Offered here is an interesting outdoor photograph of a trooper holding the reins of a horse in one hand and a guidon in the other. The horse is the focus, being “Comanche” Captain Keogh’s horse that survived the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

The image depicts Comanche, and likely John Rivers. Rivers holds the reins and a guidon of Company “I” 7^th Cavalry. The buildings of an Army fort are visible in the background. The image is 9” x 6.5” and is in very good condition with fine clarity and contrast. One chip is missing from the upper left corner which does not affect the content of the photo in any way. The mount however, shows heavy wear. All edges are worn with large chips missing from three of the corners, the lower left portion being the worst. Some water and soil stains around sides and top of mount. A poem titled “Custer’s Massacre” is printed along the bottom of the mount. Printed on the back of the mount is an account titled “The Battle” by Gustave Korn of Company “I”, 7^th Cavalry, reported to be the only surviving man of the event.

On June 25, 1876, Captain Keogh rode Comanche at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. US soldiers found Comanche, badly wounded, two days after the battle. After being transported to Fort Lincoln, he was nursed back to health. After a lengthy convalescence, Comanche was retired.

His official keeper was the farrier, John Rivers of Company “I”, Keogh's old troop. He stated that Comanche was a veteran, 21 years old, and had been with the 7th Cavalry since its Organization in 1866. Comanche died on November 7, 1891, believed to be 29 years old at the time. His remains were not buried but instead were sent to the University of Kansas and preserved, where the mount can still be seen today in the university's Natural History Museum.

Comanche is often described as the sole survivor of Custer's detachment, but like so many other legends surrounding the Little Big Horn battle, this one is not entirely accurate. Other horses survived, but in better condition after the battle, they were taken as spoils of battle.  [jet] [ph:L]

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