Name Background

Armstrong's Indian name has a Biblical reference, though as far as I know one is not connected to the other...

Jesus is referred to as the Morning Star (referring to the Star of Bethlehem) and Mary the Son of Jesus is also referred as the Morning Star...

As Kate Bighead explained, "We Cheyenne called him, Hi-Es-Tsie, Long Hair. The Arikara called him, Creeping Panther, who comes in the night. The Crow called him, Son of the Morning Star, who attacks at dawn...."

My guess is that the names are connected perhaps only in destiny since the battle happened within days of America's 100th anniversary - certainly destiny seemed to be often on the mind of Custer...

As most know Native American names are given to reflect something to do with the person or something that connects with an event in the person's life at the time of their birth or later, but since he had no Native American connection until later in his life, it's unlikely the name was given regarding events during his birth but perhaps was an inspiration given to someone later on...

I wonder if somewhere exists a paper on the history of his name - it'd make interesting reading...

Glades2