In 1904, the British Empire launched the Younghusband Expedition, invading
Tibet to counter perceived Russian influence and secure trade routes. Led by
Colonel Francis Younghusband, a 13,000-strong force advanced from India, facing
minimal resistance from poorly equipped Tibetan troops. The campaign culminated
in the capture of Lhasa, with significant Tibetan casualties. The resulting
Treaty of Lhasa forced Tibet to open trade markets and cede control over
foreign affairs to Britain. This invasion disrupted Tibet’s isolationist
policies.
Curly a young Crow scout born around
1856, served with Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer's 7th Cavalry during the
Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876. He was one of six Crow scouts
attached to Custer's command, but he did not participate in the fighting;
instead, he was dismissed before the final engagement, observed parts of the
battle from a distance, and became the first to report the defeat to U.S.
forces aboard the steamboat Far West. Over the decades until his death
in 1923, Curly provided multiple accounts of the events, often through
interpreters, which varied in detail and sometimes conflicted—likely due to
memory, media sensationalism, and cultural differences.
Curly's earliest known account was
given shortly after the battle. Curly, hidden in a ravine with limited
visibility, estimated the fight began around 2:30–3:00 p.m. and lasted until
nearly sunset. He vividly portrayed the intense, continuous firing as "the
snapping of the threads in the tearing of a blanket." The troops repelled
several charges until ammunition ran low, leading to a final Indian assault
where soldiers were killed at close range, many with arrows.
Curly claimed Custer animated his men
until mortally wounded about an hour before the end. Curly escaped by wrapping
his blanket like a Sioux warrior and passing through their lines during the
chaos, possibly mistaken for an ally.
Near the end of his life in 1923,
Curly provided what was described as his "last story". After Reno split off; Custer and his men rode
to a hill, then down a ravine, and briefly surveyed the valley from a high
point, seeing Reno's men advancing amid rising dust. Custer proceeded down
Medicine Tail Creek, halted, and sent the gray horse troop ahead while turning
north.
Curly’s accounts are valuable for their
Native perspective but show inconsistencies. Claims like hiding in a gutted
horse or high Sioux casualties likely stem from media embellishments. Despite
this, his descriptions of Custer’s movements, the village’s size, and the
warriors’ tactics align with archaeological evidence and other accounts, making
his early reports particularly useful when cross-referenced.
In ancient Rome, Vestal
Virgins were priestesses dedicated to Vesta, goddess of the hearth. Sworn to
chastity, their primary duty was maintaining the sacred fire, symbolizing
Rome’s eternal prosperity. Breaking their vow of celibacy was considered a
grave offense, threatening the city’s safety. Punishments were severe: guilty
Vestals faced live burial in a small underground chamber, with minimal
provisions, ensuring a slow death. The most infamous execution was that of
Cornelia the chief Vestal Virgin condemned in 91 CE by the Emperor Domitian.
Edward S. Curtis (1868–1952),
an American photographer, dedicated his life to documenting Native American
cultures. Beginning in the late 1890s, Curtis traveled across North America,
capturing over 40,000 images of more than 80 tribes. His monumental work, The
North American Indian, a 20-volume series, preserved vanishing traditions,
portraits, and daily life with remarkable sensitivity. Despite financial
struggles and criticism for romanticizing his subjects, Curtis’s photographs
remain invaluable historical records. His images, blending artistry and
ethnography, offer a poignant glimpse into Native American heritage, ensuring
their stories endure for future generations.
When warned about the formidable reputation of Confederate General Robert E.
Lee during the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant reportedly dismissed the concerns
with characteristic resolve. Grant, aware of Lee’s tactical brilliance,
responded, “I’m tired of hearing about what Bobby Lee is going to do to us. He’s only human. I want him to think about what we are going
to do to him.” This reflected Grant’s pragmatic approach, refusing to be
intimidated by Lee’s legend. Instead, Grant focused on relentless pressure,
leveraging Union resources to outmaneuver Lee. His confidence and strategic
tenacity ultimately led to Lee’s surrender at Appomattox in 1865.
In the late 1880s, the Ghost Dance emerged among Native American tribes,
particularly the Lakota Sioux, as a spiritual movement promising renewal and
resistance. Inspired by Paiute prophet Wovoka, it envisioned a world free of
white settlers, where ancestors would return, and buffalo would thrive. Dancers
performed circular rituals, chanting and praying for salvation. The U.S.
government, fearing rebellion, suppressed the movement, culminating in the
tragic Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890, where hundreds of Lakota were killed. After
the Wounded Knee Massacre practice of the Ghost Dance went underground.
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