Comanche, Equine Survivor of Little Big Horn

HISTORY LESSON

Comanche, Equine Survivor of Little Bighorn

Not every tale is told in the history books. Here is the true story of Comanche, the only survivor found at the battle site of Custer’s Last Stand.

On June 25, 1876, the battle. The horse had alry asked Lewis Lind- huge crowds to the KanGeneral George Custer 20 bullet wounds, and say Dyche, a naturalist sas Building. Comanche led a detachment from was desperately close to and taxidermist from the returned to the KU Natthe US Army’s 7th Cav- death. His rescuers were Kansas University Mu- ural History Museum, alry into battle where he has renear the Little mained since. Bighorn River in Starting in eastern Montana 2005, museum Territory. Many staff spent a year of the soldiers carefully restorof the 7th Cal- ing Comanche. vary came from Visitors to the Ft. Riley, Kansas, museum were including one able to watch by the name of the restoration Captain Myles process through Keogh. Before a “window” into he left Kansas the workroom. for the Territo- You can now ries, Captain visit the restored Keogh paid Comanche in his $90 for a horse remodeled and named Coman- expanded space che. Only one of on the 4th floor them would re- of Dyche Hall turn to Kansas. dedicated to tending his seum of Natural History, in KU’s Natural History The outcome of the wounds, and Comanche to preserve Comanche. Museum in Lawrence, Battle of Little Bighorn made a full recovery. The preservation process Kansas. This remarkable is known to most: every Officially retired from took Dyche four long horse represents an imsoldier with Custer was active service, Coman- years. At the end, the portant chapter of our killed. The 268 dead in- che lead ceremonial pa- Army balked at paying country’s history. Stop cluded Custer, two of his rades and served as a Dyche his $400 fee. and see Comanche next own brothers, his broth- symbol of Custer’s “last Dyche waived his fee, time you visit the area. er-in-law, and a nephew. stand.” He lived with and the University kept For more information: It did not include the the 7th Cavalry until his Comanche. The mount www.naturalhistory. horse named Comanche. death in 1889. was then put on display ku.edu. n Comanche was found At Comanche’s death, at Chicago’s 1893 world’s in a ravine two days after officers of the 7th Cav- fair, where he drew

By Nancy Norton, Executive Editor

Comanche in 1887. Photo: public domain image.