On June 25, 1876, Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer led the 7th Cavalry under his command on an attack against an Indian encampment at Little Big Horn. The incident is now commonly known as “Custer’s Last Stand.”
Custer’s troopers were quickly encircled by the Native Americans under Chief Sitting Bull, who were expecting them, and Custer and 265 of his men were killed in under an hour.
Marion native Daniel Kanipe and one other soldier were the only two from Custer’s battalion to survive Little Bighorn. The two were sent to relay messages to Captain Frederick Benteen and others in the train of pack mules supplying the unit. Seeing Custer’s mistake, Benteen held his battalion back and refused to allow the couriers to return to battle.
Kanipe remained in the reconstituted 7th Cavalry until receiving his discharge in 1877. He returned to North Carolina where he operated a farm in McDowell County. He went back to the Little Bighorn battlefield in 1908 on a publicity tour to raise money to preserve graves there.
Often called upon to relate his experience at Little Bighorn, Kanipe became a celebrity among admirers of the “Old West” and researchers of “Custer’s Last Stand.” His recollections became the basis for many of the 20th century accounts of the battle.
For more about North Carolina’s history, arts, nature and culture, visit DNCR online. To receive these updates automatically each day, make sure you subscribe by email using the box on the right, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
