Lt. Col. George Custer's bandmaster at Fort Abraham Lincoln later became one of America's most celebrated composers of the 19th century.

Felix Vinatieri was an extraordinary violin and coronet musician who composed memorable marches, waltzes, polkas and other types of music. He also composed two of America's earliest comic operas.

In 1876, Vinatieri left Fort Lincoln with Custer as they proceeded to look for Sitting Bull. However, for reasons that are not totally clear, he remained behind on the steamboat Far West when Custer engaged the Indians at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, a decision that may have had an impact on the outcome of two NFL Super Bowls over 120 years later.

Vinatieri was born and educated in Italy. In 1859, he and his sister, Emmelia, (one source lists her name as Lenora) immigrated to the U.S. and settled near Lowell, Mass.

With the outbreak of the American Civil War, Vinatieri enlisted Aug. 5, 1861, as a musician first class with the 16th Massachusetts Infantry and was appointed band leader the following month. On July 23, 1862, he was discharged for disability and returned to Europe, taking up residence in Portugal.

He returned to the U.S. and again enlisted for duty the day after Christmas in 1867. He was sent to Fort Sully in Dakota Territory, 28 miles north of present-day Pierre, where he spent the next three years.

He was discharged on Dec. 26, 1870, and moved to Yankton, the capital city of Dakota Territory, to compose and teach music. In 1871, he met 16-year-old Anna Fejfar, 20 years his junior, and the two fell in love and got married.

On Feb. 1, 1873, Custer received orders that he was to lead the seventh Cavalry to Dakota Territory and occupy a new fort under construction - Abraham Lincoln. On April 9, he and his troops arrived in Yankton. While there, a ball was given in honor of the officers of the Seventh Cavalry, and the band leader was Vinatieri. Custer was so caught up with Vinatieri's musical ability as a conductor and coronet player that he persuaded Vinatieri and members of the band to join his cavalry unit.

Vinatieri sent for his wife, Anna, to join him, and they settled into their Fort Abraham Lincoln accommodations

Custer loved music, especially the quadrille (a French square dance). For this reason, among Vinatieri's compositions were the Sound from Fort Abraham Lincoln Quadrille and the Uncle Sam Quadrille. At every opportunity, Felix's band would accompany Custer and his troops as they went on expeditions.

Led by Vinatieri, the 16 musicians, mounted on white horses, would accompany the troops and play lively music as they rode out of camp.

Largely because of the violations of the Laramie treaty, the Lakota, under the leadership of Sitting Bull, attacked many of the gold miners and settlers. To try and restore peace, Gen. Alfred Terry came to Fort Abraham Lincoln to accompany Custer as they prepared to force the Lakota in Montana Territory onto Indian reservations.

When they left the fort on May 17, 1876, Vinatieri and his musicians accompanied the troops.

Custer, Terry and others met on the steamboat Far West on June 21 to make final plans for action against the warriors. One of Custer's decisions was to leave Vinatieri and his musicians aboard the steamboat.

The soldiers left the next day, and Custer and 262 of his men, civilians, and scouts were killed in an engagement with the Indians on June 26.

Vinatieri returned to Fort Abraham Lincoln, and on Dec. 18 he was discharged from the Army. He, his wife, Anna, and their two daughters went back to Yankton where he continued to compose and re-establish another band.

He also spent some time as band director of the Ringling Brothers Circus. Not only did Felix compose more than 100 pieces of music including "General Custer's Last Indian Campaign March," but he was also the first American west of the Mississippi River to compose operas.

He died of pneumonia Dec. 5, 1891, in Yankton.

Vinatieri and his wife had three daughters and five sons.

Their son Ehrum was born April 6, 1886, 10 years after the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Ehrum Vinatieri's great grandson is Adam Vinatieri, who was a kicker for the New England Patriots from 1995 to 2005 and is considered the "best clutch kicker in the history of the NFL."

In the 2002 Super Bowl, Vinatieri kicked a 48-yard field goal on the final play, defeating the St. Louis Rams. In the 2004 Super Bowl, he kicked a 41-yard field goal, with four seconds remaining, to defeat the Carolina Panthers.

(Written by Curt Eriksmoen and edited by Jan Eriksmoen. Reach the Eriksmoens at cjeriksmoen@;cableone.net)