THE LAST MUSTER
(A Sonnet in Iambic Pentameter with Narrative)
Seventh United States Cavalry Dakota Territories
25 June 1876
Commander's Orders:
Drive all renegade Indians in the area of
The Little Big Horn River back to the reservation...
Forthwith.
Orville H. Browning: Secretary of The Interior
By order of: President Andrew Johnson
Note: Custer and two-hundred-sixty-five mounted troops
On the plains of Little Big Horn... Ready!
On cavalry mounts, sat Custer's last band;
Awaiting the sound of the bugler's charge.
With veterans up front and greenhorns at large,
Locked and loaded with saber in hand.
Charge!
And a thousand shod hoofs pounded the sand,
Weeds flew aloft to the sound of each Sarge
Echoing calls of the captains in charge;
Sweating and ruing the killing at hand.
Custer's Adjutant: "There's thousands of them sir!"
Custer: "Form a square and kill the mounts!"
Stand!
All horses were killed... no time for a spade.
They defended a square so hastily made
As Cheyenne arrows fell on their marks...
Also, Crow and Sioux to coyote-like barks.
Alas!
The band lay decaying for days on end.
No Custer, no muster, no flag to defend.