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battle: 18 of the 21 killed. As was later the case at the Battle of the Little
Bighorn, Custer had divided his men for an attack on an Indian village
without first conducting proper reconnaissance and determining
what other villages were in the area, and the men became
separated by vast distances. Though Custer sent a detachment in
search of Elliott, he withdrew before learning of his fate.
Their mutilated bodies were not discovered until two weeks
later when a large force including the 7th Cavalry returned
to the Washita. Custer reported: “The bodies of Elliott
and his little band, with but a single exception, were all
found lying within a circle not exceeding twenty yards
in diameter. We found them exactly as they fell except
their barbarous foes had stripped and mutilated the
bodies in the most savage manner. All the bodies
were carried to camp; and there (was reached after
dark It being the intention to resume the march
before daylight, the following day) a grave was hastily
prepared on a little knoll, near our camp, and with
the exception of that of Major Elliott, whose remains
were carried with us for interment at Fort Arbuckle, the
bodies of the entire party, under the dim light of a few
torches held in the hands of sorrowing comrades were
consigned to our common resting place! No funeral note
sounded to measure their passage to the grave: No volley
was fired to tell us a comrade was receiving the last, sad
rites of burial: yet not one of the living but felt that the fresh
earth had closed over some of their truest and most daring
soldiers! Before interment, I caused a complete examination of
each body to be made by Dr. Lippincott, Chief Medical Officer of
the Expedition, with directions to report on the character and number
of wounds received by each as well as to mutilations to which they had
been subjected. The following extracts are taken from Dr. Lippencott’s [sic]
report. Major Joel H. Elliott. Two bullet holes in head; one in left cheek;
right hand cut off; left foot almost cut off x x x x [sic] deep gash in right
groin; deep gashes in calves of both legs; little finger of left hand cut off
and throat cut.”
The death of Elliott and his seventeen compatriots left a black mark on
Custer’s record, souring what he claimed as a tremendous victory over the
Southern Cheyenne. Some of the troopers and officers of the 7th Cavalry
never forgave Custer for “abandoning” Elliott and his detachment to their
fate. Chief among them was Benteen. Many have theorized that the loss
of Elliott played a role in Benteen failing to reinforce Custer at the Battle of
the Little Bighorn in 1876 when, like Elliott before him, Custer was killed
after his smaller detachment was overwhelmed and decimated by the
warriors of the tribes of the Great Plains.
CONDITION: Very good overall as carefully restored for historic
preservation purposes, with distinct original presentation inscription,
traces of original finish in the protected areas, smooth gray and brown
patina and antiqued finish on the balance of the steel, light pitting
mainly at the breech, attractively aged patina on the grip straps, some
replacement parts such as the wedge and grip, and general mild overall
wear typical of a frontier firearm. The cylinder stop engages at half-
cock, but the revolver otherwise functions. The holster is good and has
moderate wear, a reinforced toe, and some tears. This is a fascinating
example of classic Colt Model 1851 Navy presentation inscribed to Major
Joel Elliott and dated to the same year he was killed on the southern
plains at the Battle of Washita.
Estimate: 50,000 - 75,000
Major Joel Elliott
Killed in action November
27, 1868, at the Battle of
Washita.