Comanche actually survived the battle after being shot seven times and was found alive two days after the battle.. He was nursed back to health and retired with full military honors.
And at a VA hospital outside sturgis South Dakota. Place called Fort Meade, there is a statue of him. That very few know about. Comanche means enemy to all.
I knew this song as a small child. I've often cried thinking that beautiful horse had died at that battle. I'm 69 years old and found these Johnny Horton songs again. My big brother had Johnny's Greatest Hits album. He left it at home when he joined the Air Force in '61. I would listen to it over and over wishing he'd come home. We lost my brother 3 years ago. I don't know if he ever knew Comanche had survived. I'm so glad I stumbled on this and read the comments. Thanks to whomever shared that historical fact with me.
Be proud! I am 1/2 irish, choctaw, cherokee,black French. My grandad williams was a shaman, healer! He blessed me. He gave me his gift.. I miss him, and granny so much! They are alwAys with me. My pride, and joy! Taught me how to love. Biscuits, eggs,gravy, coffee. Bacon, ham. Buttermilk! Oh god, I miss these days! It was magic living with them! Special time for me! Always in my heart! .
My grandfather gave me a portable stereo & an album called "Johnny Horton Makes History" when I was a small child. Of course, it included this song. I'm 71, now, and it's still a favorite, and it never fails to bring tears to my eyes.
You’re so right. Most of the “new” music kids listen to is destroying our nation. Case in point: “WAP” by Cardi B. I know I sound like my granny, but it’s straight from hell. Dear God, save our country from this filth. Bring back artists like Horton and others.
Comanche was Myles Keogh's horse. Keogh was on John Buford staff during the Civil War and was with him when hi died of typhoid in December 1863 - less then 6 months after Gettysburg.
Johnny Horton I believe was a history teacher and I don't know if he sang or played various things throughout history and put music to them but his students really learned really well with his way of putting it out there
Comanche, Black Jack, and Sergeant Reckless....... The only three horses so far in history to be given a full military funeral with full military honors. Quite a feet for animals. Impressive
I'm 74 years old and i thought I've heard all of johnny Hortons songs,,always a favorite of mine,,,but i have never heard this until today,,,,March 2nd,,2024,,,,my loss😢
When I was in the 3rd grade, I asked my parents to buy me a copy of his album, Johnny Horton Makes History. A few months later I could sing all the songs by memory. This song was on that album.
Mom, and then later my Uncle, played this album so often, that I too ended up knowing all the lyrics. Great music and songs. :-) Thanks for commenting.
My dad played alot of Johnny Horton as I grew up. I'm in my mid 50s now and all 3 of my kids and most of my 7 grandchildren know many Johnny Horton songs by heart...❤
This is an awesome song, one of my Dad's favorite artists. We grew up on these ballads and still sing them today. Thanks Comanche, you are not forgotten.
Wasn't Comanche the only survivor of the battle. There is a photo of a parade and the horse is there walked with honor. He was Custer's horse. At least that's what the caption said.
@@a.salmon8193 He wasn't Custer's horse. On June 25, 1876, Captain Keogh rode Comanche at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. If I remember right Keogh was killed but not mutilated during the battle. .
A beautiful song about a horse, named Comanche, during the battle of the Big Horn.....A great song to help us remember that animals also give their lives during times of war
@@cadendennis9412 This Horse that was the last serviver was a soldier. You see sir, a horse is more than animal. You ride you are One with that Horse as a Soldier. The horse experiences what you do at the same time because you are together as a unit. Sometimes the horse lived longer than the rider.
I'm 75 years old and live in Central Texas. I grew up loving Johnny Horton's music and then he was killed in a car wreck near my house. He predicted his death that same night, but left Austin anyway to duck hunt in Shreveport knowing he was going to be killed that night by a drunk driver. Johnny was playing in Austin that night... At the same nightclub where Hank Williams played his last. Johnny had married Hank Williams wife. That's something else... I know his son Tommy Horton and he does the same songs that his dad did. He's great at it also. He hires out so if you want to really be sent back in time...Hire Tommy Horton!🎶🤔🤗🥰🇨🇱❤️👍
A great legend and his singing is phenomenal..Johnny Horton is an entertainer that no one will ever forget..what a memory Johnny left us all..I was a young child when I first heard This legendary song..A great performance..
Don't forget the bear at Monte Casino. 22nd transport company a Polish unit attached to the British army. Corporal Wojick ( happy warrior) he retired to the Edinburgh zoo.
When I was a kid, I was able to tour the US Cavalry museum at Fort Riley. Comanche was stuffed on display. IIRC, Comanche lived well into his thirties, and for the last twenty some odd years of his life was retired at the fort and was gently cared for by Cavalry troops.
I know you posted this a year ago but Comanche is now in the ku natural history museum. I live close to ft Riley we hear them testing weaponry all the time shaking the who house. My ex's dad is a sgt but to stuck up. Comanche is a better solider than him.
@@garygass2505 And some extra information..... Comanche was given full military honors after his passing...... One of to date, only three horses, the other named Black Jack and Sergeant Reckless to have these honors bestowed to on an animal
@@versansky75 thank you for sharing this information, I used to listen with my Dad back in the 70's before he passed away when I was 7 as a little girl driving with him and listening on his 8 track ❤
Thier is so much we miss in history as they say and this song Honors a true warrior at a time when his owner and people were fighting for their way of life. thanks for posting. My father to me the story of men that went to dig up a grave of a native American's Chef's daughter in search of gold or anything they could sell on the TN-river back in the late 40 or early 50's timeframe and how a storm came out of nowhere and they all most drown in the TN-River when they finally got safe they found it had not rain or storm any place but at her grave. My dad took me to one place where some of them live and I got go into the cave just overlooking the TN river as a kid. One must thank the God's were watching over her resting place that day as I heard no one ever tried to do this after listing to story for they said it was as if the TN river was raining down on them all at once.
Up until a couple years ago I owned the Johnny Horton album, I had every song memorized and sang it with the record. I miss this album! I miss this kind of music. Johnny was totally under-rated in my book. His songs touched the heart!
This and the Battle of New Orleans was written by my cousin who did a lot of writing for Johnny Horton. His name was Ronald Huffstetler but went by Rink Hardin.
So if y’all didn’t know what this song is about I’ll fill you in because I love this story. When he says Comanche he doesn’t mean the tribe, as they weren’t even involved in the battle of Little Big Horn, he means an actual horse named Comanche. Comanche was a US cavalry horse and was the only survivor on the US side of Little Big Horn. When the rest of the 7th Cavalry found Custer’s squadron the only living thing on that field except the buzzards was one barley living horse. He had about 15 arrows in his sides, and dozens of bullet holes riddled his back. That was Comanche. His rider was a Captain who had fallen early that day but Comanche lived on. He was brought back to camp and nursed to health. He retired and lived out his days on a farm back East, probably always remembering that terrible day.
I hadn’t read that Comanche was hit that many times with guns and arrows. Breaks my heart. In the old westerns they hardly showed the fallen horses; you just assumed they got through unharmed. The story of Comanche brings out the truth for all of those brave horses soldiers.
1/4 CHEROKEE, THE REST A LITTLE BLACK, AND WHITE. BEEN A HORSEMEN ALL MY LIFE, EVEN TODAY AT SOON TO BE 73 YRS I LOOK OUT MY WINDOW AT MY TWO QUARTER HORSE GELDINGS IN THEIR PASTURE EATING AWAY. COMANCHE REALLY KNEW HOW TO FIGHT AND SIOUX AS WELL MADE SURE LITTLE BIG HORN WOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN BY EITHER SIDE. 👍🐎🐴🐎🐴🐎🐴🐎🐴
Thank you very much for your kind words and thoughts. And thank you for your time and sharing in our world. May the Creator bless you and your household. Thanks for watching too. :-)
Decades ago, I purchased the vinyl LP, "Johnny Horton makes History." I still play this album regularly and listening to "Comanche" just now brings back old memories. Horton was such a wonderful talent and his life was taken far too soon. The music played today is such "crap" compared to the Horton's, Beatles, Bee Gees and all those of the golden ages.
Commanche was a mighty horse - the mount of one Captain Keogh, who perished with General Custer at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Commanche was the sole survivor of the US army in that battle (obviously won by the Indians) was nursed back to health, and was buried with full military honors when he died years later - very rare military honor for a horse.
Just to be sure ya'll know this song is about an U.S. Army war horse, right? He was Captain Myles Keogh's horse. Comanche was shot by an, ironically, Comanche arrow in the hindquarter during an early battle but kept fighting. After the battle, Keogh named his horse "Comanche" to honor his bravery. Later Comanche would become the only surviving U.S. Army soldier at the Battle of Little BigHorn.
Yep, we know that. That's why whenever is Comanche is named there is just a general wide shot of the native people and not one specific native or outfit. Thanks for sharing the info though. :-)
120masterpiece Hell, I didn't know, im Australian, so how would I after hearing it when I was 6! I always assumed it was a song dedicated to, well, the commanches! Being a animal person it makes the song more sad and poetic for me now. But not being as, ahh, attached to US history it doesn't make me quite so sad knowing that it not about actual people. Hmmm, will have to listen to it a few more times to sort this out!
Lane Green I think it in a way also speaks about the Comanche people too. Afterall, he did name his horse "Comanche" for his bravery more than likely because he saw how brave the Comanche were. I also do feel the song speaks for the soldiers who died. Even though they did die for unjust reasons, they did give it their all. It is unfortunately a dark and sad time in our history. Every country has a dark history, right? But I feel instead of pointing fingers and white washing it we should learn from their mistakes. After all, in order to know where we are going, we have to know where we been.
Comanche is often described as the sole survivor of Custer's detachment, but like so many other legends surrounding the Little Bighorn battle, this one is not entirely accurate. Other horses survived, but, in better condition after the battle, were taken as spoils of battle. As historian Evan S. Connell writes in Son of the Morning Star Comanche was reputed to be the only survivor of the Little Bighorn, but quite a few Seventh Cavalry mounts survived, probably more than one hundred, and there was even a yellow bulldog. Comanche lived on another fifteen years, and when he died, he was stuffed and to this day remains in a glass case at the University of Kansas. So, protected from moths and souvenir hunters by his humidity-controlled glass case, Comanche stands patiently, enduring generation after generation of undergraduate jokes. The other horses are gone, and the mysterious yellow bulldog is gone, which means that in a sense the legend is true. Comanche alone survived.
There's another cavalry horse as well, a grey (so from Co. E ) but it's not known who his rider was. Elizabeth Atwood Lawrence, in 'His Very Silence Speaks' (p.34) quotes Edgerly (from Hammer) as saying: "one of E Troop's gray horses was found wounded at the river near Custer battlefield, and appeared to be very much frightened and very shy but followed the troops at a distance all [the] way to [the] crossing of the Yellowstone". Another source, Trumpeter William G. Hardy of Co. A, told Camp that "the gray horse found on the battlefield was taken to Fort Lincoln and children used to ride him. His name was 'Nap'". There's a photo in the Lawrence book of Comanche with an unnamed grey; presumably Nap. It may be somewhere on the internet as well. (It's credited to the Custer Battlefield National Monument archives)
This song is about a horse - the "only survivor" at the battle of Little Big Horn. jbm121212 post some more information about him. Thanks for commenting. :-)
Judging from what I’ve read, there were several horses that lived through the battle. Also Comanche the horse that Keogh rode into battle. Depending on your point of view, there were no generals at the battle of the Little Bighorn Custer, pay grade lt. Col. Bev rank Major General. Marcus Reno, pay grade Major bev rank brigadier gen frederick benteen, pay grade captain, bev rank Bridader General
Quite a few horses and men survived the battle. Reno and Benteen's battalions suffered heavy losses but all things considered were relatively lucky. Comanche was the only survivor on Last Stand Hill where the battalion directly commanded by Custer was wiped out. He was shot seven times and lived for many years after the battle as a mascot for the 7th Cavalry.
@@hydrolito To be more precise 31 warriors (seven of whom were Cheyenne, the rest Lakota), six women and four children died. All 260 men of the seventh calvary died. Comanche was the lone survivor.
I discovered Johnny in Alaska in the 80s. I have loved him and his music since. I honestly feel a connection to Comanche . Thank you so much for sharing!❤
I grew up on these songs...still love them. I am 1/8 Choctaw. Maybe even more. My paternal grandfather was 1/2 Choctaw and my maternal grandmother had to have had lots of native blood because she looked very native. I am proud of my native heritage.
I believe Johnny Horton was a Man of all People the Night we lost him my mom took me to the Skyline Dance Hall in Wah North Austin they were were hit by a drunk driver at a narrow parg of the Highway out Milano TX meeting him and the time he took even with a kid left an impression on me today Kindness goes a long WAYS even 2021 Great Post Thank You for allowing me to ramble ol man way down in TX
I can still hear my mother singing along to this one n any other one of his songs 😢 I grew up in a generation of good people and good music happy drunks I don’t party no one knows how
I am white. I love the American Indians always have. I thought I was part American Indian through the years and my earlier age found out. I wasn't, but I still love the American Indians. Hang on brothers love you
Comanche was Keogh's horse. The Cheyenne and Lakota honored Keogh for his courage. Comanche survived the Custer Fight, Comanche was cared for and loved. But his keeper died at Wounded Knee and soon after Comanche died of a broken heart.
Catherine Feher I did not know this but love the song. That it paid Honor to a brave warrior thanks for the note and the History lesson of a proud people and their fight. For when we forget the past wrongs like a wildfire it can come back to take hope, love from all and only leave pain thanks
@@doyleblankenship2795 Her version of what happened to the horse, & other versions don't add up! I've heard several others say he lived for many years, & the soldiers took really good care of him at the fort!
The righteous perisheth,and no man layeth it to heart:and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. Isaiah 57-1. He shall enter into peace .Isaiah 57-2.Rest in peace child of the king.you're with him now. I know you through your songs. Such beautiful songs.
Yes, we shall see you in the next phase of the Creators "great plan" for all the universe - people included! Regardless of what family line and century we were born into, we all must live out this plain - until we reach the next. See ya on the other side, whenever the Great Spirit is done teaching us on the earth. :-)
What a most deserved title, For a tough brave incredible horse, Comanche died of colic what a horrible thing to die from but he was honored several times atleast he didn’t die of a broken heart like everyone says it was sure colic I encourage people to read about him He’s with god he shall be honored there also amen have a happy Halloween.
This song is one of my favorites. I love Johnny Horton. When my son was 3 or 4, his favorite song was Battle of New Orleans. He'd ask for it to be played on repeat endlessly on road trips, lol. It was his go-to song for years. When he was first trying to get his mother to play it, he kept calling it the "bacon and beans song." It wasn't till one day we were all together on a road trip listening to my playlist on random that the song came on, and we figured out what he wanted exactly. We listened to a wide range of music too, so it was a funny choice.
I have Always loved Johnny Horton, theese songs about Alaska,but now i understand that he is more great than we knew! I am 63 ,i grew up whith him,and now i will love him more!!!
Thank you for your kind words and compliments, and your wonderful appreciation for the Native peoples of North America. I can see you too have a great care for the land we live on. This world certainly needs more people who care about the planet around them. Thank you for love and warmth. May the Creator truly bless you and your household. :-)
Like many others, I remember this from being a kid in the 1970s and the message I got was that he died in the battle. But when you actually listen to each lyric, he never actually says that. He just says Comanche is "wounded and weak," that he "fell," and that he's "battle-scarred and torn." And actually the instruction to Comanche is that he should "hold his head up high" despite what happened.
If Johnny was still alive he would be 93 in April this year. I am in Brisbane Australia and i converse with Jeri on a regular basis. It is only a pity that he has been conveniently over looked for your Hall of Fame. I am a member of the Australian Country Music Association (ACMA) and on behalf of Jeri, i took it upon myself to attempt to have Johnny included in our CM Hall of fame but alas to no avail. Brilliant man. Killed by a 19 year old drunken driver at 35. RIP old mate.
typical....you or poeple in the video could have had horses here. they were the true heros. sad song alwsys listened to this song when i was 6 to 10. my favorite brought tears to my eyes that he was singing for a horse. wow thats really cool
I believe that this was the theme song for a Disney film called "Comanche." It was a film about the horse and contained what seemed to me as a kid (1960 or so) a good replication of the battle. The film must be out there somewhere.
