Died. Shuh-shee-ahsh, 68, also known as Curley, (Curly) (Ashishishe) a Crow Indian scout, (there were other scout survivors, see picture below. Wikipedia’s version:Custer massacre, of cancer of the liver, at the Crow Agency, Mont. He is buried at the Custer Battlefield. (Time, 1923) webmaster’s note, there is controversy of cause of death.
Above is version 1:Webmaster's note: Curley later gave several variations on his account, and the accuracy of his recollections has been questioned. The reader should determine for themselves. Wikipedia.com is a free site with readers writing in the history to give you and information is only as good as the accuracy of the submitter.. If you do a search you will find different variations. Besides wikipedia’s version I have added two other
sources, The Custer National Cemetery, Little Big Horn Battlefield and Chicago Tribune.
(1) June 4, 1923 Died. Shuh-shee-ahsh, 68, also known as Curly a Crow Indian scout, the sole survivor.Ashishishe was born in approximately 1856 in Montana Territory , the son of Strong Bear (Inside the Mouth) and Strikes By the Side of the Water. Curley resided on the Crow Reservation in the vicinity of Pryor Creek, and married Bird Woman. He enlisted in the U.S. Army as an Indian scout on April 10, 1876 and was later chosen to scout for the Seventh Cavalry during the Little Bighorn expedition in 1876 along with fellow Crow warriors White Man Runs Him , Goes Ahead Hairy Moccasin and others.
He witnessed parts of the Battle of the Little Bighorn and his translated account later appeared in several newspapers as he was thought to be the only surviving witness from the U.S. side of Custer's Last Stand. Curly later gave several variations on his account, and the accuracy his recollections has been questioned.
However, two of the most influential historians of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Walter Mason Camp (who interviewed Curly on several occasions) and John S. Gray accepted Curley's account.
Curley later lived on the Crow Reservation on the bank of the Little Bighorn River close to the site of the Battle. He served in the Crow Police. He divorced Bird Woman in 1886, and married Takes a Shield. Curly had one daughter Awakuk Korita ha Sakush ("Bird of Another Year") who took the English name Nora. Curley received a U.S. pension as of 1920. He died of pneumonia in 1923, and his remains were interred in the National Cemetery at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument only a mile from his home.
(2)The Custer National Cemetery, Little Big Horn Battlefield states the following:
Curly was one of Custer’s scouts who accompanied the 7th Cavalry to the Little Bighorn. Curly is said
to have watched the battle from a distant ridge. There was great interest in Curly’s story but since he spoke
no English, his words may have been shaped by what his listeners wanted to hear. Curly attracted so
much attention that the other scouts became jealous and refused to associate with him, Eventually,
 Curly himself became silent and withdrew from the limelight. He lived in a cabin near
Crow Agency where he died in 1923.
Curly picture from Wikipedia.
(3) Chicago Tribune (29th July, 1876)
The Crow Indian Curly is believed to be the only survivor of the 250 men who went into action with
Custer. He is very clear his knowledge of the fight, and has made a statement.....The fight began
about 2 o'clock, and lasted, Curly says, almost until the sun went down over the hills....Curly says
more Indians were killed than Custer had men. He also says the big chief(Custer) lived until nearly
all his men had been killed or wounded, and went about encouraging his soldiers to fight on....The
last officer killed was a man who rode a white horse (believed to be Lieut. Cooke).
Atop Last Stand Hill on the Custer Battlefield, four of the 7th Cavalry’s
Crow scouts pay tribute to those who fell with Custer. L-R: White-Man-Runs-Him,
Hairy Moccasin, Curly and Goes Ahead.(photograph by Rodman Wanamaker, 1913.)
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WELCOME TO BIG HORN COUNTY MONTANA
Picture by Joe, “looking forward and looking back”
Welcome Big Horn County Genealogy Trails History Group.
Hosted by Jo Ann Boyd Scott and as your host I try to post as much data online online as possible in order to make it freely available to all. I grew up 7 miles from Wyola.The county is a special place. I will do look ups. e-mail me.copyright current including pictures. 2008, Jo Ann Scott
