Descendant of Custer 1874 Expedition officer Tilford dies

By Bev Pechan

Richard Ferguson Tilford, West Palm Beach, Fla., had big plans to spend some time in the Black Hills, sharing his stories of Custer’s Seventh Cavalry and of his great-grandfather, Col. Joseph G. Tilford, who led one of the two columns of cavalry that explored the region during that summer of 1874.
Richard Tilford studied the military career of his ancestor extensively and was particularly enamored of the time he spent in Custer’s cavalry and the multiple times he commanded at Fort Meade. For several years, the younger Tilford appeared at community events, reenactments and college campuses to share his knowledge and love of this history. Last summer, he hoped to spend some time in the Custer and Sturgis areas, visiting with tourists. When scheduling did not allow it, he began talking of doing this in 2012. Throughout his lifetime, he worked in the aviation business and had a lengthy career in real estate, besides presenting public talks on military history and his family’s role in it. Richard “Tiger” Tilford, 58, died on Christmas morning, Dec. 25, 2011.
According to Richard Tilford, Col. Tilford and Custer were not enamored of each other, but they shared the same wedding anniversary and for many years, celebrated these occasions together.
In the early winter of 1876, the Custers were at the home of the Tilfords at Fort Rice, Dakota Territory for the annual ritual. A housekeeper later passed along a story to her relatives about that evening.
Custer, it was noted, was standing before a tall mirror, adjusting his uniform, when the glass shattered. Libbie Custer, it was then said, was visibly shaken by the event and saw this as a bad omen, with her worst fears becoming realization just a few months later. The elder Tilford did not go on the Big Horn Expedition, due to being placed on medical leave with a bout of arthritis that prevented him from mounting his horse.
During the journey into the Black Hills, Col. Tilford was an agreeable companion. He always carried a Bible in his saddle bags, which his wife placed there. It was Col. Tilford who read the service for the two troopers who died along the way and it was also Tilford who hosted what has become known as “the champagne party” at the campsite in present Custer City, while Custer himself was climbing Harney Peak. During his superior’s absence, Tilford organized what was the first game of baseball played in the Black Hills.
Following the battle of the Little Big Horn, Col. Tilford personally escorted Custer’s remains as far as Chicago by train, where the body was transferred for the last leg of the trip for burial at West Point Academy. But first, he first cut a lock of Custer’s hair to give to Libbie.
In 1878, the remainder of the Seventh Cavalry removed from Fort Abraham Lincoln to a place called Camp Sturgis. Nearby, a permanent army fort was erected and called Fort Meade.
Tilford was called upon in several instances to take command of the facilities there and was instrumental in helping to rid the town of Sturgis of its more unsavory businesses. The Col. and Mrs. Tilford did much charitable work in the community and the then bustling town of Tilford was named for them.
When the Seventh Cavalry left Fort Meade for the last time in 1878, Col. Tilford was placed in charge of one regiment of buffalo (black) soldiers. Prior to joining the Seventh, Tilford was also cited for bravery at the Battle of Glorietta Pass in what is now New Mexico.