Thomas Weir (American soldier)
Thomas Benton Weir | |
---|---|
7th U.S. Cavalry | |
Battles/wars | American Civil War American Indian Wars |
Alma mater | University of Michigan |
Captain Thomas Benton Weir (September 28, 1838 – December 9, 1876) was an officer in the
Weir first served under
Reportedly deeply depressed by his experience in the historic battle, Weir's health declined, and he died only a few months afterwards, aged 38.
Civil War experience
Weir was born in
Shortly afterwards, he was taken prisoner by the Confederate States Army and was promoted again to captain during the seven months he was held captive. After his release, Weir was assigned as Assistant Inspector General on the staff of Major General George Armstrong Custer.[1]
In July 1868, Weir received
Battle of the Little Bighorn and Weir Point
During the
Weir's company, without orders, (and eventually followed by other soldiers including Benteen) moved north from the defensive position on Reno Hill, heading in the direction of the sound of firing from the direction where they believed Custer and his troops were fighting. However, Weir and the would-be relief were forced to retreat back to Reno Hill under fire where they were under further attack until relieved by General Alfred Terry two days later, when the Native American warriors withdrew.[3]
Weir Point
Also known as Weir Ridge, Weir Point is about three miles south from where Custer and the soldiers with him were killed and about one and a half miles north of Reno Hill. Weir Point is the location where Captain Weir and those with him eventually realized after two hours[4] that Custer was beyond their aid, and that hostile warriors were advancing towards the relief force in substantial numbers. From Weir Point the surviving members of the 7th Cavalry withdrew back to the already-established defensive positions on Reno Hill.
In the present era, Weir Point is a modest pull-off on the paved lane that ends at Reno Hill, also known as the Reno-Benteen Battlefield. Weir Point is marked with an illustrated roadside sign naming the hill and showing an artist's rendition of what the artist believed Weir and those with him saw: clouds of dust rising from the bluffs to the north where Custer and his men were wiped out.[5]
Weir's decline and death
Deeply shaken by his experience after the famous battle and showing symptoms of
He died at his home in New York City on December 9, 1876 at age 38, less than six months after Custer's death, reportedly in a state of extreme
Media portrayal
Weir wa played by Robert Schenkkan in the 1991 television movie Son of the Morning Star.[7] He was portrayed by Roger Clark in the 2007 BBC documentary titled Custer's Last Stand. In the 2021 documentary Custer’s Strategy of Defeat, Weir is played by Jeff Wahl.
External links
References
- ^ "Thomas Benton Weir (1838-1876)". 15 January 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
- ^ United States Senate (1887). Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States. Vol. XVI. US Government Printing Office: Washington, DC. p. 316 – via Google Books.
- ^ ISBN 0-86547-510-5.
- ^ Lt. Edgerly (Carroll, The Gibson and Edgerly Narratives, p. 11: "We stayed out there [on the Weir Peaks] about 2 hours, according to my recollection...."
- ^ "Weir Point Historical Marker".
- ^ "Libbie Custer: 'A Wounded Thing Must Hide'". 16 August 2017.
- ^ "Son of the Morning Star | Full Cast and Credits". Archived from the original on 2017-12-10. Retrieved 2017-12-10.