your torture, they would kill you more quickly. If you screamed, cried, or wiggled too much, they would prolong it as long as possible. So did Custer and his men commit suicide when faced with certain defeat? I say yes, as I'm sure any sane man would have.

@paulholmes3889

5 ай бұрын

Wrong. Custer was outmanned and outgunned according to forensics there is no evidence of any of the men committing suicide

@blindjustice8718

4 ай бұрын

But.... but.... but.... Indigenous people were kind and friendly!!!!

@willywonka7812

4 ай бұрын

​@@blindjustice8718nobody thinks this. If not for strawman arguments, right wingers would have nothing

@blindjustice8718

4 ай бұрын

@@willywonka7812 You need to get out more. Left wingers have been misrepresenting indigenous tribes from the racist father of the racist Democratic Party who was all for genocide to modern day empaths who think natives were sitting around singing Kumbaya together until bad white man came and started killing them for sport (and gold).

@monkmoto1887

4 ай бұрын

@@willywonka7812what are you talking about? It’s the only way it’s framed. Never mind the women who was their ears cut off and nose melted down and forced into slavery and repeatedly raped. It’s not a right wing thing. It’s white people who are sick of being called evil and hateful and having their history twisted

First, regardless of any facts we cannot know, this is a great story well told and referenced. That said, I would tend to believe a simpler story. It is more likely Custer or a relative had a 41 rimfire derringer. I have seen reference to a Custer .41 National Arms derringer that was removed from the battlefield -- no details I saw on whether it was fired or not. Most likely Custer was shot below the heart crossing the Medicine Tail Coulee which broke the 7th's attack. They retrieved Custer from the river and took him away. Dr Porter in this account does not say, I think that Custer was shot in the LEFT side of the head above the temple near the eye. If the bullet came to rest in the back of the skull (a 41 long colt would probably have penetrated the skull easily at such a close range). But the derringer would likely not have penetrated and seems a better possibility. If you imagine a RIGHT-Handed shooter, facing down at Custer prone on the ground, holding a derringer to his head (the left side), it would likely be angled back towards the center of the back of the skull, rather than pointed inward as someone might shoot themself holding the gun against their temple. I would say Custer was mortally wounded in the Coulee, the attack broke and confused, Custer was taken with the troopers and placed in the defensive position probably unable to lead, and someone either as a protective measure, shot and issued Custer a coup de gras, or a wounded trooper or Custer relative administered the blow as the second half of the battle began to close around them. This would jive, I think, with Dr Porter's report and answer the question of why Custer would shoot himself with his left hand. As to Custer falling at the Coulee, that makes the most sense to me of how everything fell apart and Custer mounted no relief or organized withdrawal (or hammered home the attack). The issue of the pre-issued Thunderer is interesting but probably irrelevant, especially since at lest one Custer (Autie himself) had a .41 rimfire on the battlefield. Thanks, great treasure for more thought, debate, and argument. LOL Thanks!

@mikeyoung9810

Жыл бұрын

That story about Custer possibly dying early on is most likely not true. He wasn't the only one in buckskins and the native Americans mostly likely didn't know him by sight especially since so many were expecting to see him with long hair. And I think when the troopers saw the size of what was coming all thoughts of fighting ceased and it became a run-for-you-life scenario.

@krisswanson5410

Жыл бұрын

I agree completely with your analysis and was thinking exactly the same thing about the derringer round being the more likely to have stopped inside the cranium at that range. However, Dr porter said that the bullet exactly fit HIS 41 cal pistol bore, implying that those 41 Colt revolvers had been present as stated, so did Custer in fact have one as well? I know I would have carried a derringer for that reason if I had one and were able to. if Gen Terry himself handed one to Custer when they were on the Yellowstone before he departed, then, yes, he probably did have it with him. The Dr, on the other hand, was with Benteen and Reno and arrived after the fight was over and certainly had his with him. All the Army weapons departed with the victors, so we will never know. The Dr says that the bullet he removed from Custer was of a "curious pointed type" that perfectly fit his 41 Colt bore. These were the type loaded in the 41 rimfire derringer. The original 41 Colt load was a 200 gr blunt nosed bullet over 20 gr of BP. So I think the bullet itself tells the tale. Yes, the newly developed cartridges that were sent with Terry could have used the available 41 rimfire bullet as a test expedient load, but the Dr seemed to not recognize the bullet profile, so his 41 Colt cartridges were likely different. If this account is factual, I believe Custer used a 41 rimfire derringer, perhaps having traded his brother out of his own derringer somehow before the battle, to save himself from the hell he knew he would suffer if captured. He harbored no illusions of how the Sioux would treat him. The hostiles had no 41 cal weapons I believe. This was a great video. Thanks for sharing this with us.

@thefilmhacker4998

Жыл бұрын

@@mikeyoung9810 as i understand there were very few natives at the coulee i doubt it was quite as impressive as it should have been. However the army was always outnumbered and this was a proven tactic. I doubt the army understood that they would be outgunned. Also there was no immediate opposition at the river to turn them back, i doubt custer himself or tom would have backed down in the water. Even if they were the only two they would have died on the other side. I think. Just makes more sense that they lost their commander before the fight started.

@thefilmhacker4998

Жыл бұрын

@@krisswanson5410 i forgot that the good Dr had his own pistol. Your points considering that fact are well made. Weirdly i think if Custer had one round and a working trigger finger he would have pointed at an enemy. Still a great story regardless...

@donaldksiazek8404

Жыл бұрын

I think you are spot-on. I had read on another Custer historical site that the wound to his "left breast" was most likely fatal and a cous de gras shot was delivered by another trooper. Custer's body was beneath another trooper's body.

Great presentation and information. That century shows it was common to take one's own life or the life of one with you if circumstances were so. Some of that happened at the Little Bighorn and perhaps Colonel Custer did as well. It would never matter except to family. This one will always be studied and should be.

Well presented. Thanks

I recall a native American coming to my school to speak some 60 yrs ago it was quite interesting till he told us near the end of his talk that Custer had committed suicide I was so unsettled by this. Felt like he must be lying but now I'm pretty sure he was sincere. I also, as new evidence is revealed believe that his story most likely is based in fact. The heroic last stand was a terrible end for so many.

@bluerock4456

Жыл бұрын

The fire that swept the national monument (Little Big Horn) a couple of decades ago revealed (on subsequent archeological analysis) that the natives told the truth about what happened that day.

@scottklewicki9283

9 ай бұрын

The indians did not know they were fighting Custer for some time after the battle. He had cut his hair short and was covered in dirt and dust. The suggestion that they saw Custer kill himself is preposterous and implausable.

@kinglicks5646

9 ай бұрын

@@scottklewicki9283 A link to that info would mean more than your butt hurt post!

@johnmichaelson9173

7 ай бұрын

@@scottklewicki9283 He didn't say that the Indian witnessed Custers suicide. The Indians could've learned that Custers temple wound was a suicide shot when they learned that they'd been fighting Custer. Let's be honest Custer had by modern standards committed War Crimes against the Native Americans so he knew if he was taken alive he'd be in a World of pain.

@patwatahomigie5651

6 ай бұрын

u were there or just believe it

I have never heard this. Not only is it fascinating, but I feel it's probably true. The part about Dr. Porter forbidding anyone to tell anyone until after his wife was dead is heartbreaking. I know that he was still speculating according to how the wound was found, but that's how we solve crimes and even distinguish them as or from suicide. Fascinating, ya got a new subscriber❤️

@frontierwesternheritage1356

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Jeri, I appreciate you watching and commenting. I like your crime scene approach. Todd

@bethschenk2851

Жыл бұрын

👍 agree! Also new sub. Thanks.

@TJIRISH44

6 ай бұрын

I agree... It makes sense. Especially if the US Cavalry suspected it and the reasons for keeping Custer's suicide from public knowledge. Custer realized what was happening and why wouldn't he do it. As for the Indian's I realize in a major fight. But if the Indian's recognized Custer why wouldn't they want to capture him? Holding Custer hostage to negotiate would be a feather in their cap,

@aaaaaa-uv2ig

5 сағат бұрын

@@TJIRISH44 “why wouldn't they want to capture him? Holding Custer hostage to negotiate would be a feather in their cap,” Maybe because nobody was manufacturing “cap's” in those day's.

Nice job telling the story. Thanks.

Great job. You are saluted!

There is a book I read a long time ago about the Batlle of Little Bighorn called "Keep the Last Bullet for Yourself". I don't remember if it talked about Custer committing suicide, but it did detail how so many of the soldiers did, from fear of being captured and just plain fear of the circumstances they were in.

@Defender78

Жыл бұрын

its not like the soldiers were being captured by the Confederates at Shiloh... they knew the outcome of the Fetterman Fight from a decade earlier, and what the Indians did to whites and also enemy tribes' fighters when caught in battle... savagery/no quarter... so it's not out of the question they would have taken their own way out.

@murphy4yt

Жыл бұрын

Indian accounts back this up.

@christineweiler-allen8448

Жыл бұрын

Custer had a standing order to the Seventh to keep the last bullet for themselves according to his widow Libby Custer in her book Boots and Sadles

@analystanalyst7652

Жыл бұрын

Growing up in the 60’s it was always thought that Custer’s brother Thomas shot him in the temple when it was getting near the end and then shot himself. Kid’s talk maybe. But we knew too, that the soldiers were tortured if captured and usually by fire, burning them slowly. In later years I remember reading that Reno’s men heard screams coming from the direction of a large bonfire the night of the battle and screaming words in English. They would cut the bodies up so they could not fight in the after world. I think the only living thing not cut up after the Fetterman massacre was the company dog which they just killed and left. Ah well, what kids heard for the most part back then, as almost a hundred years later it was talked about a lot. We knew about Libby Custer as well and that the facts of Custer’s last stand would be revealed once she was dead, but she had outlived everyone and the files were lost in the National Archives someplace, so we were led to believe.

@daryllebeau4333

Жыл бұрын

Cowards

I read that Custer carried a brace of Webley Bulldogs into battle. This is my first time hearing of Dr. Porter's testimony. Dr. Thomas Marquis' book, " Save the Last Bullet for Yourself " details the many instances of soldiers and civilians who prepared to commit suicide and some who actually did. This is one more piece in the puzzle for me.

@webleypug

Жыл бұрын

I used to collect Webleys, & was aware of Custer taking two revolvers into the battle area. Webley factory records from that time were burned in a fire, so I reached out to Jim Supica of Old Town Station, who published a fun-to-read rag about Western lore, to see i f anyone was aware of the serial numbers of those guns. He appealed to some group (can't recall the name) to see if they could discover the data. I heard nothing back.

@tbcoachniblick1208

11 ай бұрын

The Colt prototypes in 41 caliber could of easily been mistaken for the British Webly Constabulary " Bulldog" style as they were both double action in that day called " self cocking " those that described Custers revolvers probably didn't know he was carrying a prototype Colt later the " Thunderer"

@stevejorgensen5274

9 ай бұрын

I also had read that Custer carried a pair of Webleys at the little big horn. I also read that Custer was out of the fight. His brother actually shot Custer in the head before shooting himself.

@danielblackburn1241

8 ай бұрын

@@stevejorgensen5274 I think Tom did shoot his brother but was then killed by the Indians. Tom fought like a madman and that's why he was mutilated so badly .

pointy bullets, aka conical bullets were from that era I have owned several black powder rifles and handguns and I have used conical lead bullets for the accuracy of them was very good. Thanks for sharing a bit of history

Fantastic video and one that sure makes you think. My question, after the video is, would the bullet still being in his head for the Doctor to be able to retrieve it when shot at such close range or would it have exited the head especially since they say it was pointed. I am not a medical person but it seems to me that if you held a pistol to your temple it would go right through the skull. Just discovered your channel and I am glad I did.👍

I have a book called Custer's Fall which was oral history gathered from Sioux, Cheyenne etc who either were there or who had these stories from relatives. I'll have to dig it out. some thought that Custer was shot early on in the fracas and was taken to the site of "the last stand". He may have been killed. Anyone, it was not out of the realm of possiibility that a soldier would commit suicide knowing just what happen as far as mutilation, scalping. Custer even had his hair cut beforehand for fear of scalping

@frankpienkosky5688

Жыл бұрын

accounts do seem to say an officer was shot down by the creek while trying to cross

@foxykc

Жыл бұрын

@@frankpienkosky5688 That is what my book states. There is a pretty good book on Custer "Son of the Morning Star."

Very good analysis. Difficult to arrive at any definitive conclusions. Some members of the Mexican Army had a similar tale about the Battle of the Alamo, specifically as it concerned Davy Crockett. The claim was that Crockett was one of the last survivors and rather than “fighting to the death”, he desperately tried to surrender… where upon the Mexicans were obliged to execute him (since Santa Anna had issued a “no quarters to be given” order). Again, a story that could have been true or not. Indians were quite famous for their torture capabilities: in order to secure a small group of captured white settlers (1838, Lockhart, TX) overnight and no ability to lock them up, the Comanche Indians simply skinned the bottoms of their feet. 😱

This video was conspicuously great!

I like youre work and presentation il be eatching more Regards