Post by yanmacca on Jun 21, 2018 12:39:45 GMT
I have posted a few accounts here by Martini, we can go back to them as a difference point in the future.
Apparently Martini kept a diary which he published years after the battle, here is a few snippets;
In his diary, Martini mentions a clash with the regimental chief trumpeter Voss;
While they camped by the Little Missouri River
on May 29, Martin wrote, Voss detailed me as mounted orderly for headquarters; but as it was not my turn, I refused to do the duty, and after some words the chief trumpeter had me tied up on the picket line for
two hours (strung up by the thumbs) An upset Martin spoke to his company commander, Captain Frederick Benteen, who reported the matter to General Custer. Custer] sent for me,” Martin wrote“ and said he would have it investigated as soon as we got back to quarters. Martin’s assignment to
accompany Custer’s headquarters staff was routine and part of a rotation among all of the company buglers.
While they camped by the Little Missouri River
on May 29, Martin wrote, Voss detailed me as mounted orderly for headquarters; but as it was not my turn, I refused to do the duty, and after some words the chief trumpeter had me tied up on the picket line for
two hours (strung up by the thumbs) An upset Martin spoke to his company commander, Captain Frederick Benteen, who reported the matter to General Custer. Custer] sent for me,” Martin wrote“ and said he would have it investigated as soon as we got back to quarters. Martin’s assignment to
accompany Custer’s headquarters staff was routine and part of a rotation among all of the company buglers.
Another account;
Martin’s recollection is imprecise: He told Graham in 1922 that Benteen ordered him to report to Custer, yet his diary written no later than 1906 indicated Chief Trumpeter Voss issued the order. As troopers prepared their mounts, Martin reported to Custer who “just looked at me and nodded.” With a battle imminent, and the need to maintain constant communication between units, Martin was one of several orderlies attached to the headquarters staff.
After the troopers mounted, Martin wrote that the Seventh moved out in column of fours, fifty feet between each company. Custer was followed closely by his adjutant, Lieutenant William W. Cooke.
Trailing further behind were two color-bearers, Chief Trumpeter Voss and Martin.
After several miles, Major Marcus A. Reno and the three companies (around 140 troopers) rode toward the Little Big Horn valley as ordered. Captain Frederick Benteen, also in command of three companies, was sent to the southwest to block any escape.
Captain Thomas McDougall and one company rode with the Regiment’s pack train of mules laden with ammunition and supplies.
We went at a gallop,” Martin recounted for Colonel W. A. Graham in 1922,“ the General seemed to be in a big hurry. Custer and the remaining five companies (approximately 220 troopers) rode for one or two miles, by Martin’s estimate, before arriving at a big hill that overlooked the valley.
The command halted near its base while Custer, Martin and the headquarters staff climbed the hill (or ridge) for their first look at
the Indian encampment across the river.
After the troopers mounted, Martin wrote that the Seventh moved out in column of fours, fifty feet between each company. Custer was followed closely by his adjutant, Lieutenant William W. Cooke.
Trailing further behind were two color-bearers, Chief Trumpeter Voss and Martin.
After several miles, Major Marcus A. Reno and the three companies (around 140 troopers) rode toward the Little Big Horn valley as ordered. Captain Frederick Benteen, also in command of three companies, was sent to the southwest to block any escape.
Captain Thomas McDougall and one company rode with the Regiment’s pack train of mules laden with ammunition and supplies.
We went at a gallop,” Martin recounted for Colonel W. A. Graham in 1922,“ the General seemed to be in a big hurry. Custer and the remaining five companies (approximately 220 troopers) rode for one or two miles, by Martin’s estimate, before arriving at a big hill that overlooked the valley.
The command halted near its base while Custer, Martin and the headquarters staff climbed the hill (or ridge) for their first look at
the Indian encampment across the river.
It was a big village, but we couldn't see it all from there, though we didn't know it then,” Martin recalled, but several hundred tepees were in plain sight.”
Martin told Walter Camp in 1908 that as Custer and his officers viewed the village through field glasses, they observed children and dogs playing among the tepees but no warriors or horses except a few loose ponies grazing around.”
The General, Martin recalled, seemed both surprised and glad by what he saw, and the officers debated whether the warriors were
away hunting buffalo or still asleep in their tents.
Custer “turned in the saddle and took off his hat and waved it so the men of the command at the base of the hill, Martin recounted. In his high pitched voice, the General shouted, “Hurrah, boys, we've got them! We'll finish them up and then go home to our station.” Martin’s diary reflected a slightly different speech, with Custer exhorting, “Boys, have courage! Be brave, and as soon as we get through with these Indians we will go home to our winter station.” In other eyewitness accounts, Custer and Cooke waved their hats to Reno’s men who were beginning their attack on the valley floor.
After he rejoined the troops, Custer and his experienced adjutant, Lieutenant Cooke, conferred briefly. Following a mile of hard riding, the
command reached a deep ravine that led down to the Little Bighorn and the village. It was probably around 3:35 p.m, moments before Custer launched his attack. As the men started to descend into the ravine, Custer called Martin over. “Orderly, I want you to take a message to Benteen. Ride as fast as you can and tell him to hurry,” the Generals words tumbled out rapidly, “Tell him it's a big village and I want him to be quick, and to bring the ammunition packs. Martin did not reply, but as he checked his horse, Lieutenant Cooke called out, "Wait, orderly.”
As he pulled a field order pad from his jacket, Cooke told Martin, “I'll give you a message."Cooke noticed how quickly the excited Custer spoke
and perhaps doubted Martin’s ability to comprehend the order clearly and precisely. Echoing Custer’s orders, Cooke’s note read:
Benteen
Come on. Big Village.
Be quick. Bring packs.
W. W. Cooke
P.S. Bring Pacs.
As he handed the dispatch to Martin, Cooke added, “Now, orderly, ride as fast as you can to Benteen. Take the same trail we came down. If you have time and there is no danger, come back; but otherwise stay with your company."Cooke’s specific commands stressed the immediate need for Benteen to support Custer’s attack. Martin’s diary, however, described a different scenario. Custer perused the note already written before calling for an orderly to deliver it. An unidentified trooper another orderly stepped out to which Custer replied, “No, no, the other man [Martin].”
As Martin took the dispatch, Custer instructed, “Trumpeter, go back on our trail and see if you can discover Benteen and give him this message. If you see no danger come back to us, but if you find Indians in your way stay with Benteen and return with him and when you get back to us report.”
Martin told Walter Camp in 1908 that as Custer and his officers viewed the village through field glasses, they observed children and dogs playing among the tepees but no warriors or horses except a few loose ponies grazing around.”
The General, Martin recalled, seemed both surprised and glad by what he saw, and the officers debated whether the warriors were
away hunting buffalo or still asleep in their tents.
Custer “turned in the saddle and took off his hat and waved it so the men of the command at the base of the hill, Martin recounted. In his high pitched voice, the General shouted, “Hurrah, boys, we've got them! We'll finish them up and then go home to our station.” Martin’s diary reflected a slightly different speech, with Custer exhorting, “Boys, have courage! Be brave, and as soon as we get through with these Indians we will go home to our winter station.” In other eyewitness accounts, Custer and Cooke waved their hats to Reno’s men who were beginning their attack on the valley floor.
After he rejoined the troops, Custer and his experienced adjutant, Lieutenant Cooke, conferred briefly. Following a mile of hard riding, the
command reached a deep ravine that led down to the Little Bighorn and the village. It was probably around 3:35 p.m, moments before Custer launched his attack. As the men started to descend into the ravine, Custer called Martin over. “Orderly, I want you to take a message to Benteen. Ride as fast as you can and tell him to hurry,” the Generals words tumbled out rapidly, “Tell him it's a big village and I want him to be quick, and to bring the ammunition packs. Martin did not reply, but as he checked his horse, Lieutenant Cooke called out, "Wait, orderly.”
As he pulled a field order pad from his jacket, Cooke told Martin, “I'll give you a message."Cooke noticed how quickly the excited Custer spoke
and perhaps doubted Martin’s ability to comprehend the order clearly and precisely. Echoing Custer’s orders, Cooke’s note read:
Benteen
Come on. Big Village.
Be quick. Bring packs.
W. W. Cooke
P.S. Bring Pacs.
As he handed the dispatch to Martin, Cooke added, “Now, orderly, ride as fast as you can to Benteen. Take the same trail we came down. If you have time and there is no danger, come back; but otherwise stay with your company."Cooke’s specific commands stressed the immediate need for Benteen to support Custer’s attack. Martin’s diary, however, described a different scenario. Custer perused the note already written before calling for an orderly to deliver it. An unidentified trooper another orderly stepped out to which Custer replied, “No, no, the other man [Martin].”
As Martin took the dispatch, Custer instructed, “Trumpeter, go back on our trail and see if you can discover Benteen and give him this message. If you see no danger come back to us, but if you find Indians in your way stay with Benteen and return with him and when you get back to us report.”