Hail, Custer's Last Stand

We left the Ft. Laramie area and continued on to a city park. The sun was sinking low..at 8 PM, so time to look around and relax

Noticed the bark on the cotton wood trees how different it is from the trees in Florida. You could make a fire with the large bark.

We had dinner, then Liz made dessert. 321 cake and icecream. Can't beat it.

We stopped in Douglas, my house batteries decided to give it up. So got one, had to wait overnight for the other. So on to Douglas City Park.  Plink, plink, plink, rain? sky falling....no by golly it is hail...real hail.

See the hail on the ground?

We drove the next into very threatening skys...you can see a storm a long way off.

The storm is a long way off and you can see the rain in the mountains.

As we traveled into the next town we saw the information for Custer's Last Stand. Of course Southern Comfort just had to stop.

  This is some of the uniforms worn and the white leather jacket was one like Custer wore.

Skulls that were found in the area of Custer's men, were regenerated so we can see what they looked like.

Everywhere you see a marker, is where one of Custer's men fell.

Information here about the markers. Custer's men had shot their horses and hid behind them trying to shield themselves from the attack.

But they were in very open terrain on this hill and just never stood a chance.

June 25, 1876, approximately 100 years from the birth of this nation.

Read a bit about the memorial.

Markers are also there for the fallen Indians, their names and tribe are ingraved.

Another Marker

Cheyenne were here.

The Sioux and the Arapaho

The Arikara

The Crow

You can see by the number of tribes represented and the small number of men (220) that Custer had, he was out manned. It would have taken a miracle for him to have won this battle.

The Indians unified to make an effort to end the white man coming west. Although Custer was defended, it didn't end the trudge the white man was making to the west.

These markers where the brave men fell, following the orders they were given

A bust of Custer.

A bust of Sitty Bull, the chief that united the tribes against Custer.

This location just a mile or so fromt he battle site was where it all began.

More information on the battle.

This was well worth the stop, even though we were walking in wind and freezing rain.

A beautiful view now, and there is a national cemetary located here.

If you can read the sign we are in Montana now, leaving Wyoming behind.

We stayed a night in the Walmart parking lot and restocked. I found this statue in the little town. The boy on the right is showing the older man his fish, the older man is telling the boy how big the fish was he caught at just his age.

We leave here and head on to more beautiful areas.

Ft. Laramie Area

A small area named Chugwater. Interesting information here on the animals that live in the rock outcroppings.

Here are some of the outcroppings referred to.

More of the outcroppings

One more view.

The photos do not do these justice, the eye sees so much more

We stopped at a rest area and had a great view of the mountains.

Walked around to  one of the shelters to get another view.

The information below is on the Laramie Peak you see above. This peak has been seen by many travelers over the years

 

Another clear view of the peak.

And here is southern comfortable taking us along the road to our adventure.

Due to the lack of wild animals up to this point would like to share the ant hill with you. Busy little devils.

At the original Ft. Larmie location there are walls remaining of some of the buildings. When it was annouced that the fort was closing, people came and took what they needed to make their own homes.

Today was a special trip day, Tina was of age!!!  She finally got her golden age pass. Isn't this a cute butt shot of the group?

Tina approaches the door, bravely alone to face the great club.

Tina with the park ranger swearing that she is 60ish and should be allowed a pass. Note that grin while she is swearing to this, I think she is really 50.

But then came the ceremonial signing of the card.

Tina shows off that new pass with pride. I was so excited for her I shook the camera..so enjoy the blurry picture.

We then got down to the business of looking at what Ft. Laramie had been about.

We have the Springfield Carbine.

In 1873 they had the 45 colt. It shot a 70 grain black powder cartridge. But that had a bit of a kick.

Then there was the horse soldier's weapon.

This was a short barreled carbine, easy to handle in the saddle. (so they say, I would probably have shot my toe off)

Then I found the doctor's instruments. anyone need a leg removed?  Looked my saw I have in my tool box. MMMM

Note the syringe for shots on the lower right.  No wonder I hated shots as a kid.

Also on display was a wigwam. Think you would be cold in this uninsulated hut.

Some of the buildings they have been able to restore. Some of these you see are officer's quarters with their families.

Then we went to see the Cavalry barracks. I did not take a bad picture, the birds had been here before me.

So read between the poop!!

There was a dining hall.

The sleeping area, with a rack for the horse soldier carbines.

Looking at the floor bet there have been hundreds of feet trod over this floor.

A beautiful old tree set just outside of the barracks. Oh if it could only talk, the stories it could tell us.

In the area there is a desk for writing reports

Then we have the kitchen. Looks quite functional.

There were shelves of canned goods and loaves of homemade bread.  (gosh no sliced white bread yet)

The officers and their families lived in these finer homes. They all had their private outhouse out back..wasn't that sweet.

The sutter's house did exist in the area, but nothing left now but a foundation and the story.

A back door shot of the officer's quarters

Liz's tour bus in motion taking us back to the camp site. Tina is still grinning over the fact she is of age!!

The bridge had been built to carry soldiers and supplies to the fort over the river.

The bridge still stands. I was amazed at the amount of steel used to build the bridge.

The bridge looks to be riveted

Information on the company that built the bridge

The historical marker for the Platte river bridge

A side shot of the bridge as we cross over the new bridge.

That ends this portion of our trip. We will be heading on down the road in our wagons.