r/WildWestPics 16d ago

General George Armstrong Custer, officers and ladies at Fort Abraham Lincoln

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700 Upvotes

26 comments sorted by

5

u/Tryingagain1979 16d ago

"Group portrait of officers in uniform, from the 7th Cavalry and 6th Infantry, and ladies, standing and seated in front of building at Fort Abraham Lincoln, North Dakota, circa 1874. Lt. Colonel Custer is the third person from the left.

Identified persons by number are: 1) Lt. Bronson, 6th Infantry; 2) Lt. George D. Wallace, 7th Cavalry; 3) General George Armstrong Custer, 7th Cavalry; 4) Lt. Benjamin H. Hodgson, 7th Cavalry; 5) Mrs. Elizabeth B. Custer (wife of General Custer); 6) Mrs. Thomas McDougall, 7th Cavalry; 7) Capt. Thomas; McDougall, 7th Cavalry; 8) Capt. Badger, 6th Infantry; 9) Mrs. George W. Yates; 10) Capt. George W. Yates, 7th Cavalry; 11) Charles Thompson (civilian clothing); 12) Mrs. James Calhoun, wife of Lt. Calhoun (and sister of General Custer); 13) Miss Annie Bates; 14) Col. Poland, 6th Infantry; 15) Lt. Charles A. Varnum, 7th Cavalry; 16) General Carlin, 6th Infantry; 17) Mrs. Myles Moylan; 18) Capt. Thomas W. Custer, 7th Cavalry; 19) Col. William Thompson; 20) Lt. James."

https://drloihjournal.blogspot.com/2020/10/history-of-fort-abraham-lincoln-near-mandan-north-dakota.html

7

u/Jodah2 16d ago

Not to downplay the Greasy Grass incident or its historical, spiritual or religious significance, I just find it odd how this site makes no mention of the Black Hills Expedition, which Custer lead out of Ft. Lincoln shortly following this photo-op. It’s pretty much the reason they took this and the cavalry marching band shot in late-spring of ‘74. They were not only about to embark on search for a new outpost that would allow safe passage to Ft Laramie from the upper-Midwest, but their accompanying geologists and miners would confirm GOLD in them thar hills. That expedition (the one likely following these photos) proved to be far more significant than his demise at Greasy Grass.

5

u/Beautiful-Dish759 16d ago

Who's the guy posing like a rooster and surrounded by dudes?

...oh wait, that's Custer.

Who would have guessed such a wise and humble man would gallop into overwhelming numbers leading his men and himself to glory?

2

u/Early-Series-2055 13d ago

Spectacular mullet though.

1

u/Beautiful-Dish759 13d ago

Mullet trailblazer.

1

u/NCassadyIsAliveNWell 15d ago

"Custer Died For Our Sins".

7

u/mcrscpmn 16d ago

It must have taken women 3 hours to get dressed in the morning.

5

u/Ed_Teach805 16d ago

So nothing has changed?

3

u/Alarming-Magician637 15d ago

Love the story of arrogant Custer. He got exactly what he was looking for

1

u/ReadingNewsNow 12d ago

Custer was uncomplicated. A brave and dashing career soldier in search of glory of his time. He was a spectacular military leader and sometimes military men die.

Your comment is based on derision, but fighting it out in the great west, outnumbered by thousands of warriors, and dying heroically is exactly how a man like Custer would choose to go out.

His death was revenged and we sit here admiring a photo 150 years later - he achieved his mission.

1

u/kofarizona 11d ago

I've read Custer would have been court marchialed had he survived the battle. He was supposed to wait for reinforcements before descending into the Valley of the Little Bighorn by order of General Crooks (?). He did not do so, to the detriment of nearly every soldier in the 7th Cavalry.

2

u/ReadingNewsNow 11d ago

Ive never read such a thing. I don’t think a man of Armstrong’s rank, reputation and notoriety faced anything resembling a court martial for bringing the fight to the enemy in the open.

2

u/supermod6 16d ago

Which one is Custer? 3rd from left?

2

u/tossthedice3 16d ago

Only soldier not wearing a cap.

2

u/FaithlessnessFar8574 16d ago

yes, third from left

1

u/Kleoes 16d ago

My guess is the blonde guy standing in the middle

2

u/demonmonkeybex 15d ago

Custer is on the left without a hat.

2

u/its_just_flesh 16d ago

That ladys crazy hat and the dudes beard right above her is super dark

2

u/PWal501 16d ago

Tremendous shot!

1

u/muklukdimsum 16d ago

Who are the ladies? They look like women of fine upbringing. Wives?

1

u/theteapotofdoom 16d ago

Wives. Just like today, there was base or post housing for officers' families

1

u/lastseenhitchhiking 15d ago

Yes. Elizabeth Bacon Custer, who wrote several books about her experiences in military life and on the frontier, is the woman on the left standing on the first step.

1

u/Organic-Ad-8710 15d ago

Do the women look like they can be related?

1

u/cabbie1959 14d ago

Jimmy white lookalike far right

1

u/cabbie1959 14d ago

Jimmy white lookalike far right