GDG- Bliss Farm Site

[Batrinque at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/11/2008 12:51:36 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
rkadas at sbcglobal.net writes:

Bruce,  one of the decisions of the park services present policy is not to 
mow the  grass on the field. The grass obscures the markers on Custer Hill 
and you  can not see the reconstructed earthworks at Reno Hill. In talking 
to one  of the rangers he said that they have received incredible amounts of  
letters regarding the subject including letters from Congressmen, but to  no 
avail , the park service is sticking to its guns and attempting to have  the 
terrain appear of it did 131 years ago.
 
I have read that the grass species covering the ground were altered by  
grazing in the late 19th century, so even letting the grass grow unmolested is  
only an approximation of the 1876 appearance (apparently, the original grass  
species was taller than today)
 
Back a few years when the new Indian Memorial was constructed, I was  
favorably impressed by how it for th most part blended into its surroundings,  but 
the new pathways leading to it were distressingly harsh and distracting; I  hope 
with the passage of time they have somewhat better blended in.


One  of the high points of my last trip to the battlefield was a horseback 
ride  with a Crow Indian across the LBH river up at Medicine Tail ford - up 
to  Weir point - down Cedar coulee and up Nye-Cartwright and down Medicine  
Tail coulee. Following in Custer's last ride.
 
I have never been on horseback over that ground (I would pity the poor  
horse), but back quite a few years ago I was on a walking tour (that included  
Brian Pohanka as a participant) that went from Reno Hill up along Sharpshooter  
Hill and thence across to Weir Point, then down Cedar Coulee and Medicine Tail  
Coulee and up Luce Ridge and down Nye-Cartwright and finally to Custer  Field. 
 It was a very memorable walk.



Bruce  Trinque
Amston, CT




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