Custer's route

[mac]

Martini first said he last saw them heading down a ravine/coulee (so many versions). Only later does it become Cedar Coulee. Maybe it was but just sayin...
Cheers

[yanmacca]

Hey everyone.

I want some opinions on this map, as it is pretty sterile at the moment but with some help with adding some place names and the three positions of Martini, Kanipe and Thompson plus some cartridge find markers, it will hopefully do the job.

So what do you all think and can anyone help me with the locations;

[yanmacca]

I could expand it further to incorporate a larger area which would take in LNC ridges, but both maps do not cover LSH, Cemetery hill, norther fords or BRE as that would mean zooming out so far that we would be struggling to see the features and locations.

[quincannon]

I agree in principle that natural corridors are the most likely places where you would find modern highways. It seems Wolf Tooth had that in mind also, if he was as reported situated somewhere in the general vicinity of Highway 212, when Custer's presence was reported to him. 212 is the direct route to Busby, and I am fairly certain that the Indians were aware of Custer's presence at Busby on 23 June. Just where he was located when he first sighted Custer's column is of course unknown but when Steve plots those cartridge finds I think we will know where he first engaged. My gut tells me though that the place of first sighting is probably along the road near the right hand portion of the map, with the place of engagement more centered, but still along the road, right above L-C Ridge, or perhaps slightly more to the right above Luce Ridge.

The big ditch in the center Ian is Medicine Tail Coulee. The high ground immediately above it to the left is Nye-Cartwright, and to the right Luce. I think given that basic orientation you should be able to identify and plot the other significant locations.

What strikes me about these Google Maps is that the terrain appears to be a lot more rough than it is in reality. It is rough enough to be sure, but not that bad.

[yanmacca]

Thanks Chuck, I also need the location of SSR for the Kanipe marker and Steve to show me where Thompson dropped out and that will pretty much do it I think.

[quincannon]

Start about the rightmost 212 marker and follow that high ground all the way to near the bottom of the page.

[yanmacca]

So if the orange circle ok for Thompson and the yellow line ok for SSR?

[dave]

Yan
I can not tell you how much I appreciate and need your skills as a cartographer to make sense of all the possible routes taken or possibly be taken by all the participants of this battle. You are a godsend and to have your willingness to share your expertise is greatly appreciated by all.
Thank you so much.
Regards
Dave

[yanmacca]

Thanks Dave, I am willing to help in anyway I can.

What I am trying to do is nail down a map with all the relevant place names and things like the Thompson, Kanipe and Martini spots were they returned back, plus some of cartridge finds.

Steve has mentioned this a few times so I think it is about time we all had a map to work from so I can alter the routes and stuff and we go along.

[Beth]

Yan I would find such a map as a godsend but suggest that it might take more than one for the detail and then perhaps stitch them together?

[quincannon]

Ian: SSR is under the 212 marker on the right side of the page.

[yanmacca]

What all the way up here?

[quincannon]

No.

It is the high ground below your red circle that extends nearly to the bottom of the page.

[yanmacca]

Please tell me that its the yellow line on the extreme right.

[quincannon]

OK, if that is what you want me to tell you I will, but it would be much more accurate to say it is the area between the yellow and pink lines, and it goes even further toward the bottom of the page SSR is a long feature that goes generally southwest to northeast.