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Background
It seems that everyone at the Little Bighorn not killed at Custer's Last Stand on June 25, 1876 could tell why, and sometimes how, everyone else was killed at Custer's Last Stand. Some even revealed who, or what, killed George Armstrong Custer. Among those in the know were, not surprisingly, the Cheyenne leadership. Here, Private John A. Reed, who had been in the Reno column that day - tells what he was told by a Cheyenne chief about when Custer died.
Writing from Fort Abraham Lincoln in May 1878, almost two years after the epic loss, Reed tells his sister:
We have a camp of five hundred Cheyennes here now and expect some more...I have bin placed in charge of them I have to draw their rations and feed for their ponies they have their camp about two miles from the post the live in teepes and wigwams just like the hostiles they are a hard looking set they are just half clad and the squaws have scarcely anything on them except a blanket and leggins it is the same purity that helped to massacre Genl. Custer. I was talking to one of the chiefs and he told me just as I seen it he says Col. Reno was a coward but Genl. Custer was a brave man and was the last man to die.
Captain Frederick Benteen - whose own column at the Battle of the Little Bighorn was, contrary to orders, way too late on the scene to help Custer, and barely in time in help Reno - had, that January 1878, brought into Fort Lincoln a contingent of Cheyenne prisoners to winter at the post, and it seems likely it was "one of the chiefs" from this band to whom Private Reed talked.
There are of course, many versions and theories about Custer's demise. But all of them most bow to one unassailable truth: among the last people alive to see Custer die, were Native American warriors. Thus this early report of his death is of the greatest interest.
Physical Description
Autograph Letter Signed, 4 pages, recto and verso, octavo, Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, May 8, 1878. To his sister.
all pages and transcript
Page 1/4
Fort. A. Lincoln .D.T [sic] May 8/78
Dear Sister
Yours of may [sic] 1st just recd [sic] and was glad to hear from you but very sorry to hear of the circumstances you are placed in [sic] I think it very strange that the youngest of the family have to support the parents of a family where there is three men belonging to it and all in good health for my part I will help you all I can and I think I can do a great deal I have had plenty of money and have spent a great deal but I will be more carfull [sic] in the future and send it home we expect to be paid next week and
Page 2/4
2
I will send you some money we get paid every two months and I think I can send you ($20) every two months if that will help you and some times I make a little extra and I will send that pleas [sic] dont [sic] think that I have forgotten you for I will never forget the one that gave me birth oh how I would like to see poor father and mother and dear sister once more but I am a fraid [sic] I will not get a chance to come home untill [sic] next Spring I am kept so busey [sic] I dont [sic] think there will be any Indian war this Summer for the Indians are all coming in and giving them selves [sic] up
Page 3/4
3
we have a camp of five hundred Chyennes [sic] here now and expect some more in every day I have bin [sic] placed in charge of them I have to draw their rations and feed for their ponies they have their camp a bout [sic] two miles from the post the [sic] live in teepes [sic] and wigwams just like the hostiles they ar [sic] a hard looking set they ar [sic] just half clad and the squaws have scarcely any thing on them except a blanket and leggins [sic] it is the same party that helped to massacree [sic] Genl [sic] Custer I was talking to one of the chiefs and he told me just as I seen it he says Col [sic] Reno was a coward but Genl [sic] Custer was
Page 4/4
4
a [text is crossed out] brave man and was the last man to die I can talk very good Sioux and get a long [sic] very well with them I think they will send them to Leavenworth and I will have to go with them they have no arms and it is not much trouble to get a long [sic] with them tell mother there is no danger of me going to live with the red skins for I dont like them well enough for that I would sooner scalp them than any thing els [sic] well I must close pleas [sic] give my love to Father Mother and except [sic] a share your self from your loveing [sic] Brother
JOHN. A REED