New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-09

captured his horse, saddle, aud equipments.
When the firing fell off at the river 1 mounted
my horse and climbed one of the bluffs where .
picket was stationed, to watch the further move
ments of the Indians. do you those black
lookin things in the river there Mister" said
the picket. "They are Indians"
True enough the Indians running their horses
across the river about amile and half below. Word
was sent to Gen. Custer. The force watching the
hills, those below under Capt French and those
above under Col. Hart, Immediately strength
ened by reeDforcements. Lieut.. Brush, commanding
the company of scouts which had been ordered to
proceed with the cavalry. directed to send his
men well out from the river and watch the Indians
closely.
The hostiles hoping to divert attention from the
movement, opened fire again heavily on the river.
Gen. Custer returned to the woods and took fow
more shots. Private futile, his orderly. taking up
his rife dropped down behind tree and opened on
some of the Indians who were defantly exposing
themselves the other side He had been firing in the
morning and had got the range of the river very
well. He was one Of the finest shots IN tho req
ment, and generally admired by all his comrades for
his skill with his rifle. Col. Harris orderly and
another man were with him, concealed behind
large tree. 81 want to drop few more of them fell
lows said he, "before leave here. Do you want
to see me drop that Indianp pointing to one on his
pony who had come ont of the wood. He brought
his rifle to his shoulders and fred. The Indian
dropped from his pony. Three or four Indians ran
to him. Tutte took another shot and dropped
another man. A short interval and another man
fell from his pony. This was Tuttle's last shot, The
Indians brought their best men forward and opened
q cross fire on the tree behind which he was con-
cealed. He turned his head little on one side to
take another sight, when shot struck bin IN tho
forehead aud pierced his brain.
THE INDIANS SWIM TIE RIVER.
Just about this time the who stationed
on the hills began to wave their hands, showing
that the Indians coming up the river and cross
ing. Gen. Custer who under tree in the resr
of the center saw the sign, and Immediately ordered
Capt Yates to send platoon up to the point COM
| mandng the bluffs. Gen. Custer directed him to
take Lieut.. Braden. The position assigned Lieut..
Braden was a very important 1t was knoh
on the extreme left, that commanded view Of the
front and tho whole valley of the river. Cant. Yates
was Immediately afterward directed to dlsmonnt
| the remaining portions OF our company, and throw
| them forward TO hold the bluffs in his front. Gen.
Custer then rode up on the bluff AS he rode mp he
| saw the Indians approaching, and sent DlcR woro
| to Lieut. Weston, who commanded tie Other traaS
| of Capt Yatess squadr0n, and directed him
/ to move his men no the raYlne toward
the bluff on which tho Indians were to be seen, WIN
directions to report to Gen. Custer soon after 20
! was informed that, when opportunity occurred Gen
! Custer intended him to charge on the Indians.
| Meanwhile Lieut.. Braden and his men were having
| hot time. The Indians had gained the ton of the
| bluff up the river, and advancing rapidly, were
| driving Our scouts before them. The narrow ridge
which Lieut.. Braden occupied with his IL men
formed natural passage across deep raYlne: INC
scouts made for the ridge to avoid the rayIne on
one side and the steep cliff on the other the IN,
| dams closely pursuing them. Lie low, men, said
Lieut. Braden: wait till they come close. and then
let them have it," Gen. Custer, seeing the way the
| Indians were coming. sent Lient ). II, Jones' VINO
otaIo icoiH 10 FOIL m
place at all hazards. Braden had picked let
of men. whom he could well trust. Iney
heard the order and determined 70 hoiu mo
place. The Indians, all unconscious of the men
behind the ridge, came on at full speed W nen
within 25 30 yards Braden gave the order TO lre
His men obeyed. Two or three Indians fell from
their saddles, and the remainder broke right and
left for the rayine. Our men had ANTICIPATED thus
movement and kept up such brisk IRE that me In
dams scattered in all directions. Rallying how.
ever they poured volley into our men. one b9ll III
which struck Lieut. BradeD in the thigh breaking
the bone and inlicting severe wound. Lieut. Bra
den Immediately fell and rolled some way down tho
ravine. As he fell, some OF bis men ran 70 MN.
Men, I want YOU to hold that ridge" he said.
ali. lieutenant, we1i move forward The men
were as good as their word. The 200 Indians that
had advanced on this little party were completely
Tepused. Several OF the INDIANS were killed. anu
some of their horses were shot
THE CHARGE AND ROUT OF THE SIOUX.
The second onslaught of the Indians was made on
our center. Failing to dslodge Lieut. Braden,
large party of them got into a rayine front
and opened a CALLING fire upon us. Gen. Custer
who had established his headquarters the top OF
this bluff, now deemed it time to drive the Indians
away. "Strikc up Garry Owen said he to the
leader of the banu. The familiar notes Of that
stirring Irish air acted like magic. II the COM
mander had had galvanic battery connecting with
the solar fexus of every man ON the field. he could
hardly have electrified them more thoroughly.
What matter if the cornet PLAYED a faltcrng note,
and the altO-hOn was a little husky There was
no installing the tune and Its meaning.
Forward shouted the commanders. and away
they went "pell-mellp the horses seeming 10 share
the eagerness 0f the men. There was no scattering
or tagging Eyeryman keeps in his place. On they
90 like whirlwind. Weston and Hale on the left,
Tom Custer plungng down the rayine on the right.
bitches, gullies, hills, cannot stop them. Now Yates
and Moylan are ordered to advance and support
them, and add two more to the black columns dash
ing over the hills No Indian would venture 70
stand before that whirlwind Leaning on their
horses they run for their lives: Hale and Weston
succeed in getting within thirty yards
of them. and give them n vOcy from
their carbnes; McDougall speaks with bis
revolver. One conspicuous Indian in n red blan-
ket supposed to be Gall an important chief: had
bis pony shot dead under him. lis Ieaped on fresh
horse and got away. Seeing that WITH their Jaded
horses weaTed by the long march, they could not
run down the Indians they dismounted and gave
them a VOlley from their carbines. then remOunted
and chased them till they had completed a run OK
eight miles Lieut.. Custer 90 the left let ms men
on fnrOusly. He is a terrible rider said one Of
our "casuals' to me- / saw him ily over ditch
about - feet wide The man after him missed it,
and horse and rider rolled into the gully Tive or
three times the Indians ahead Of him. hav-
ing n better start than those hecing before
the retribuion Of Hale, turned in their
saddles and fred q v0ey which tore up the dust at
the feet of their pursuers. but did no further dam
age They were soon too closely pressed Tor tins
amusement, and concluded TO elect their escape
through discretion rather than tLrough vaioI.
While the charge was taking lace, Can't. French
with n squadron had taken position further down
the river to prevent Indians crossing and attacking