Known as “Lonesome Charley”, Charles Alexander Reynolds was far more than just a name in the annals of the Wild West. An expert marksman, formidable frontiersman, and skilled hunter, Reynolds served as a crucial scout for the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment. His life, marked by adventure and quiet determination, culminated in an act of extraordinary bravery at the infamous Battle of the Little Bighorn, where he made the ultimate sacrifice.
Early Life and the Call of the Frontier
Born in Stephensburg, Kentucky, on March 20, 1842, Reynolds faced early hardship, losing his mother at just three years old. After a period in Illinois where he attended Abingdon College, his family moved to Pardee, Kansas. However, the sedentary life did not suit Charley’s adventurous spirit. In 1860, at 17, he left home, first working as a teamster heading to the Colorado gold fields, and then briefly serving as a daring Pony Express rider. He was described as short and stocky, with dark red hair and wide-set blue eyes, a man of clean living and keen intellect, particularly interested in geology, animal life, and Indigenous cultures.
Civil War Service and a Solitary Path
The outbreak of the Civil War saw Reynolds enlist in Company E of the 10th Kansas Infantry. He participated in escort duties along the Santa Fe Trail and fought in the Battle of Prairie Grove in Arkansas in December 1862, before being mustered out in August 1864. Post-war, a failed trading venture in New Mexico led him to Kansas, where he spent years hunting buffalo on the Republican River and trapping in the upper Missouri River region. It was during this period of constant movement and preference for solitude that he earned his enduring nickname, “Lonesome Charley”, a testament to his private nature and independent spirit. His reputation grew as a frontiersman of unparalleled ability, earning him the Indigenous moniker, “White-Hunter-That-Never-Goes-Out-for-Nothing.”
Scouting with Custer and the Black Hills Gold Rush
Charley Reynolds’ path soon converged with that of George Armstrong Custer. In 1873, he guided the first Yellowstone Expedition, escorting Northern Pacific Railroad surveyors. The following year, during the second expedition, he solidified his reputation with Custer as a quiet but superior scout. It was Reynolds who overheard Lakota warrior Rain-in-the-Face boast of murdering two civilians from the expedition, leading to Rain-in-the-Face’s apprehension. Later, in 1874, during Custer’s Black Hills Expedition, Reynolds undertook a critical solo mission, carrying dispatches to Fort Laramie that announced the discovery of gold. This act ignited the infamous Black Hills Gold Rush, forever altering the landscape of the American West.
The Fateful Big Horn Campaign and Little Bighorn
By 1876, Reynolds was an indispensable figure, hired as a scout for General Alfred Terry’s campaign to bring in Sitting Bull. Despite developing a painful hand inflammation and a profound premonition of his impending death, Reynolds was persuaded to remain with the column. On May 17, 1876, he guided the 7th Cavalry towards the Little Bighorn River. As the column advanced in June, Reynolds’ unease grew. At the Crow’s Nest, upon first sighting the immense Indigenous village, Reynolds soberly informed Custer it was the largest he had ever seen, a warning reinforced by interpreter Mitch Bouyer, but one Custer tragically dismissed.
Lonesome Charley’s Heroic Last Stand
On the eve of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Lonesome Charley, still burdened by his premonition, distributed his personal belongings among his friends. During the battle, he rode with Major Marcus Reno’s command. As Reno’s troops dismounted, were flanked by warriors, and then retreated into the woods, Reynolds found himself alongside Fred Girard, an interpreter. As Major Reno ordered a frantic re-mount, an act Girard deemed foolish given their defensive position, Reynolds disregarded the advice and bravely attempted to catch up with the fleeing troops. His horse was shot from under him, forcing him to take a final stand behind his fallen mount. It was here that he saw Dr. Henry Porter tending to a mortally wounded soldier. With bullets flying, Reynolds selflessly warned Dr. Porter, “Look out, Doctor, the Indians are shooting at you!” and in doing so, drew attention away from the surgeon. Moments later, Charley Reynolds was struck down and killed at the age of 34, his sacrifice allowing Dr. Porter to be the only 7th Cavalry surgeon to survive the chaos.
Conclusion
Charles Alexander Reynolds, the quiet and observant frontiersman known as “Lonesome Charley,” embodied the spirit of the American West. From Pony Express rider to Civil War soldier and Custer’s trusted scout, his life was a testament to his skill, bravery, and unwavering dedication. His invaluable contributions to expeditions and his ultimate heroic sacrifice at the Battle of the Little Bighorn secured his place not just as a skilled pathfinder, but as a true hero. Though initially interred on the battlefield, he is believed to have been reburied in Norris, Michigan, leaving behind a legacy of integrity and quiet courage that continues to inspire. He was a man who lived by his own rules, valued solitude and keen observation, and ultimately gave his life for another, cementing his legend in American history.
