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Last Billings Man Who Spoke to Custer Ends His Life
John Burkman 86, veteran of the Seventh Cavalry who helped saddle Vic, the general’s horse, and spoke with Custer on the Little Bighorn day, died by his own hand amid despondency over ill health and failing sight. He traced a long frontier life from Kansas to Montana and recounted battles with Sioux and stories of Rain-in-the-Face and other chiefs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John Burkman
Seventh Cavalry
George A. Custer
Victor
Little Big Horn
Billings
Sawtelle
Calif
Burkman
William Bent
Arkansas
Platte River
Fifth
Missouri Volunteers
Wilson Creek
Lyons
Ku Klux Klan
Custer
Dakotas
Battle of the Big Horn
M. E. Plassmann
Cr. Eastman
Dartmouth College
Rain-in-the-Face
Fetterman
the Little Big Horn
Chief Joseph
Sturgis
Canyon Creek
Bear Paw Mountains
Montana
California
Vic
Carrington
Black Hills
Washington
Spotted Tail
Sitting Bull
Tom Custer
General Custer
Fort Abraham Lincoln
Tongue River
Canada
Harges
Missouri River
General Crook
Rosebud
Crook
Dr. Hastman
Reno
Appearing Elk
Eastman