 |
|
Under Siege at the Little Bighorn ~ by Don crook
The famous battle in Montana has been painted more than any other event in American history. On June 25, 1876, George Armstrong Custer led a force to attack the Indian nation encamped in the Little Bighorn Valley. Through some mistakes in judgment by Custer ( a well known hero of the Union Calvary in the Civil War), much of the Seventh Calvary was lost, including the Colonel himself. He misjudged the size of the Indian camp, then divided his force.
My art career has spanned some 50 years, although I have been interested in the Indian wars since junior high (1950). Last June, Ken Thomas, an historical art collector, commissioned me to do this major work. This is my second historical painting for Mr. Thomas, and by far the most complex painting I have ever done - two weeks of research and two months of concentrated work. Custer led a part of his men to a small hill near the Little Bighorn River. There they dismounted. When the men holding the horses were killed, Custer and his command were left on foot. They were doomed! An estimated 1800 Indians came pouring out of the valley and surrounded the Seventh Calvary. The remaining men were dug into the riverbank with supplies, plus the ammunition train, and many survived. They were rescued by General Terry's relief column. The battle for Last Stand Hill lasted about an hour, with the final twenty minutes turning into a brutal hand-to-hand, no quarter given, conflict. My painting deals with the last few minutes before they were completely overrun by the force of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. The artwork gives a panoramic view of the conflict. At the far right a shadowed warrior has confiscated a swallowtail guidon. At the left a major wave of horsemen are approaching the beleaguered soldiers. A war-bonneted chief has broken the perimeter and has speared a corporal. The Indians are now among the defenders, causing confusion and fear. Most of the troopers held their ground and died where they fought. Some men broke for the river but still perished in the battle. Custer is part way up the hill with his personal battle flag. Although wounded on his left side, he continues to shoot with both pistols. This is my impression of how it must have been on that fateful day in June. History has recorded many different opinions on Custer's last stand, and because no one survived the battle, it's mostly supposition. Reference Books:
|
