Custer, George Armstrong, 1839-1876 [Report on the Battle of Washita]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04606 Author/Creator: Custer, George Armstrong, 1839-1876 Place Written: Oklahoma Type: Manuscript document Date: 22 December 1868 Pagination: 20 p. ; 24.5 x 19.5 cm. Order a Copy
Written in the hand of Custer's Sergeant Pierre A. Bunker of the 7th Cavalry, prepared for Custer's signature. Custer reports at length and in graphic detail on his military activities and observations at the Battle of Washita against Chief Black Kettle's village of Southern Cheyenne. The battle also involved the Arapahoe, Kiowa, and Apache. Provides "extracts...from Dr Sippincott's report" listing deaths and injuries sustained by the soldiers. Explores the possible consequences of the battle and the effort to cripple Indian resistance. Estimates the "entire loss of the Indians in killed wounded and missing not far from three hundred." Concludes by noting that the Indian chiefs acknowledge the overwhelming defeat. Many consider the battle a massacre. Many women and children were killed along with the men and their homes and winter provisions were burned.
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