40-43. To wade downstream was an impossibility. One young man had the courage of a lion. I began to think they had seen me and crouched as close to the tree as possible. Custer was mounted on his sorrel horse and it being a very hot day he was in his shirt sleeves; his buckskin pants tucked into his boots; his buckskin shirt fastened to the rear of his saddle; and a broad brimmed cream colored hat on his head, the brim of which was turned up on the right side and fastened by a small hook and eye to its crown. The Indians seemed determined to exterminate us if possible. The men only fired where they thought they were going to do execution. Camp, who had no battlefield experience at all, declared Medal of Honor winner Thompson's eye-witness account of his escape from the slaughter "impossible," a judgement that American historians have not revisited in almost a century. Although the Indians outnumbered us many times, they lacked the courage and determination of the day previous when they fought Custer; they no doubt had been taught a bitter lesson. WHEN YOU ACTUALLY look at them, Thompson's "problematic passages" are really no problem at all, except that they honestly tell Americans some things they don't want to hear -- e.g., that the Seventh Cavalry under Custer murdered and quite possibly raped its way to annihilation. Getting vexed I dismounted and began to fasten on my spurs, when I heard my name called and, on looking up, I saw Brennan near me on horseback. The first man we recognized was Sargeant Knipe [Sgt. I was not the only one to run for the head of the ravine. Peter Thomson, in full Peter William Thomson, (born August 23, 1929, Brunswick, Victoria, Australiadied June 20, 2018, Melbourne, Victoria), Australian golfer who won the British Open five times and who was the first Australian to win that tournament. He was one of 12 convicts who escaped the institution through a tunnel. From his decorations of paint and feathers, I judged he was a chief. He died two months later. Additionally, Thompson provides the last look at Custer alive; he shows that Indians used captured Cavalry bugles, as Roman Nose did at the Battle of Beecher's Island; and he describes the clever "stationary wheel" technique they employed in their attack on Custer, as well as its withering effect on the Americans: Round and round rode the savages in a seemingly tireless circle. [Note: this may be when Spotted Calf killed an officer with his tomahawk, as Foolish Elk recounted.]. The Indians while fighting remained mounted, the cavalry dismounted. After getting everything in shape, I started on the run. "Well," I thought, "I will get along anyway." "Well!" While I looked at them, one rose to his feet and beckoned for us in the most friendly manner to advance. It may seem hard to take human life, but he had been trying to take mine, and self preservation is the first law of nature. After the volley was past, it was a wonder to me how I had escaped. Here's the sequence: you start with the little hill on the lower Medicine Tail Coulee Trail where his horse played out; then there's the ravine he jumped into; then there's the pilar of rock he climbed to; then there's the badly eroded trail he followed to the river; then there's the flat beside the river where he saw Custer and the Crow scout with a tethered Sioux squaw; then there's the ford at the lower end of the flat where he tried to cross the river; then there's the bend where the river runs hard against the bluffs he tried to climb; then there's the oxbow he hid in; then there's the flat where he saw the Indians in some sort of council; then there are the bluffs he saw Reno's men retreating up, etc. Some of them were so close to us that their fire was very affective. The trail I was on led directly to the river and thence into the village. Newspapers reported that Dillinger had escaped using a fake gun made from wood, blackened and shined with shoe polish. Ponies were dashing here and there with their riders urging them on; the dust would rise and mingle with the smoke of the burning grass and brush. But when I looked closer, I could see a few Indians sneaking around here and there, and every once in awhile an Indian would dash out of the village as if anxious to get to some given point in the least possible time. He studied for a moment and then waded out of the stream leaving his horse with everything on it as I had done. That was the last I ever saw of Custer alive. I could not but wonder what sort of fix I would be in if the horse under which I was lying happened to get shot and fell down on me. A 7th Cavalry survivor's account of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. meaning Indian Department. Hughes and Johnson are currently serving life in prison for Binder's murder, and Truehill is sitting on Florida's death row for the same offense. Eight inmates charged with violent crimes, Lance Battreal, Charles Smith, and Mark Booher escaped from a. I knew that if anyone needed such an implement they were liable to take it. But this soon passed out of my mind, as there was always something going on which attracted my attention. This was the 26th day of June, a day long to be remembered by all who took an active part, in fact, a day never to be forgotten. He tried to dissuade me, but as I would not go back without water and it was useless for me to remain where I was, I laid down my canteens and grasped the camp kettle which I had left on my previous trip. He would not budge. It was just the way Custer and his mercinary scouts did business. I began to watch the actions of the men. Hearing an oath behind me, I looked back and saw my comrade Watson trying to get his horse on its feet. "Get out of here," he cried, And do your duty!". The sight of this increased our courage. But on going back to the man and asking for it he seemed to be confused and stated that he had lost it. Just 148 players - the lowest since 1904 - entered and Thomson showed absolutely no nerves on his debut as he posted a flawless two-under 70 to sit in a tie for third after the opening round. Cavalry men were also falling and the ranks gradually melting away, but they sternly and bravely faced their foes; the cavalry men fighting for $13 a month. He was found very close to our position which goes to show how closely we were confined. To answer that, you have to look at the numbers. Capt. They had closed in around us on three sides and so close were they, that we could hear them talking. Peter Thompson was an American who put his life on the line for his comrades and his country -- and received the Medal of Honor for his valor -- but that hasn't stopped America from turning him into non-person in order to preserve its cherished, comfortable self-deceptions. We knew if we did not do so we would be picked off one by one. Assigned to Co. C, 7th Cavalry, under Capt. After arriving there I took inventory of my ammunition. I felt exceedingly thirsty and said to Watson that I proposed to have a drink. One of the Indians mounted his pony and rode on the edge of the bluff abreast of us. I slept so soundly that I heard and knew nothing until I felt someone kicking the soles of my boots. I thought my time had surely come; It was too late to retreat. There was but one gasp and all was still. During a 2 hour window of opportunity, Peter Thomson broke out from the education wing onto the grounds and promptly made his way over the prison wall. The one that was left stood facing me, still disputing our passage across the river. My wounded neighbor gave a scream of agony and lay still. The Indians let fly with their rifles with the usual result. So we started, following the trail until we were entirely clear of the brush and then began to climb the face of the bluff in order to reach the trail on which we saw the cavalry were moving [Watson's concern was legitimate. Peter Thomson works as a Permanent Representative, President of the Executive Board at United Nations ESCAP, which is a Non-Profit & Charitable Org anizations company with an estimated 470 employees. How were we going to transport our wounded? The Indians were riding around in a circle and when those who were nearest to the cavalry had fired their guns (riding at full speed) they would reload in turning the circle. A message from Ambassador Peter Thomson, UNSG's Special Envoy for the Ocean to the IOC-UNESCO Ocean Literacy Training Courses. Enlisted in the United States Army for 5 years, September 1875. At this time a detail of five men from Company F was sent ahead to reconoiter and from this point I was gradually left behind in spite of all I could do to keep up with my company. He manage to escape from Pretoria prison with five others in December 1997. But as on the former occasion, when I came to the bend in the ravine I halted and looked carefully around the corner. We concluded to seek some sheltered nook to cover ourselves from the extreme heat of the sun, and to wait until the Indians had quieted down for they were beginning to be like a swarm of bees. Great to see the way the Ocean's been brought into so many aspects of WEF's Annual Meeting in Davos this year. He replied, "Have you seen Custer?" We reached the fording place as soon as possible, but all signs of Custer were gone. Knowing that in my condition I was useless, I looked around to see if I could find anyone who could direct me to a surgeon. Suddenly he put spurs to his horse and rode away, his long hair streaming in the wind and looking right and left as if expecting his enemy to appear at any moment. But the only result was that the lead lay buried in the red clay at my side. Wherever duty called him, whatever the danger might be, he was always at his post. We felt we were discovered. The ping of the bullets and the groaning and struggling of the wounded horses was oppressive. I still clung to my carbine and revolver. The best result we found for your search is Peter Thomson age 70s in Laconia, NH. While packing my ammunition in order to carry it easily, I glanced up in the direction I had to go, and for the .life of me, I could not see how I could possibly get there alive for the bullets of the Indians were ploughing up the sand and gravel in every direction; but it was my duty to go. While looking on and wondering where the Crow was going we were further astonished by seeing General Custer dash out of the fording place and ride rapidly up to the Crow and commence to talk to him. In all probability he had outrun them. THISEYE-WITNESS account of the Battle of the Little Bighorn by Seventh Cavalry Private Peter Thompson is one of the three great Lost Texts -- or perhaps I should say, Ignored Texts -- of the Little Bighorn eye-witness canon (the others are the accounts of White Cow Bull and Pretty Shield). We thought we would have time enough to fortify ourselves before the light of another day appeared. The trail we were on ran through a thick clump of bushes, and we put our best foot first in order to gain its shelter. He was convicted for a jewelry robbery and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in 1953. Then Jackson informed him Custer had shot at him cutting away the strap that connected his stirrup to the saddle, and in order to save his life he had ridden away. "The Man Who Broke Charlestown". Just then the order was given to retreat and Reno's command began to march slowly to the rear. ( Meet our new Livable Planet desk. James Watson, was already dead by the time Thompson told his story), but actually Thompson's story had been circulating among the enlisted men (but not the officers) since 1876. November 2, 2007 I now struggled to my feet and found that I was weak and dizzy from the loss of blood. He asked, "What is the matter?" They have also lived in Nashua, NH and Burlington, MA. James Watson], and although composing one of the sets of fours that entered into action with Custer, not one of us ever reached the battlefield which proved fatal to Custer and his men. Major Reno moved to the left of the trail and went into a flat bottomed ravine. Their management level is C-Level. James Bennett. The commotion in the village had subsided; the signs of life were few; it appeared to me that it was deserted, so quiet and deathlike was the stillness. All routes to the river were cut off by the Indians. Drawing my revolver, I made ready to defend myself. He cast fearful glances around him as in mortal terror. "Then," said he, "Charge down there and drive them out." Watson cast a last fond look at his horse and then we started on our perilous journey. The Indians who seemed to be detailed to bring in the dead and the wounded were continually coming into the village with double burdens showing that the soldiers though greatly decreased in numbers were still doing eff ective work. I told him that as I could not carry a gun I thought I had better do something to help the wounded and the dying. I wandered to the edge of the bluff overlooking the village. I did not want to get under the canvas where the wounded were as that was already overcrowded, so I crawled under one of the horses which was standing in a group with the others. He escaped two times with a helicopter. I jerked it from his grasp and passed it on to the next. So here's a belated salute to a great American, Peter Thompson: he was courageous in battle, and courageous in telling America the truth about the battle afterwards. We managed to secret ourselves in a bend of the river, which turned like the letter S, and gave us running water on three sides of us. We were becoming so tired that the presence of the Indians was no longer a terror to us. This gave him opportunity to sight his rifle while riding. Watson was a short distance behind me and was keeping watch on the flat below. Tim Jordan] gave me a large pocket handkerchief to make a sling for my wounded hand. "And the strangest part of it," added Watson, "was that instead of taking the back trail, he struck straight from the river across the country and as far as he could see him, he was urging his pony to its utmost speed. Peter set up Thomson Bike Tours in 2001 and must have covered well over 250,000km on the . We did not retreat very far, for that was impossible. Authors always mention pets, so he has one dog and at least two possums. And with a cheer, away they dashed, their revolvers in one hand and their carbines in the other. I called Watson's attention to the approaching horsemen, but he was firmly convinced that they were Indians. But now they were beginning to recover themselves. On the top of the bluff just where we desired to go there were seated three Indians with their ponies but a short distance behind them. We were repulsed at the ford; we were surrounded by Indians on the bluffs; we were without horses; and when we did make the attempt we did so at nearly the cost of our lives. And what are you going to do?" Faulkner was not far behind after shooting 71 in his first round, with Scotland's Jimmy Adams and Australian Norman Von Nida leading the way on four under. 5 Jan 2023. We had scarcely got clear of the underbrush before we became aware of the fact that we had run into a hot place. Five days later, police officers found him brandishing an ax handle in his brother's apartment. He later turned himself in to authorities after being diagnosed with cancer in an attempt to take advantage of free medical care he would receive in prison. In 2005, he succeeded to escape by hiding in a container, with the complicity of workers from the waste collection services. But before we could reach it, they fired at us but as usual missed; but the twigs and leaves were cut by the bullets and we came to the conclusion that we were not to be killed by the Indians. I then asked Watson if that did not account for Custer's presence away from his command. By this time it was quite dark; I could plainly see several large fires which the Indians had built. So I turned around and called to Watson to run for it, and I went after him full speed, but kept my eye on the movement and seeing that they were making preparations to fire at us, I called out, "Stretch yourself, Watson." The silence was suddenly broken by a loud command given by a hostile chief, which was followed by a terrific volley and a great many of our horses and mules passed over the range. On June 8, 2014, Robert Elbryan, 42, George Broussard, 64, and Christopher Boris, 52, escaped from a Quebec detention center with help from a helicopter. Peter Thomson holds his third Open Championship trophy in 1956 In addition to his playing achievements, he went on to be president of the Australian PGA for 32 years and helped establish the. Watson had evidently not made this discovery. Originally reprinted in The Black Hills Trails, by Jesse Brown and A.M. Willard, Rapid City Journal Co., Rapid City, SD, 1924. John Fitzgerald], Brennan [Pvt. View the profiles of professionals named "Peter Thomson" on LinkedIn. So I would not have to make so many trips. "Of approximately 210 men," writes Bray, "only one would survive the next hour. He had begged in vain to have Reno advance to Custer's relief. 4.82 avg rating 11 ratings 2 editions. [Note: there is actually a fairly rational, fairly conceivable explanation for Billy Jackson's story. He seemed to come to one conclusion, and that was that the 7th Cavalry was going to be whipped. So it turns out that there's actually an abundance of reasonable suspects among Custer's Crow scouts! When he saw my maneauvers, he took aim at me and shot. He did not need a second bidding, neither did he dismount in military style, but more like a frog landing with feet and hands in the water at the same time. I noticed numerous hoof prints showing that the Indians had made a desperate effort to make an opening through our place of defense by this route. The questioner belonged to my own company and I naturally expected him to sympathize with me in my errand of mercy. He struggled to his feet; his face bore tokens of great fear. This is even true of Kingsley Bray's generally admirable 2006 Crazy Horse: A Lakota Life. I gained the shelter of the ravine without a scratch and I was thankful. I had lost sight of Watson and thinking that I could make my horse go faster by mounting, I did so. When the Crow scout left him, he wheeled around and made for the same point in the river where we had first seen him. I now turned around and made my way to the place where my dead horse lay and stripped the saddle of everything, then went and made my bed behind my cracker box. I discovered a pool of blood a short distance from him which had come from a terrible wound in his leg. Thomson is the U.N. Secretary-General's special envoy for the ocean. The Indians were able to occupy every available position afforded by nature on account of their numbers. With a long sweep of my kettle upstream I succeeded in getting plenty of sand and a little water. She must have noticed the movement for she made a short circle around us, ran over the bank, crossed the river, and disappeared in the village. But we ourselves were no better off. [Note: Thompson did not overplay the dramatically dangerous nature of his situation after he was left behind by his Seventh Cavarly comrades. Few of them returned but they had accomplished their object. said he, "Let's move." The well formed ranks of the cavalry did fearful execution, for every time the soldiers fired I could see ponies and riders tumbling in the dust, I could also see riderless ponies racing away in every direction as if anxious to get away from such a frightful scene. In November 1987 Peter Thomson aged 19 at the time escaped from Winchester Prison. Both Watson and myself had failed to notice the trail made by the cavalry in making their efforts to reach the lower end of the village. I do not know how long I lay there, but I have a faint recollection of being turned and my gun taken from me. Training Rides Unpacked Peter Thomson. Both banks were wet with the splashing made by the animals going to and from the village. I asked him if his horse was not played out; he said it was. This is even true of Kingsley Bray 's generally admirable 2006 Crazy:... With me in my errand of mercy horse and then waded out of my boots became! 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