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Comanche

Horse

Comanche is remembered as the only U.S. Army survivor of Custer's Last Stand. General George Custer and all of his men were killed in the famous battle with Native American tribes on 25 June 1876; when reinforcements arrived after the battle, they found Comanche wounded but alive. (The horse had belonged not to Custer but to one of his officers, Captain Miles Keogh.) Comanche was shipped back to the United States and became a regimental mascot and living legend, trotted out for parades and other public occasions. After his death he was stuffed (somewhat akin to another famous horse, Trigger) and put on display at the natural history museum at the University of Kansas.

Extra credit: Although it is unknown where Comanche was born, he was sold to the U.S. Army in St. Louis before being sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Comanche and Trigger both appear in our loop on Seven Horses of Highly Effective People.

Four Good Links

Comanche

The University of Kansas gateway to the Comanche Restoration Project

Roadside Pet Cemetery: Comanche

The story of Comanche's post-Custer history, plus a recent photo

The Quest for Comanche

A Custer buff has an elaborate tribute with photos of Comanche on display

Comanche

From EquineNet, a recap and photo of the grand old guy

Vital Stats

Birth

c. 1862

Birthplace

Missouri

Death

7 November 1891
(natural causes)

Best Known As

The horse who survived Custer's Last Stand

Something in Common with Comanche