Near Benkelman in Dundy County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

General Custer in Nebraska

By Barry Swackhamer, August 21, 2014

1. General Custer in Nebraska Marker

Inscription. General George Armstrong Custer, commanding troops A, D, E, H, K, and M of the Seventh Cavalry, camped near here June 22, to 30, 1867, after a march from Fort McPherson, Nebraska. They were campaigning against the elusive Sioux and Cheyenne Indians.

On June 24 Pawnee Killer led a dawn attack on Custer’s camp, wounding a sentry. There followed a parley between Custer and his officers and Pawnee Killer, Pole Cat, Fire Lightning and Walks Underground. Neither side was able to learn the plans of the other, and an Indian effort to separate the officers from their command was thwarted. Later Captain Hamilton and forty troopers, pursuing a decoy war party, rode into an ambush seven miles northwest of the camp but fought their way out, killing two warriors.

Custer’s supply train of sixteen wagons, returning from Fort Wallace, Kansas, was attacked near Black Butte Creek, Kansas, and killed several Indians. Lt. Kidder, ten troopers and scout Red Bead, carrying orders from Fort Sedgwick, Colorado, missed Custer’s camp and were killed near Beaver Creek. Their mutilated bodies were found and buried by Custer on July 12.

The flamboyant career of General Custer ended on the Little Big Horn, Montana, June 25, 1876.

Erected by Dundy County Historical Society & Nebraska State Historical Society

By Barry Swackhamer, August 21, 2014

2. General Custer in Nebraska Marker

. (Marker Number 22.)

Marker series. This marker is included in the Nebraska State Historical Society marker series.

Location. 40° 2.271′ N, 101° 32.577′ W. Marker is near Benkelman, Nebraska, in Dundy County. Marker is on U.S. 34, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: US Highway 34, Benkelman NE 69021, United States of America.

More about this marker. This marker is just south of Benkelman.

Categories. • Wars, US Indian •

Pawnee Killer image. Click for full size.

By Unknown, n.d.

3. Pawnee Killer

Custer finding the victims of the Kidder Massacre image. Click for full size.

By Harpers Weekly, circa 1867

4. Custer finding the victims of the Kidder Massacre

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on November 28, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of San Jose, California. This page has been viewed 310 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 28, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of San Jose, California. 2. submitted on November 30, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of San Jose, California. 3, 4. submitted on November 28, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of San Jose, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.