Custer's 7th: Tom Custer with Wild Bill Hickok, Rain-in-the-Face, & Lost Love

Like his famous brother, General George Armstrong Custer, Tom fought in the US Army from the Civil War until the Battle of the Little Bighorn. But there are plenty of myth and mystery that surrounds this young man's life, from tales of him fighting Wild Bill Hickok, to the capture of Rain-in-the Face, to lady troubles...
...
Reading List:
Tom Custer: Ride to Glory, by Carl F. Day
The Other Custers, by Bill Yenne
General Custer’s Libbie, By Lawrence Frost
Washita, by Jerome Greene
Custer and His Last Battle: The Benteen- Goldin Letters, edited by John Carroll
Indian Raids & Massacres, by Jeff Broome
Boots and Saddles, by Elizabeth Custer
Tenting on the Plains, by Elizabeth Custer
My Life on the Plains, by George Custer
Fates Change Horses: Camping with the Custers on the Heart River, by Gary Stewart
The Officer Corps of Custer’s Seventh Cavalry, James B. Klokner
Articles and Links:
Annie D’Onofrio, “Smithie We Hardly Knew You” CBMHA Symposium
Mark Miner’s www.minerd.com
...
If you too have a passion for the 7th Cavalry, please consider joining:
Little Bighorn Associates
www.thelbha.com
Custer Battlefield Historical & Museum Association
custerbattlefi...
Custer Association of Great Britain
www.english-westerners-society.org.uk
*PLEASE DONT FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, & STAY TUNED FOR NEW EPISODES!*
I love hearing suggestions of what you’d like to see next!
For more about my current work-in-progress or my published books (The Confusion of Languages and You Know When the Men Are Gone, both with Putnam/Penguin), please see my author website:
www.siobhanfallon.com
Or follow me on Instagram and Facebook:
siobhanfallonwriter
THANK YOU!

[@tudyk21]

22:16 I agree with you that the boy Tommy has a Custeresque appearance.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Right? Similar narrow eyes that Tom has...

[@Defender78]

2:19 Tom C also looks a ton like actor Glen Powell, from Top Gun

[@webbsamples]

Excellent installmentt Siobhan! A lot here I have never heard before. Your approach to history rounds out these players and gives us insight on how complicated all of them really were.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

You are wonderful, Webb. I so appreciate your continued support and kind comments here 🙏

[@webbsamples]

@@SiobhanFallon7 That means much coming from you. When I see great work being done on You Tube, I want that person to know it's getting through. Some of the channels I've watched have over 1 million subcribers because they just kept putting out great programs. Siobhan, you deserve the loyalty that an ever-growing number of subscribers are showing. Much respect.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@webbsamples that's the loveliest message. People have been so good to me here 🙏 I'll keep at it and I know I'll get better. This summer I'm hoping to get better equipment to get rid of the sound issues, etc, and update the graphics. I love doing these videos and am excited every time I start a new one. And folks like you, Webb, make me feel so grateful that people out there "get" the work I'm doing. As always, thank you!

[@sabresix7933]

​@SiobhanFallon7 Hello. I've just returned from a second visit to the battlefield whilst on holiday. I live in Ireland.Got a question for you that may save me wading through more material to find the answer. Ive pondered it since my return.On 21st June, Terry, Custer and Gibbon met on the Far West before Custers fateful day. Gibbons Montana column had been on the trail for quite a while. Can you enlighten me. How did Gibbon advance to the Far West meeting?. Did he leave the majority of his command? Did the Far West go pick him up? I find plenty of reference of the meeting but little on how Gibbon reached Terry and Custer. And then how did he return to his command. If he came forward was he not in risk of stumbling into Indians as their locations was not fully known..I understand they had no knowledge of Crook and the Rosebud at the time.( maybe wrong on that) I'm sure if I continued to look I'd find more but maybe you could enlighten me. Thankyou.

[@brycesuderow3576]

If you’re interested, I’d be happy to share information on Barnitz with you. He commanded the second Ohio cavalry, which was part of Pennington‘s brigade at five Forks.

[@EvelynFallon-sb6vs]

WOW. I love all of you videos! Thank you for posting this! I love it!

[@anulfadventures]

Once again, as always; brilliant story telling.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

You are awesome! Thank you! 🙏

[@WayneVeck-yb3ul]

Thank you Auntie Goodnight from the UK

[@richanglin7994]

You are such a wonderful,, engaging storyteller! Lots of details; always, always a great listen.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Thank you, Rich!! 🤗

[@veloadventureswithdavid8329]

Thanks for all the work you do with these stories. You give these names in history life.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Thank you so much. That's what I hope to do and I am grateful that you see it that way 🙏

[@Redwhiteblue-gr5em]

He’s always been a hero to me. More than his older brother. Thank you for doing the research and putting this informative and interesting video together.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Much appreciated! Please let me know if there are other videos you've like too 🙏

[@Redwhiteblue-gr5em]

@@SiobhanFallon7 Thomas French bio and his true thoughts about the LBH. Always wondered about French’s honest assessment of Reno’s “charge” and retreat from the village and his detailed first person description of this event. I know he wrote letters about his true feelings. And I believe he along with Weir were one of the sources used in several newspaper articles that were critical of Reno’s decisions, actions and sobriety during the battle.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@Redwhiteblue-gr5em if you haven't seen, here's what I put together on French... kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZSbdox7od2fbpIsi=Vpf44oMGalx8FIsc

[@Redwhiteblue-gr5em]

@@SiobhanFallon7 yes I think I forgot you did lol. I’ll watch it again.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@Redwhiteblue-gr5em 🤣 it was one of my shorter videos and Thomas French deserves more. Maybe I'll circle back to his story someday!

[@mickymantle3233]

Great research & narration. Very interesting.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Hey! You really did come back, Mickey, and watch!! Thanks so much 🙏

[@mickymantle3233]

@@SiobhanFallon7 It's my pleasure. These are quality uploads. Subscribed.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@mickymantle3233 much appreciated! Looking forward to hearing from you in the future 🤗

[@KevinWilliams-c2p]

Young lady you need to stop you are keeping me up all night..lol 😂

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Ha! You have plenty of time to sleep until the next one ;)

[@jameslee9315]

Well you never cease to amaze me with your attention to detail. I sit totally engrossed in your history of the 7th cavalry and its officers and wives and girlfriends . Brilliant work. Pure quality. Thank you again to a very clever lady 💐👌❤️

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@jameslee9315 oh James, how good of you to say! I just posted a new one (part 3 of my Irish series) a few days ago that's doing terribly. Please give it a look when you have time! 🙏🎉🍀

[@alrude2847]

Loved it. One of you best. Quickly becoming one of my favorite channels. Keep it up.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Yay!! Thank you!!

[@sunnyjacksmack]

Another spell binder. In another time you would have done well entertaining guests with your beautifully told stories, possibly in a parlor during the times you research so well.

[@MilesWalterKeogh]

Excellent as always! Many new informations! Thank you very much.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Thank you!! I always love hearing from you!

[@bobmcmorris8797]

Siobhan, we are on LBH Discussion Group together, we have commented on each other's posts. I stumbled across this while scrolling KZbin. I had no idea you do this. I am very impressed, good job!

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Thank you, Bob!! So good of you to watch and comment. I love those Facebook pages and the wealth of info people share. So glad you took a spin here and found me 🙏📚

[@keithagn]

Looking forward for the next part of Tom's life story. Thank you! Regards from Canada 🇨🇦

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Thank you, Keith!! I'm aiming to get the final installment up by the anniversary, June 25th!

[@58landman]

I believe you have done a fine job with the presentation of Tom Custer being the father of Tommy Custer. Their necks and shoulders are similar too.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Thank you so much! You are right, I hadn't thought of the shoulders also being similar.

[@dieternowatius5062]

A good decision to portray this facetfull person in more than only 2 Parts 👍Many thanks again about this news of the past 😳

[@jimmyz2098]

More interesting information, and as always..... a lot of fun listening to you telling this great American history. I love learning about Little Big Horn, and the before, during and after. The little things. And the more obvious. I also love learning about things, events, and periods in American history that are often over-looked. On the other hand... I also love Revolutionary history. (Re) reading 1776 right now - but this time in my Truck. Also - I think my main love is Lewis and Clarke, and the Corp of Discovery. Undaunted Courage is my all-time favorite book. I would LOVE to hear you get into that, and do some of this type of thing, around that. That would be epic ! OK - All the best, Siobhan!

[@SiobhanFallon7]

You have a lot of incredible historical interests and reading lists, Jimmy. I bet we'd have some great conversations. I'm honored you are enjoying some of my videos! All best, Siobhan

[@kcevans4321]

I really appreciated this piece of history. What a life Tom Custer lived. Amazing that it was in the shadow of his brother. Which perhaps underscores what a larger-than-life GAC was, in the sense that few have even heard of his two-time medal of honour-winning brother!

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Very true, and very sad! Though maybe each brother helped create the other in some way? Thanks so much, KC 😻

[@chuckmyers7698]

All of your videos are done with perfection, excellent research. Enjoy them very much. Thank you so much.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Thank you, Chuck!! I appreciate you taking the time to leave such a kind comment! 🤗

[@christopherfoster3744]

Hi ! I don't know what to say but congratulations, because all your videos are so good ! Thanks again ! 🙏✌️🇺🇲

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Christopher, you just put a huge smile on my face. Thank you for the kind words!

[@scottdutra788]

Thank you for bringing the characters to life. They are always presented as people or characters in historical events. You seem to humanize them as normal (though extraordinary) people of their time ❤

[@SiobhanFallon7]

So lovely of you to say, Scott. Please spread the word if you have any friends who might like to watch too!

[@Gene-kl1br]

I see Father Son also ! Tom Custer

[@brycesuderow3576]

If you’re interested, I’d be happy to share information on Barnitz with you. He commanded the second Ohio cavalry, which was part of Pennington‘s brigade at five Forks.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Yes! I'd love to do a video on Albert and Jenny someday!!! [e-mail] is a good email if you are able to share anything that way? Thank you, Bryce!

[@bougeac]

Awesome as usual! Keep ‘em coming 🙌

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Ha! Thank you! You know I will 😉

[@gar9429]

Very interesting. Thank you again Siobhan! If I remember correctly Rain-In-The -Face revenge was carried out on Tom at the Little Bighorn unfortunately!

[@SiobhanFallon7]

We'll see.... 😉 Thank you for taking the time to comment, Gar!

[@robertkramer8133]

Siobhan, thank you so very much for sharing the link of Beenteen’s baseball club and the story of Emily Bell. Always amazed me how a lady can live for 80 years and maybe only one picture? Could the family hold on to their mementos? Side note, for me I’ve always believed since Reno and Lt Hodgson were close friends, it just makes sense he would share his personal demons with Reno. We know Hodgson started this resignation application and withdrew it upon the expedition. Yet, he was under pressure under the belief he impregnated Emily Bell. For me, this makes logical sense why Reno would try his own maneuvers based on what Hodgson shared with him in private previously.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

I think so too-- Reno thought Mrs Bell was an easy mark, and infuriated when she wasn't. Still terrible behavior from a commander, but I can see some of his thought process here at least.

[@michaelhart6318]

Evidently Fred & Kate (Trabbie) weren't members of the "Custer Clan"

[@SiobhanFallon7]

No they were not 😉 Have you seen my Benteen videos, by chance, Michael? I get a kick out of Benteen and his very particular point of view.

[@scaredy-cat]

Tommy is surely Tom Custers

[@bobmcmorris8797]

Excellent presentation Soibhan, I am so glad I subscribed!

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Thank you, Bob!! 🥳🎉

[@brycesuderow3576]

Custer and Wesley Merritt were rivals. And we’re not on the best of terms. Sometime around 1869. Custer invited Merritt to join him out west on a buffalo hunt. I think the whole idea was to play a practical joke of some sort onMerritt. I don’t remember the details.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

One of my favorite stories!! I think Annie Gibson mentions it in her diary, printed by Brian Pohanka! I'll try to dig it up abd share here with you, Bryce, when I find it!

[@michaelhart6318]

Rebecca Minerd's photo bares a close resemblance to "Big Nose" Kate of Doc Holliday fame.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Interesting. I can see it!

[@markhubanks3715]

Great job and research Siobhan. Throughly enjoyed this video.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Thanks so much, Mark!!

[@joesphmurphy4013]

Siobhan: Thanks again for a picture of how life was on the plains and the men and women who lived the hardships on the frontier. I noticed that Tommy Custer was listed as "Custar" in the census and the obituary cited him as Custer and Custar. There is no doubt in my mind that Tommy Custer was the son of Tom Custer. His rejection of Tommy is a mystery and we will never know why. I really enjoy your tidbits of info that bring to life the human quality that is often missing in telling the story of the Old West. Stay safe and I am looking forward to the next episode. 🤔

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@joesphmurphy4013 thanks Joe! I agree with you, and think poor Tommy seems to be Tom's son. But the reasons it never worked out with his mom remain a sad mystery.

[@Storm-lg4mx]

The incident with the horse, pool table, and Wild Bill, is referred to in the Charles Bronson movie, The White Buffalo.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Really? Wow, thank you! That's a really connection.

[@MaryAnnAngros-fq9yy]

George said Tom should have been the general.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@@MaryAnnAngros-fq9yy he did!!

[@scaredy-cat]

I think Tom, a two time medal of honor recipient, could not be buried with George at West Point, is not right. Further he is a brother of a West Point graduate.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Perhaps it never occurred to them to try to bury Tom at West Point? I'm not sure. The other officers were being sent to Leavenworth, maybe it was just a given Tom would go there. Whereas Libbie specifically requested George go to West Point 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@robertkramer8133]

Another outstanding presentation. I don’t know how you find these rare photos like the Beenteen group one for example, but I’m so impressive and always looking forward to more. I wanted to see a picture of Emily Bell for example for years and years, yet you just drop it like it’s a Three Musketeers commercial.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Ha!! Thank you, Robert!!! I managed to get to the Hargrett years ago when I was first interested about writing this story. And the Benteen collection would blow your mind-- it's incredible. But I know so much more now and wonder how many details I missed. So someday I hope to go back. But yes, his photos are wild and Benteen liked to stamp himself on everything with his big swirling writing. The Emily Bell was a huge find for me too!! I had been looking for ages. Let me find the link for you...

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Scroll down past the baseball article and you'll find an article about James Bell and then another about Emily... www.menwithcuster.com/in-the-news/

[@robertkramer8133]

Thank you and plus a baseball article to boot!

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@@robertkramer8133 🤣🙌

[@griffhenshaw5631]

Ive watched a few episodes. Appreciate the detail of that period and the custers as well as indian wars.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@griffhenshaw5631 Thank you so much!

[@mikehunt-fx7sf]

Just stumbled on your new video and wanted to be the first to comment on what I know is going to be fantastic!

[@SiobhanFallon7]

You are the BEST!! Much appreciated, Mike! Please let me know what you think when you finish watching 🙏

[@mikehunt-fx7sf]

@@SiobhanFallon7 Finally had a chance and just finished watching. So much incredible stuff I don't know where to begin so I won't. I'm too slow of a typer! lol !! But I 100% agree with you that was Tom Custers son. Saw it instantly! And the rattlesnakes made me chuckle because my sister sent me a photo of a couple of them mating in the sun on her driveway at her house close to the Little Bighorn. They looked like tangled spaghetti. lol !! I got struck by one at The Reno-Benteen site years ago. It left two fang marks in my boot. Learned my lesson not to go off path! You do incredible work Siobhan and I actually get excited(which is hard to do) when a new video of yours pops up. Looking forward to part three! Can I ask you a question? Years ago a friend of mine told me out of the blue one day that he was named (John Armstrong) after his great grandfather who was killed with Tom Custer on the hill. It blew my mind but nothing more was said. I was wandering with your expertise and research if you have ever heard of him and who he was? If you ever have the time please let me know. You really are the best Siobhan and thanks for taking me back to those times in history!!

[@viched67]

Excellent videos and commentary.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@@viched67 thank you!

[@barbaraanneneale3674]

This is a premier example of spectacular research. But more importantlate it is a spectacular bit of narrative and storytelling. Once again, you have managed to humanize these characters beyond all believe. That should read belief. But I refuse to fight my grumbling anymore to correct it. And apparently it doesn't like being called a grimlin. But seriously from the hilarious To the tragic, these people were alive. They were heroic and lazy. Stupid and smart. Vain and selfless. In other words, just like all of us. Gloriously and sadly, all too human. Congratulations once again. I cannot wait for the next installment.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Oh Barbara!! That's exactly what I hope comes across! How human they are, and relatable, no matter how heroic or flawed. Thank you for seeing it! 🎉🙏🎉

[@barbaraanneneale3674]

@@SiobhanFallon7 Are you kidding me? You have succeeded so far beyond any other authof this period That it's hard for me to conceive of. Son of the morning, stor did a good job. You're doing a great 1.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@@barbaraanneneale3674 💕💕💕 I am blushing! Thank you, Barbara!

[@Steven-v7o]

It's identical when you line up Tommy Custer's older photo with Tom Custer's older photo. If I was a betting man I'd definitely vote that he's Tom's son. But Tommy Custer's mom even looks like Tom Custer quite a bit as well. The nose and eyes.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

The town seemed to think he was a genuine Tom Custer in that obit! Which says a great deal in itself.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Thanks so much for joining the conversation, Steven!

[@Steven-v7o]

Love your channel 👍

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@user-ys9mf8sx7p thank you!! 🙌

[@oneida41859]

Loved it! I learned quite a bit about Tom Custer. Thank you for all your hard work and research. Take care!

[@SiobhanFallon7]

So good of you to say. I learned so much about Tom myself here and I am really looking forward to digging into any testimony I can find about his role at the Little Bighorn...

[@oneida41859]

@@SiobhanFallon7 I would love to see an in-depth study on Custers civilian scouts. To me they were a fascinating lot. Thank you. Take care now!

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@oneida41859 oh, Charley Reynolds is in the line up! Also Fred Gerard, who I find especially fascinating as he had an Indian wife, and their daughters went into a convent.

[@brycesuderow3576]

I have some doubts about whether you’re right about the incident between the seventh cavalry shot soldiers and wild Bill Hickok. I tried to ask a British friend of mine who is an expert on Hickok and learned that he’s dead, he died in 2015. I’m visiting several Facebook sites on the wild west and asking the members which historians are the greatest experts on Hickok.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Do let me know what they say! The soldiers were Longerman and Kyle/ Kile. Kyle (sometimes seen as Kelly) died and Longerman was court martialed. I'm curious!

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Author Jeff Broome is active on Facebook too and might be able to share more details.

[@Jay_Hall]

Wow, Tommy Custer! I never knew. Great work Siobhan. Hmmmm.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Thank you, Jay! I found this the most exciting part of the research myself. Poor kid.

[@striperking6083]

As usual the best from Siobhan !

[@SiobhanFallon7]

You are so kind. Thank you again for the positive reinforcement!! 😉

[@michaelhart6318]

41:55 Last Indian on the far right next to the women...is that the Brule Chief Spotted Tail? Maybe not, he was a big dude.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Michael, I'll dig it up, I know I have notes on the fella... let me get back to you later when I find out!

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Michael, this is what I found: July of 1875, this photo was taken on the front porch of Custer’s home, or the Commander’s Quarters, at Fort Abraham Lincoln. There are different opinions on the identity of the Native American seen here to the left of Libbie Custer. Some say that it was the Hunkpapa warrior Long Solider, who was at Fort Lincoln for the peace treaties, and who was incredibly tall. But the biographer of Bloody Knife, Ben Innis, ID’s this man as Bloody Knife, who was only 5’7. I don't think he looks like Bloody knife myself.

[@walterbrown9651]

I have been awaiting this installment and enjoyed it so much! I hope to be out 6/25/24

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Yay Walter! Thank you! And how amazing that you will be on the battlefield soon! I hope to have the final installment about Tom at the Little Bighorn posted by the June 25th anniversary!

[@walterbrown9651]

@@SiobhanFallon7 I eagerly anticipate!

[@stevengamble2956]

So Tom Custer was as much a wild charactor as his brother George!! Great story telling again, look forward to its conclution😊

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Ha ha yes, Steven, he was. I'd even say Tom was wilder, as he drank and caroused even more than George!

[@davec4224]

You amaze me..: this is so awesome!

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Aww, Dave, you are wonderful. Thank you.

[@josephinekush5056]

Nice to see the Frederic Remington engraving of the Canadian trading post with one of our gallant "Riders of the Plains" standing watch to insure the transactions were satisfactory to all parties.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Wow!! I did not even realize it was a Canadian scene 🤦🏼‍♀️!! Thank you so much, George!

[@josephinekush5056]

@@SiobhanFallon7 In the early 1880's Remington spent time in western Canada & did series of paintings & sketches of the North-West Mounted Police that were subsequently published in the United States. In summing up his experience in Canada he said, that though he'd traveled all over the American continent, not until he saw the Blackfoot & Cree of Canada did he see people who embodied the true physical appearance of the Indians as described by Fenimore Cooper. ""They are a magnificent species." From that point onward the artist used his photos & sketches of the Blackfoot & Cree as models in all of his future work.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@josephinekush5056 wow, that's a great detail about the Cree and Blackfoot being physically superior-- or at least ideally "Indian"!

[@joedyer5486]

I wish Captain Custer had accepted his son. It's sad to think of death in battle and no acknowledgement of the boy to carry on his name and for his son to never know the man or the soldier that fathered him.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

I absolutely agree. And the comfort Tommy may have offered Emanual and Maria when so many of their children were wiped out at the Little Bighorn. And the comfort to poor Tommy, to have known and been able to be proud of his father. All of it is so sad.

[@joedyer5486]

I think it comforted me and made me more bold and able to lead in combat knowing my two sons were back in Georgia and my blood wouldn't die if I mate a trooper's fate in Baghdad or in the mountains of Afghanistan.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@joedyer5486 yes. I know my husband felt the same way, having a family to return to made the sacrifice a little easier, and the return was constantly on his mind, and if he didn't make it back, we would never forget him.

[@EndingSimple]

Well done.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@@EndingSimple thanks!! 🎉

[@pigmanobvious]

What a wealth of information! Thank you for helping me to continue building on to my knowledge of history. Looking forward to the last chapter.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Thank you so much!! I want to get up the final installment on the anniversary, June 25th! Cross your fingers for me I get it done!

[@pigmanobvious]

@@SiobhanFallon7 you go girl!!!

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@@pigmanobvious 🤣🤣🙌

[@pigmanobvious]

@@SiobhanFallon7 I have often wondered about the start of the Korean War.. a coincidence?

[@gator83261]

Very good video.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Thanks, Gator! Always great to hear from you!

[@kimberlydunn954]

A CMH for capturing a flag??? Tell that to Alvin York or Audie Murphy...real heros!

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Strange, I thought I replied to this. If I have, forgive the repetition. I don't think Audie Murphy would resent a young man who charged enemy lines, captured the organizing and directional communication symbol -- the enemy flag-- as well as enemy soldiers, AND got shot in the face doing it. Then tried to continue fighting and had to be arrested by his commander in order to get him to seek medical attention. Not too shabby.

[@leecrump9404]

What is consumption?

[@murrayterry834]

another aspect of the harshness of the untamed west. excellent work..lot of irony in their lives.

[@davidcouch6514]

TB.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Sorry, consumption is the Victorian name for tuberculosis. A terrible and contagious lung disease 😢

[@leecrump9404]

Thanks for letting me know I kept hearing stories about people in that time period having died from consumption so I knew it was something bad just didn't know what exactly consumption was thanks for sharing

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@leecrump9404 thank you for asking, Lee! I once heard it as a slow drowning as the persons lungs slowly fill to the point they can no longer breathe. That horrible image has stayed with me 😬

[@willgic3964]

Great information. From my understanding, when Rain in the Face mentioned "being treated like a woman" he was regularly sodomized by some of his captures including Tom Custer. That's why he swore such vengeance on him. And he got it.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Oh my gosh I have never heard anything like that ever, what is the source for that? Rain was handcuffed to another soldier. And an old soldier later admitted to having befriended Rain in the Face and setting him and the other man free. He never said anything about that. Both made their getaways together. The worst testimony of Tom abusing Rain in the Face came from an ex Confederate soldier who sometimes worked as a scout. He said he heard that Tom slapped and kicked Rain, but his testimony was suspect as he wasn't there at the time.

[@tbenedict6335]

They were not choir boys and i imagine young Tom's parents were not happy with a illegitimate grandson. They either didnt want the scandal or disapproved of the young lady, perhaps her entire family. I have to wonder about his character knowing she named the boy custer and not one custer family member acknowledged his claim or gave a reason why the boy might not have been Tom's son. Don't do the crime if you can't serve the time.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Yes, and the fact that the town seemed to think Tommy was a Custer-- from the Sons of the Veterans to the obituary. Emanual and Maria Custer were so devastated by the death of so many Custers at the Little Bighorn, yet they never sought out this boy. I do wonder if maybe Emanual and Maria didn't know the whole story, as it was impolite to talk about such things, and their own children probably wouldn't bring it up at gatherings? But surely Nevin would have heard something. Another mystery!

[@keddieverbanick9850]

I always look forward to your videos. You really breathe life into these stories from the old west. Instantly "liked"!!!!

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Thank you so much!!

[@Boomhower89]

🇺🇸👍

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Hey Boom!!

[@griffhenshaw5631]

James calhoun......any relation to famous senator.?

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Good question! I'll see if I can figure it out!

[@tudyk21]

38:30 Now, is that Bloody Knife lurking on the porch?

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Ha!! Good eye! Some folks think so, but I read a compelling argument that it was not Bloody Knife, but a visiting Lakota warrior who was there during one of the treaty signings.

[@tudyk21]

Is he in the center of this photo: 40:18?

[@SiobhanFallon7]

​@tudyk21 yes!! Doesn't he have swagger? Bloody Knife exudes cool.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Found the info I was looking for, Tudy! July of 1875, this photo was taken on the front porch of Custer’s home, or the Commander’s Quarters, at Fort Abraham Lincoln. There are different opinions on the identity of the Native American seen here to the left of Libbie Custer. Some say that it was the Hunkpapa warrior Long Solider, who was at Fort Lincoln for the peace treaties, and who was incredibly tall. But the biographer of Bloody Knife, Ben Innis, ID’s this man as Bloody Knife, who was only 5’7. I don't think he quite looks like Bloody knife myself.

[@tudyk21]

@@SiobhanFallon7 , no rest for Siobhan! 😁

[@talkietoaster4626]

Thank you for your work! I'm always happy to see a new video

[@SiobhanFallon7]

And I am always happy to hear from you!!

[@griffhenshaw5631]

Deer head pictured

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Whay's that, Griffen?

[@RailfanDownunder]

😊 superb work again

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Thank you!

[@thanemathis5914]

Very good job bringing the Custer brothers to life. I have always believed it likely that Rain-In-The-Face, carried out his threat that afternoon on June 25, 1876, given the severe mutilation of Tom's body as compared to others. After the battle the Indians involved would have hidden their involvement for fear of retribution.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Hello there, Thane! I think it's all rather shady myself. Tom's desecration was too deliberate. I think the Lakota might not have known they were initially fighting Custer. But too many of those warriors had crossed paths with the 7th. Some of them must have realized.

[@Redwhiteblue-gr5em]

@@SiobhanFallon7 some of them might have known the 7th Cav was probably the only Regiment on the Plains that had all their Companies use horses of the same color. However, I don’t know when the 7th started this practice. Did they do this at the Washita and Yellowstone Campaign?

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@@Redwhiteblue-gr5em they did!! Right before the Washita!! Wow, great insight!!!!! I don't think anyone has pointed that out before as far as I know!!!!! 🐎🐎🐎

[@Redwhiteblue-gr5em]

@@SiobhanFallon7 yes it’s pretty obvious the warriors payed attention to horses lol. I read in many Indian accounts how they pointed out the movements of the gray horse troop.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@@Redwhiteblue-gr5em Yes!!

[@GaryAshleycrashsmashley]

a lot of the men that join the military for the Indian wars were immigrants that wanted to get a little money, food and get closer to the gold fields. The reason Reynolds forced his men to destroy the pemmican and burn all the buffalo robes is because he hated the Irish and Germans in his command because he was a White man and didn't feel he needed to worry about those that are not white. Given the Custer family's station in that time I wonder if his drive was to because he is not a true WASP.

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Gary, for some insights into Custer's feelings toward Native Americans, please see my Bloody Knife videos. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!

[@GaryAshleycrashsmashley]

@@SiobhanFallon7 from reading the letters of my 3rd great grandfather it seems the feeling for the most part was a kind of sympathy and sadness. But it is clear that they see themselves as the ruling class of this country and families like the Custers could come up just like the old days when a person could be Knighted

[@GaryAshleycrashsmashley]

@@SiobhanFallon7 I send some stuff on Custer to Fredick Wagner years ago that I found in the state archives i will see if i can find it

[@SiobhanFallon7]

@@GaryAshleycrashsmashley wonderful, Gary, I'd really love to read!