Re: Lt James G Sturgis
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In reply to:
Re: Lt James G Sturgis
John Martin 4/10/11
Hey Idiot. I wasnt there but my direct ancestor John Kelly F troop KIA formally Sgt of E Troop was there, his widow with 3 kids married Sgt Curtis who was the NCO who discovered the indians looting the dropped pack. I do a lot of reading have over 150 books many first editions from 1877 to present. I will leave you with words of those who WERE THERE. The book is called "Mystery of the Rosebud" written by Douglas W Ellison 2002 It covers the whole Horse and body episode.Godfrey DID not see the Carbine.Godfrey stated to Walter Camp one of the greatest Little Big Horn Historians who interviewed every known white survivor that' He saw the horse near the Yellowstone in August 1876. Bridle gone. "HEARD" about carbine being found with it but "DID NOT SEE IT" Horse was shot in the head. Grain sack was on the saddle" Godfrey states in his field diary of August 8 1876" A rumor spread that a man of C Co and his horse had been found dead but it seems some Dough-boy got it off as a joke" Godfrey never stated it was a 7th Cavalry Horse., he stated "it was impossible to tell if it was a sorrel or light bay" "oats was in the bag" Oats being in the bag would prove to be that it was not a 7th Horse as they had gone throught their ration of oats and horses were grazing after June 23. Sturgis's head The ABC's Of Custer's Last Stand" by Arthur Unger 2004 whohappens to have one of the largest LBH collection not in museum hands "Two of the heads were identified as belonging to Troopers Armstrong of A Troop and John McGinnis of M Troop. The 3rd head was beleived to be Jack Sturgis but this could not be admitted as it would have devastated his family, so the 3rd head officilly became unidentified, another head found under a camp kettle was identified as a corporal from G Troop. At least Sturgis and possibly Porter were among the captives who were dismembered and burned to provide the entertainment at the post battle festivities" Two Moon Cheyenne chief in 1907 to Throssel stated soldiers were dragged into the village and burned at the dance that night. Private George Glenn H Co 7th Cav letter to Walter Camp 7/29/1908 now in Brigham Young University collection" One of the heads belonged to Armstrong,the other head looked to me to be that of Lt Sturgis" In 1913 Private Glenn wrote back again to Camp " Lt Sturgis was not found but his drawers were. Armstrong of A Company was tortured and the other head looked to me like Lt Sturgis." Sturgis buckskin blouse drawers pants and spurs and buttons engraved JGS were found in the village and id by Benteen , Dr Paulding , Lt McClernard and Lt Gibson. Pvt Goldin stated Sturgis skull was found near the firepit. All of thesestatements can be found in "The Custer Battle Casualties" Vol 2. By Richard G Hardorff. Also at the50 Annivesary of LBH 1926 on Godfreys program coverwritten in Godfrey hands "Sturgis's head found in village". Now if you want some more info I suggest go to our Little Big Horn Associates forum, where you will find a lot more info. You need to do a lot more reading on the subjectand stop suggesting that a brave officer from a wealthy family a West Point Graduate may have escaped and started a new life.