Custer's Last Stand?

Question

[a] How long did it take before the news of the Custer massacre was published in a newspaper?

[b] What newspaper?

[c] Who provided the information to the newspaper?

OK, there seems to be some confusion about this Q. Here is what I believe to be the truth about the “how long?” and “what newspaper?” parts of the Q: -

The first newspaper to carry the news was the “Bozeman Times” (Montana), which dashed off an “Extra” that hit the streets at 7 pm on July 3rd; but the news did not travel far beyond Bozeman at that stage.

Late on July 4th, the news got as far as Helena, MT. The local newspaper, the “Helena Herald” published a late-night “Extra”, and also telegraphed the news to the Associated Press office in Salt Lake City: from there it was telegraphed back East, in time to make it into late editions of some East Coast papers on July 5th.

The news stories were based on a report by General Terry on June 27th, to be delivered by one of his white scouts to Fort Ellis, for onward transmission to Bozeman.

Who was the scout?
And what was the meaning of his nickname?
And what was his subsequent career?

Answer 1

3 days

when general terrys troops cam across sthe battlefield the next day, he met with Major reno and Capt Benteen' units, and buried the bodies and haded back with there wounded to the big horn river where th steam boat "far West" was waiting with medical supplies, while there, one of Custer scouts, an Indian, who lived through the battle, came and reported his story, the far west left th area, and it was three day since the battle by the time the news was telegraphed back to Washington, who knows what paper reported it first, for telegraph stations along the way relayed the info, there was no direct lines to the white house back then, so it spread like wildfire. I don not think there is a why to know who printed it first, for it was printed as soon as it was learned from place along the way, your guess is as good as the next persons on that. the scout was later accused of leaving the battle at the very beginning by two other scouts that had been ordered away at the beginning also, no one knows how accurate his story is for sure, I think he embellished it somewhat, and was not there for most of it.,but once again who knows..

Answer 2

The news of Custer's demise and his 255 troopers made the newstands by 4 July 1876; in time to dampen the spirits of many Americans of the time. I don't know which newspaper first carried the news, but in the 7th Cavalry there were assigned several news journalists to telegraph the news when it happened.

Note to Mangus: A Crow Indian named Curly was one of Custer's scouts. During the onslaught, Curly changed his hair style as that of a Sioux, stripped down to loin cloth, and escaped to tell the tale.

Answer 3

The above answer is right. I'd like to add one thing:

According to Evan S. Connell in "Son of the Morning Star," Custer pushed his troops into the battle in late June, 1876, hoping to win a quick victory that could then be reported to the nation on July 4 (which would be the 100th anniversary of the birth of the nation). He wanted to do this in order to make a name for himself at the Republican National Convention, which was being held that week; he hoped to be nominated as the Republican candidate for president.

The plan backfired...

Answer 4

To correct edjdonnell there were no Indian scout survivors of the battle. The only survivor was a horse whos name escapes me.