little big horn 1876 - custer's last stand [osprey - campaign no. 139]

band. While Custer and the left wing were beyond Cemetery Ridge, Crazy Hone and his mounted following crossed the Little Big Horn River at the mouth of the Deep Ravine, just north d the village. They ascended through the Deep ravine and crossed the mile-long BattIe Ridge far to the north of the right wing, then took m e r e d positions in the ravines dong the east side of the ridge and began to infiltrate towards the right wing. With Gall approaching Calhoun Hill from the south, the Cheyenne leader, Lame White Man, to the west, and Crazy Horse now to the east, the encir- clement was complete.

It was about this time, 4.50 pm, that Capt. Weir departed Reno HilI with D Cmpany. Custer's left wing returned to Cemetery Ridge and dqloyed in skirmish formation, with E Company taking up a position near Custer Hill and F Company just below it. Indian aggressiveness intensified as their numbers rapidly increased. They began to close in &om aI1 direc- tions. Cheyenne war chief Two Moons and Runs the Enemy attempted to stampede the grey horses (E Company) near Cemetery Ridge, but were deterred by carbine fie. The a s t e r battalion waited, l m h g south-east far Benteen. Calhoun and Keogh were on W o u n W, Custer, Yates and

I st Lt. James Calhoun,

Company L commander, was

Custer's brother-in-law. Calhoun's company was dis-

mounted in skirmi.sh lines when overwhelmed and destroyed on the hill t h t

now bears his name. Vwy few escaped to Custer's posi- tion three-quarters of a mile away. (Denver Public

Library)