Deep Ravine

[yanmacca]

Steve do you think that Donahue is being cagey?

But to me the two letter Ms may just represent a marker point for his writing, just look at the top letter M and you can see that it is placed within two line and may just mean what he saw in deep ravine.
The second M is also lined off and probably has something to do with that scribble to the right of it.

The map as you expect is full of errors and these must be taken note of, this part below mentions what looks like "we buried 303 bodies on this field alone"
Yet below that he says another 30 bodies in a ravine were buried, are these counted in with the 303?

[Beth]

Those are arrows showing that there is a rise in terrain. Inside of the circled area you do see a few triangles.

[chardvc]

Nov 22, 2016 6:25:10 GMT Beth said:

Do you think that there could be another possibility? The map clearly shows that thee is a raised area--all those lines around LSH pointing toward the center but the line of bodies are in a flat area. Could he be referring to bodies in this area?  Benteen didn't really need to have symbols to show missing bodies, he was educated and could simply write 30 bodies missing--on the other hand to show that there were bodies in a certain area, he would probably want to use the same symbol he has used before. Plus adding the mention of a ravine--

Of course I have not been in the area and I know what may appear to be a ravine in an satellite shot is totally different in person.

Interesting Beth. I looked at Benteen's notes and if you look at the alignment of the words I read it as 2 statements. "30 bodies buried on this field", "3 bodies alone". I'm not sure where that leaves me, us or them but if Benteen is indicating 30 bodies on that alignment and 3 bodies nearer (or in) the village....

Who was the infantry guy who recorded the field and noted, and mapped, evidence of a stand on Cemetery Ridge. Where did he record the bodies lying?

Ian - I recall that statement about using ropes too but I'm jiggered if I can find it. One place I haven't looked recently are the statements by MacDougall but I can't remember where I even read them. 

[yanmacca]

Mark, I think you are correct and MacDougall maybe a candidate for any account of bodies being pulled out of deep rave, as you can see on Moylan map, company B is on the western side of the field sweep.

Apparently they lined up companies abreast and moved from south to north, you can see this on the map;

[deadwoodgultch]

Excellent addition, above, Ian. I have not seen it in years.

[yanmacca]

You are welcome Tom, you maybe glad to know that I have been shopping and have found a couple of things of interest,

I found this map in the link below;

link

[yanmacca]

Nov 24, 2016 12:15:57 GMT deadwoodgultch said:

Excellent addition, above, Ian. I have not seen it in years.

Tom, I edited that map and cut it down by half or so, but I have full version in my files if you want a copy.

[dave]

The Deep Ravine question to me sums up the mystique of the Little Big Horn Battle and its participants. We study each and every aspect of this small little matter of history to the nth degree. I would wager there are people who are searching for the sinks that Custer and his command used on the way to fame and death.

Yet, here I am reading every word of this thread, searching old threads of other boards as well as rereading The Mystery of E Troop by Michno desperately attempting to discern if: 1) Deep Ravine?; 2) Cemetery Ravine?; or 3) It did not happen and all the eye witness statements were misunderstood or flat out wrong? You pick your number and let your bet ride.

I expect y'all to solve this little conundrum by the end of the year! If not we will muckle onto this matter in late May when we meet.
Regards
Dave

[Beth]

Come on, you need to give us at least to February because of the holiday season and an on site recon will be required.

[dave]

Beth
If I am anything it is patient. I am willing to wait till May when we visit the field to get the final answers but expect regular updates weekly.
Ian is right smart researcher, could have used him for my thesis, who is doing an excellent job but I expect he is just getting started and will go deeper.

I know that you, Deadwood, QC, AZ, Colt, Mac and Brother David can do more and I am eagerly awaiting the results! I meanwhile will continue playing golf, spoiling grand babies, drinking gin and tonic and occasionally doing a cross word puzzle. Busy, busy busy.
Regards
Dave

[quincannon]

Disgusting decadence. Gin and tonic???

[dave]

Merely the influence of my British heritige affecting my lifestyle as the English are known for their manners! Tis a nice change from Dr Jack on the rocks with just a splash of water. I find myself comprehending more of these threads and posts while sipping.
Regards
David

[yanmacca]

Dave, if you want to be like us lot then you must be able to handle your jager bombs, I am always persuaded to knock a few back on boxing day by the younger generation, who think they can out drink this old geezer, but they fail every year.

link

[dave]

Yan
In my bad ole days of duck hunting I often wore a double lanyard. One held my call and the other my half pint of Peppermint schnapps. It was so good for those really cold days!!
Occasionally I ran out of schnapps before the hunt and other times I left early only to wake later still in the blind.
Regards
Dave

[yanmacca]

Peppermint schnapps, my god Dave, after a few of those you will end up in Deep Ravine!