Little Big Horn Days costume event draws visitors, performers

By BECKY SHAY Of The Gazette Staff HARDIN - With trail dust on his leggings, Lt. Col. George A. Custer greeted nearly 80 dancers at the 1876 Grand Ball held in his honor Thursday night. Custer, played by Rick Williams of Middletown, Ohio, touched his hat to greet the ladies and gave the men a firm handshake, even the one Confederate soldier in attendance. As the guests of honor at Hardin's 14th annual 1876 Grand Ball, Custer and his wife watched as the dancers maneuvered themselves into four lines and danced the Virginia Reel with skirts twirling and high-legged boots stomping on the gravel at the Big Horn County Fairgrounds. Custer's guest for the evening was Buffalo Bill, Wayne Baumann of Sheridan, Wyo., was accompanied by his wife, Louise. "Her and I have been married for 155 year's now," he said when introducing the lady.... [read full story]