Name/Title
Charley Reynolds: Soldier, Hunter, Scout and GuideEntry/Object ID
2009.3.67Description
Charley Reynolds: Soldier, Hunter, Scout and Guide is a book created from feature stories about Reynolds prepared for the newspaper, Potter Kansan (Atchison County), 1914-1915. The book is said to be based on interviews with persons living at that time who knew Charley Reynolds personally.
The book profiles Reynolds life from his birth in 1844 in Illinois through his career as professional hunter for the Army in the West, Civil War solider, Santa Fe Trail trader, chief scout for various famous expeditions and for Gen. George Custer, his life ending in the Battle of Little Big Horn.
Known as Lonesome Charley for his modest ways, he came to Atchison County, Kansas with his physician father in 1859 and almost immediately joined a wagon train west that was attacked by Indians on the Platte. Finding his way to Ft. Kearney, he fell in with a hunter who taught him his first trade. He was said to be a sure shot and was noted as such among the Indians. At 15, the government hired him to carry the mail over the Snowy Range.
He returned to Kansas in 1861 at the outbreak of the Civil War and joined Company B (Atchison county) of the 10th Kansas on a three year enlistment, fighting with Capt. Matt Quigg against Confederate Indians at Prairie Grove and serving as scout during Sterling Price's 1864 raid. After the war, he took a trading venture to Santa Fe in which his partner was killed by Indians.
In 1868-1869 Charley was scouting with fellow Kansan, Buffalo Bill and working as a hunter supplying meat in the Dakotas at the Grand River Agency, Ft. Rice, and Ft. Stevenson.
In 1873, he served as scout for the 7th Calvary under General Custer, protecting the Northern Pacfific surveyors in the Yellowstone Valley. The next year he went as chief scout with Custer to explore the Black Hills and, in a dangerous single journey, personally delivered the regimental letter from Custer to General Sheridan at Ft. Laramie that announced the discovery of gold in the Black Hills.
In 1875, Reynolds scouted for General Sheridan in his expedition up the Yellowstone River and in today's Yellowstone Park, aboard the steamer Josephine, captained by Grant Marsh.
Reynolds was with Col. Marcus Reno's force on that fateful day of the battle of Little Big Horn. He was cut off when Reno retreated and was killed by the Souix. It was said that 58 empty cartridges were found about his body, indicating the fury of his effort. He is buried on that battlefield.
The book includes various stories and or myths surrounding the man and one chapter gives a good description of a Sioux sundance, initiating Rain-in-the-Face, who later became Custer's avowed enemy.
A handwritten note on the back page indicates only 175 copies of the original book was printed and the type remelted September 1931.
A photocopy of an undated article, "Lonesome Charley's Last Fight" by Larry Underwood printed in"True West" magazine is inserted with this book. The article basically follows the details of Custer's Last Stand at the Battle of Little Big Horn, but includes a photograph of Charley Reynolds.
Charley Reynolds was a ancestor of some type of the donor: Don L. Reynolds
88/Report Cover/Photocopies/Insert/PhotographCollection
Don and Maudie Reynolds CollectionLexicon
LOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
RailroadsSearch Terms
Exploration of Yellowstone, Northern Pacific Railroad, Steamboat Josephine, Buffalo Hunting, Grand River Indian Agency, Army Scouts, Civil War, Battle at Prairie Grove, Sterling Price Raid 1864, 10th Kansas Calvary, Potter Kansan Newspaper, Gold Discovery in Black Hills, Black Hills, Forts, Fort Kearney, Fort Rice, Fort Stevenson, Fort Laramie, Atchison County Kansas History, Native American, Battle of Little Big Horn, Reynolds, Charley, Custer, George, Gold DiscoveryPublication Details
Author
Remsburg, John E. and George J. RemsburgPlace Published
City
Kansas CityState/Province
MissouriDate Published
1931Call No.
Western RENotes
Copy No.: 1Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Charley ReynoldsPerson or Organization
General George CusterPerson or Organization
Colonel Marcus RenoPerson or Organization
Buffalo Bill CodyPerson or Organization
Grant MarshPerson or Organization
General SheridanPerson or Organization
Matt QuiggPerson or Organization
Daughters of the Confederacy/Sterling Price Chapter #401