John Weber: The First Jim Bridger Company

George Armstrong Custer was a United States cavalry officer who served with distinction in the American Civil War and was the youngest ever brevet brigadier general at age twenty-three (History.com Staff, 2009). Custer had various disciplinary issues throughout his career ranging from abandoning his post for romantic reasons to leaving the field without searching for a slain reconnaissance unit (History.com Staff, 2009). His expedition in 1874 that led to the discovery of gold, was in violation of the treaty of 1868 wherein the Black Hills were recognized to belong to the Sioux Nation. Custer was known to have a reckless temperament and was often at odds with superior officers. Nevertheless, as a Lieutenant Colonel assigned to the Seventh Cavalry Regiment out of Fort Riley, Kansas, Custer was tasked to lead the force against Sitting Bull’s alliance (History.com Staff, 2009).

In 1854 Curly visited the Brules' camp with his tribe. There he was introduced to the Brule Chief Conquering Bear. While visiting, a young Brule warrior shot an old near death cow belonging to a man from a Mormon wagon train. The Mormon was furious and demanded the warrior be turned over. Conquering Bear refused and soon Second Leuteneant John Grattan, 29 soldiers, two Howitzer cannons, and an interpreter were sent to retrieve the young Indian. Conquering Bear still refused to turn him over. During all of this Curly is watching atop a cliff. The soldiers began firing into the Brule camp. Conquering Bear fell to the ground mortally wounded (McMurtry 48-62).

Albert Sidney Johnson was a Troop Commander in this battle. Johnston was born in Kentucky and obtained his education at West Point. He graduated in 1826. Johnston's first taste of active service came in 1832 during the Black Hawk Indian War. He resigned his commission afterwards only to return to active duty in 1836. He fought against the United States Indians on the River Neches and served in the Mexican War with Major General Zachary Taylor. Taylor made Johnston a paymaster during Taylor's presidency. He continued his rise in the ranks by becoming a colonel in the 2nd Calvary, a brevet brigadier general commanding the Utah military district and in 1861 the commander of the Pacific Coast.

When Reno and his company crossed the river the lakota and cheyenne was surprised and rushed to defend their village from the oncoming attackers. Reno then held his troops and formed them into a skirmish line, in which they began to fire upon the oncoming attackers. Reno had to retreat two times, the first time was when his left flank was endangered, and the second time he had to retreat to the east side of river. During the retreat Lakota and Cheyenne warriors rode down the troops inducing heavy casualties to Reno’s men. Reno’s company regrouped with the main the group after Benteen confirmed that there was no Indians following. A written message from Custer was sent by a messenger to Benteen stating “ Come on, Big Village. Be Quick. Bring Packs. P.S Bring Packs.” para. 11 (Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument). Captain Weir’s company made an effort to locate and communicate with Custer’s men after heavy gunfire was heard. (Little Bighorn Battlefield National

Any business, large or small, takes someone with a dream and a passion, exactly what Joseph Shaughnessy had. Starting out after his graduation from college, and ten yesars of employment, him and his friend Lorry Bannes were already making great strides, holding executive positions, but they wanted more. They took their desire and created their own business, setting up their future and achieving their goals. Did they make the right decisions along the way? Did they have the right balance? And how did Joe use the business to promote his beliefs?

The march on the river was long and unbarring for the brave men who fought to protect our country. On June 25, 1876 General Gorge Custard split his 650 troops three ways Little Bighorn, Battle of the Urwin. The three columns were under command of General Custard,

In 1755, Boone left home on a military expedition that was part of the French and Indian War. He served as a wagoner for Brigadier General Edward Braddock during his army's calamitous defeat at Turtle Creek, near modern-day Pittsburgh. A skilled survivor, Daniel Boone saved his own life by escaping the French and Indian ambush on horseback.

Jim bridger was born on March 17, 1804, in Richmond, VA.Mountain men hunt beavers and other animals for their valuable fur. The most famous of all the mountain men was Jim Bridger because he started working as a trapper in the Rockies. He spent about 40 years in the mountains. Then he became a scout in the U.S. Army. Jim died on July 17, 1881,in Kansas City,MO.

Jim Bridger, also known as James Bridger or “Old Gabe,” was a tall, muscular, honest, and brave man. Jim was a fur trapper, mountain man, explorer, trader, and had many other jobs. When he was 17, he was called to be a member of a trapping group, organized by William H. Ashley.

In 1755, Daniel Boone left home for a military expedition that was a part of the French and Indian War. Boone served as a teamster who drove supplies by wagon for Brigadier General Edward Braddock,

Moving east was a column led by Col. John Gibbon from Fort Ellis Montana. Under the command of Gen. George Crook from Fort Fetterman Wyoming, a column was deployed from the south near Wyoming Territory. On May 17th, Brigade General Alfred Terry moved west from Fort Abraham Lincoln Dakota. Gen. Alfred Terry’s column consisted of 879 personnel, the majority being of the 7th Cavalry under LTC George A. Custer. On June 22nd, Gen. Terry detached Custer and the 7th Cavalry to flank from the southeast and force the Indians upstream where he planned to engage them with a smaller force along Little Bighorn River. Custer moved to the headwaters of the Tongue and Bighorn Rive and on June 25th Custer’s Soldiers were approximately 25 miles out from a large Indian encampment southwest of his position. Custer sent out scouts, along with Crow scouts (Indian scouts/linguist) to gather intel on the native encampment. Scouts reported a larger number than expected, an estimated 8,000 personnel including 1,500 native warriors present in the village. They also reported that the unit’s fires could be spotted from the crow’s nest, giving away Custer’s position. Assessing the situation, Custer decided to advance on the enemy’s position towards Wolf Mountain which was 12 miles from the encampment. With the information gathered by the crow scouts weighing heavily on Custer’s mind, he decided to attack the encampment the next day to prevent losing contact of the Sioux. Custer split his Regiment into three squadrons: a supply train consisting of 125 personal, commanded by Cpt. Frederick Benteen, a three troop force consisting of 175 personnel, led by Maj. Marcus Reno, and a five troop force consisting of 210 personnel with

On June 25, 1876, a battle was fought on the territory of Montana. This battle became known as the battle of Little Bighorn. The battle took place because Natives refused to move off territories that they were told to move from into native reserves. When they refused the U.S Army was dispatched to confront them. Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong led the troops into battle. Native warriors from Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne outnumbered the Army. June 25,

After moving 42 miles in three days, Custer realized that “directly west, in his front, are the very Indians the columns [were] searching for.” He massed his forces and deployed scouts to confirm the enemy's position. Before dawn on June 25th, they found “6,000 to 7,000 natives . . . encamped about 15 miles away . . . in the expansive Little Bighorn Valley.” Post-battle analysis confirmed “at least 2,000 warriors” in a settlement that “cover[ed] nearly two miles.” During this reconnaissance, Custer believed the enemy had discovered his column, and hastily began his attack, “fearing the natives might escape.”

Major Robert Rogers was born in Colonial Massachusetts in 1731 and later moved to rural New Hampshire with his family. It was here where he learned many traits that would make him successful later in life such as hunting, trapping and learning Indian tactics from past Indian attacks. During King George’s War (1744-1748), Robert Rogers served as a private in two scouting companies serving in Merrimack River Valley in New Hampshire (McNab, C. 2013). Later, during the French and Indian War 1754-1763), the then Major Rogers recruited nine companies of American colonists to fight for the British as Ranger units (Ranger Training Brigade, 2006). Additionally, Major Rogers was tasked to command a company of men charged with the task of raiding deep into

The first two campaigns led by Crook, Terry, and Gibbon were failures for the US. The first big altercation occurred at the Battle of Little Bighorn. Led by Lt. Col. Custer, the Seventh Cavalry encountered a large village on the west bank of Little Bighorn. The US troops were defeated there, and about 260 men were killed, including Custer (The Battle of Little Bighorn). This also became known as “Custer’s Last Stand3.”