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Background
The horror of losing a child cannot be compounded but for one thing: did they suffer? That was the question that everyone who knew a soldier lost at Custer’s Last Stand needed answered. The answer would, for many, turn a tragedy into a nightmare.
It is not surprising then, that here, it takes Ellen Teresa Roche Reily Johnson - military widow, wife, and mother – ten pages to even address the issue. She writes on black-borded mourning stationary to Mrs. Annie Yates, the widow of Captain George Yates, who was also killed that the Little Bighorn.
Of her 22 year-old son, Lt. William Van Wyck Reilly, killed with Custer and one of the five officers whose bodies were found surrounding him, she writes:
I asked DeRudio [1st Lt. Company A at LBH] if Capt. Yates was mutilated; he said only a small scalp, no crushing of head etc. He described my Will as Mr. Edgerly [2nd Lt., Company D at LBH] & Lieut. Gibson [1st Lt., Company G at LBH] did, said he & Genl. Carter were not the least touched... He told me that Will was perfectly natural.
Lt. De Rudio’s answers, and those of Lt. Edgerly and Lt. Gibson, were likewise “perfectly natural,” albeit in a different context. As Victorian men, it was a given that they protect the “delicate sensibilities” of women from anything disturbing - and everything about Custer’s Last Stand was horrific. What they told Lt. Reily’s mother, then, was naturally, and perfectly, untrue.
On the contrary, Reily suffered a ghastly end, pierced with arrows and shot with bullets, he was also scalped and mutilated.
Physical Description
[Little Bighorn – William Van Wyck Reily] Ellen Teresa Roche Reily, Autograph Letter Signed (as “Nellie Johnson” & “Nellie J.”), 12 pages, octavo, black-bordered, no place, February 28th & March 14th, no year. To “Mrs Yates” [in all likelihood Annie Yates, the widow of Captain George Yates, killed with Custer at the Little Bighorn.]
all pages and transcript
Page 1/12
1721. H st
March 14th
Dear Mrs Yates,
You have spoiled me in having answered my letters so promptly, and now I feel disappointed, that I have not heard from you lately. Perhaps, the remark I made in my letter has influenced you - about the Dr having said - I ought to try & direct my thoughts, but indeed my sole pleasure has been, getting letters from you & others -- I am utterly miserable -- instead of time lessening or reconciling me to my loss - I feel each
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day more - I do not sleep because I am filled with fear about my heart. I think of it all the time -- only nervousness they say. I sometimes lie in bed & long for some decided ache or pain - I shall not feel [sic] a letter with imaginary ailments --
By mail today I send a photograph taken from Crayon - as I could not bear to sit for a picture - Mr [sic] Miller knows my face so well - as he has seen me so many times attending to Will’s - that he took a perfect likeness of me --
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This photo is good as can be - except a little something about the eye - it was struck off before Mr [sic] M. had changed the eye. My Lucy is much opposed to my sending this -- as there is no black dress - but for Crayon Artists prefer something loose around the throat. [text is crossed out] Such as it is I send it - because I promised - & if I wait - I may not get a letter - and now I shall look for yours immediately --
Near Easter, I shall go on to see Leila at Manhattanville - and perhaps I may go to Monroe for a day or two afterwards - although I cannot say yet positively. I wonder if you feel so.
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[in vertical, in different hand: I am so sorry not to have the first page of this letter. A.G.Y.]
3.
Mrs. Morrison from St [sic] Louis is here who knew my Will well. She says, the last time she saw him he was telling several persons about me - how foolish it must appear to you for me to tell such things to you. But it is such a satisfaction to know that my boy never loved any one better or as well as he did his Mother -- & died believing me capable of accomplishing everything I desired --
Well, Grant has but few days left. Naturally being in W. I cannot help taking sufficient interest in politics to listen to discussion. My little Paul who is a great Hayes boy laughs a great deal at me
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he says, one day - I am for Tilden, the next day Hayes. I am honest enough & say, I am with the one, who finally reaches the haven.
My niece from Ga - of course all […] expressed herself surprised, that I take Tilden's defeat so indifferently, as I wrote her father early last Spring to carry State of Ga for Tilden -- I told her I had stood by Tilden until I found he had not strength to take his seat. All […]. I have friends on both sides - and now that my Will is gone -- I have nothing to ask for any one. I always designed getting him in Artillery
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so as to have him near me. then at any time he could have come to me - or I go to him. You will not remain in Monroe, with you - if Mrs [sic] Custer leaves -- Why do you not come to W. to live? I think you would like it. You could live just as you please here - It is so independent I think.
I am mistified [sic] about my picture. I had a photograph taken from Crayon & painted for you - but the paint was too grey - besides eyes are not at all like mine - the rest of face good - I can send one like the picture my Will had - but it looks so inappropriate at this time. I’m deep mourning & this pictures [sic] décolleté & in blue satin - Yet I
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want you to have one - [text is crossed out] I want one of yours - which you promised to send.
When does Mrs. Smith leave Monroe? I wish she would return by way of W. and then she could attend to having picture taken of Capt. Smith, if she wishes. My Cameo has not yet arrived. I am so afraid, it will not be good - although it’s in the hands of the best carver.
I am entirely surrounded by pictures - three in bed room - look where may - my poor boy's sad face meets me. his [sic] things & all make it sadder I believe - as regards his Father never getting anything & no news. It did not seem so dreadful & now although of course it is a
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4.
great comfort to get his remains, yet I dread it so much, being alone - all devolves on me --
Feb [sic] 28st [sic]
I commenced this some days past -- Today I received a long letter from Genl. Sturgis, begging me to go to Lincoln on a visit -- Lieut [sic] Dr [sic] R[…] called to see me & made a long visit - Invited him to dine today -- Any body connected with the 7th. I cannot help being drawn to - particularly if they knew my boy. I suppose, of course, you heard of Major Reno’s trial - I think Capt [sic] Ball makes a mistake to bring
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his wife before the public. The world will naturally condemn her -- No man would attempt violence on a woman -- particularly the wife of a brother officer if she had acted as she should have done towards him previously. I have come to the conclusion that I am awfully weak now -- A few days since Mrs [sic] Morrison told me how fond Capt [sic] Hale was of Willie - I immediately felt so sorry I had treated him rudely - & also that I wrote you about him as I did.
Last night I slept but 3 hours & then only after taking something to produce it. Today
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I sent for Dr. I get so nervous. I feel as though I am dying -- but it is only at night. I have had my cook quite ill for 2 weeks. finally [sic] t day [sic], I had my Dr. to examine him -- and found out, he has lost one lung -- I feel so sorry for him -- he has lived some years with me & has no home -- of course I shall take care of him -- I have commenced giving him Cod liver oil -- He looks dreadfully and I do not think he will recover --
This morning I went to War Dept. [sic] & saw Dr. Barnard about photograph [sic]. You see I am persistent. Dr. B. says - he has not seen Pywell since he had him arrested
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but Genl [sic] Humphries is looking for him - I shall try to see Pywell myself if he is in NY -
Please thank Mrs. Calhoun for Capt. Custer's picture & her nice letter - I asked Dr [sic] R[…] if Capt [sic] Tate was mutilated - he said only a small scalp -, no crushing of head etc. he [sic] described my Will as Mr [sic] Edgerly & Lieut [sic] Gibson did -- said he & Genl.Custer were not the least touched. I asked how he accounted for it; he told me, when two Indians claimed a body - neither scalped & the women did not mutilate unless scalped -- He told me that Will was perfectly natural [sic] I shall not read over this scrawl - but send it, as it is [sic] I feel you would rather get this than none. With best love to Mrs [sic] Custer Mrs [sic] Calhoun & Mrs [sic] Smith
Your devoted friend Nellie J --
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anxious to see me. If I could feel that. I think I should manage to go. There would be one objection to my doing so. Mrs [sic] Sturgis has written so often & so anxious for me to go to Lincoln - I fear she might consider it strange but that is so much farther, and I believe I should be more unhappy to see so many who escaped. I particularly dislike to see the young Officers who have entered the Regiment about my boy I am awfully selfish & I am not ashamed of it -- No one could get a thing that belonged to him. The Cameo is finished will arrive this week. I want you
---
to see it. With best love to Mrs [sic] Custer, Mrs [sic] Calhoun & Mrs [sic] Smith
Yours with much affection
NELLIE JOHNSON