Part 21-1: Reno Hill

[@wardmacfarlan6306]

Like Boomer, I'm definitely going to be watching through this series again. What a treat to see off trail what I wanted to see when I was there. 1st of the 2 days I was there was cold, rainy, and windy (really eerie at Deep Ravine where the wind just quit when I descended the ravine), so there were hardly any people around and no one but me out of their cars. Every fibre of me wanted to stroll further into the noteworthy ravines but a feeling of potential desecration transcended even the fear of breaking the law (and the possibility of rattlesnakes - cold or otherwise). Glad I was able to see some off trail stuff after all!

[@CusterApollo]

+Ward Macfarlan Yes, going off trail is a real treat. Of course it must be noted that when I did go off trail I did have permission from the park service.

[@CusterApollo]

They are easy to miss as most can't be seen from the trail. You can only go down there if you have permission to do so. The Keogh Sector, as well as the Lame White Man trail on the western side of Battle Ridge are open to visitors though. I had a similar feeling on my first trip down to the Keogh Sector that you did. It felt like I was off trail when in fact I wasn't.

[@wolfpak8228]

This should all be park land and private owners compensated! Our history needed to be protected

[@boomersooner382]

There is a great group of people called the Bozeman Trail, Forts and the Indian wars. They know so much about the Fetterman fight and have so many pictures of the fight. It is something you might want to look at on facebook and see what they say about the battle and compare. Again watching your full video series for the 5th time. Learn something new every time.

[@CusterApollo]

Thanks for the information. I actually have been to the Fetterman Battlefield several times.

[@CusterApollo]

@claud1961 The Long Road marker has been moved. In 2001 it was in its actual (kill site) position down the hill. But it has since been moved up to the paved trail. The other warrior markers have been set down the hill where the original location of the Long Road marker once was. Not sure why they placed Long Road close to the trail while leaving the other markers out of sight down the hill.

[@TS-bn7zt]

Do we know the actual positions of those people who fell outside the park? Great to watch, many thanks.

[@CusterApollo]

Some kill sites yes. Some were marked by family.

[@gatesbrown26]

There are plenty of accounts of what chiefs like Crazy Horse, Gall and others were doing during the assault on Custer, but nothing on what they did during the Reno-Benteen siege. Were they even involved in the siege after destroying Custer?

[@CusterApollo]

They may have. But documentation is lacking.

[@lonewulf44]

If I visit , can I submit to have an 'off trail' pass as well? What is the criteria for getting one?

[@CusterApollo]

@lonewulf44 I am sure you could. However you have to have a good reason for going off the trail. I was filming a documentary and I also knew and was friends with the rangers at the park. They knew my work was serious and not just some excuse to go off the trail. I was given permission becuase my work was based on solid historical research with purposes of education.

[@CusterApollo]

It is a tuft of grass pulled out of the ground that has the dirt still attached to the roots of the grass. The Indians were attempting to get the soldiers to expose themselves so they could be shot and killed.

[@CusterApollo]

Well I don't think the dirt itself was a problem. However, the dirt hitting you does reveal position and distance. The warriors had gotten close enough to the soldier position to hit them with dirt. That constitutes a danger as the warriors are close. What if the Indians make an attack? The close position of the warriors was a threat and this needed to be countered. That is why Benteen charged off the hill and swept the Indians back. Distance equals safety. Good questions Onion. Thanks!

[@CusterApollo]

@commandersheperd1 I would say the proximity was the real problem. If an Indian was close enough to throw a dirt clog at you then he certainly was close enough to kill you with a rifle or arrow.

[@jonwenzel2341]

I don’t believe Roman Nose was killed at the Little Big Horn. I think he was killed years before. Thoughts?

[@CusterApollo]

There were many warriors with the name Roman Nose. Also they spoke several different languages since they were from different tribes. One tribe knew a warrior from another tribe by several different names in some cases. That is how you can get Lame White Man being killed several times on the Indian casualties list. He was known by different names by different tribes. So instead of several Indians killed at the battle, it ends up being just the same person. The same goes from Roman Nose. He was called Hump, Hump Nose, Old Man, etc.

[@claud1961]

The Roman Nose I was referring to was involved in Red Cloud's War, and participated in either the Hayfield fight or the Wagon Box fight. In both engagements, the defenders, assorted troopers, scouts and workers, were assaulted by Red Cloud's Warriors. This rare assault occurred because they assumed they outnumbered the defenders by a large factor, and most certainly would have succeeded had the defenders not had the recently issued Springfield and Lever Action Henry rifles. I remember reading that they were puzzled when the defenders didn't seem to need to reload. Being 1967, muzzleloaders were the common rifle. At any rate the attackers were unable to overrun the position.

[@CusterApollo]

@@claud1961 I have been to both those battle sites. The wagon box site was a little more interesting, but I liked them both. They are still out in the middle of nowhere. Quite peaceful.

[@Gitarzan66]

Why would Roman Nose have a marker there? He was killed in Co. 8 years prior.

[@Gitarzan66]

If its the same Roman Nose that is.

[@CusterApollo]

Different warrior with the same name.

[@Gitarzan66]

@@CusterApollo Interesting, seems like it would be a one of a kind name. I appreciate your videos. I've been studying the battle for many years. I stand 0 chance of going there because I'm in a wheelchair but your videos have given me a perspective I've never had before. Thank you for posting them.

[@CusterApollo]

@@Gitarzan66 Actually a lot of the park is wheelchair accessible.

[@claud1961]

When i was there last, they were pouring the walkway to the marker for Long Road. wasn't he the one killed while attempting to touch a dead trooper with a coup stick? BTW, thanks..I didn't break park rules and mosey down there, but I desperately wanted to!!!! Would have loved to navigate Water Carriers' Ravine...I have really enjoyed your commentary, and these add to my LBH experience. Like moody I didn't want to be disrespectful and wander off without permission.

[@NCLUSA]

I'm not a military person but it seems to me they (military) should have stayed in one large group, they would have been a much more effective force. A larger slower military force would have been able to carry the Gatling guns and maybe some lite cannons, a few rounds of grape shot from a a cannon would have put a hurting on the Indians, but! because the military didn't expect to be meeting a large group of warriors they were on no real alert were they?.

[@aa64912]

NCLUSA Custer did not realize how big the village was. He split his command in an attempt to box the Indians in. When they hit what they thought was the end of the village it turned out to be the middle. By then the village was alerted and it was too late

[@marcellino1956]

They were throwing those dirt clogs to annoy and irritate the soldiers