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Montana teamsters who served with Custer seek pensions
The article recalls eight Montana freighters who rode with General Custer's 1876 expedition, their brutal march across 400 miles to the Powder River, and their fight for recognition and pensions as they age. Charles Sturman, who used the alias James Bennett, symbolized the hard life of frontier teamsters alongside scouts like Buffalo Bill Cody and Yellowstone Kelly.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Montana
George A. Custer
David P. Smith
Baldy” Smith
United States
Prairies
Smith
Custer
Charles Smith
Harlem
Martin Kelly
Butte
Jack Carney
Helena
James Stone
Browning
Dave Smith
Shelby
A. M. Murphy
Great Falls
James Boyd
Wolf Point
James Bennett
Zortman
Bennett
Charles B. Sturman
Sturman
North Dakota Territory
Fort Lincoln
Bismarck
Terry
Black Hills
Powder River
Buffalo Bill Cody
Yellowstone Kelly
Texas Jack
Bob and
Billy Johnson
Vic Smith
Mr. Sturman
Seventh Cavalry
Benteen
Major Reno
Custers
Reno
Rosebud
Charles Sturman
Northwest Stage and Transport Company
Minnesota
Lake Superior and
Brainerd
Indian Territory
Indian Reserve
Red River
Breckenridge
Winnipeg
Deadwood
Lewistown
Billings
Fort Benton
Charley Sturman
Press
Little Rocky Mountains
Sandusky
Sturmans
Ruby Gulch
Little
Rockies
Great Northern Railway
W. W. Sturman
Fargo
North Dakota
Charles
Northern Pacific
W. W
Sioux