Custer Lives!
Fort Robinson Cemetery
In July 2009 I visited the site of Fort Robinson, Nebraska and the Fort Cemetery. The Cemetery is a short distance from the site of the Fort, as they usually were. This cemetery is separated from the Fort by the motorhome and tent campgrounds. I weaved my way through them and came to dirt road that was flooded due to the previous night's heavy rain. I was in my Mom's Mazda compact and I didn't think I would be able to fjord it down the middle. The campground director came to aid me. I went to the extreme edge underneath the bridge and she kept an eye on my progress to make sure I didn't get in too deep water or mud. I made it through and continued on. I next came upon a creek that was flooded also. There was a one board footbridge across it so I decided not to force my luck. I parked my vehicle and trekked across. A lovely songbird sat on the upright pole next to the bridge as I crossed it. I think she was waiting to watch an old guy fall off and into the water!
I saw the Cemetery a short distance away. No ornamental gates or anything, just an inexpensive set of gates and some very cheap fence and poles. Undaunted I went inside. There were very few grave markers still standing to my dismay. I saw a few broken off and noticed all the names were chiseled off them. I wondered if vandals were responsible. Soon after, the campground director rejoined me. She explained that when the Cemetery was closed in 1947 the marble headstones were left behind, all the names chipped off. All the headstones currently here were salvaged and placed at known burial sites.
Their were markers for infants, civilians, Army civilian employees, and Buffalo Soldiers. I always attempt to try to judge the past through the eyes of that era and not my 21st century eyes but it still rankled me to see "Colored" on the Buffalo Soldier headstones instead of the standard US Army marker. It's a good reminder of the progress we've made I guess.
The first person buried here was in 1875, the last was on June 13, 1945. A total of 258 persons were buried here according to cemetery records. About 150 of them were civilians. Two Medal Of Honor winners, Emanuel Stance and George Jordan, were buried here. On a General George Armstrong Custer note, Moses Milner was buried here after being killed. Milner is better known as "California Joe".
Most of the bodies, including 23 unknowns, were relocated to Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell, Nebraska in 1948.
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The footbridge to the cemetery. |
Fort Robinson Cemetery. |
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An unknown infant. |
A 10th US Cavalry Buffalo Soldier. |
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A 9th US Cavalry Buffalo Soldier. |
An unknown civilian? |
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