Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-09-07
sGARRY OWEN"
Old Irish Music Eas No Charms
sOOth the Savage Breast
The Red Men Don't
Like IL.
Castar's Last Bout with the lndiaIs-
They Could stand his Rifles,
but Net his Brass Band.

NIsw YORK, September 0.-General
Custar's official report of the Indian at
tack upon the Yellowstone expedition
near Tongue river on August 4th, and
the Big Horn on August llth, which
will appear in the tribune tomorrow
says that six Indians appeared in FROM
OF his command ON the fourth of Au-
gust while encamped IN q wood about
ter miles in advance Of the main body
of the expedition. General CnstRr
with two OrdeTlies, ali well-armed
mounted and rode toward the Indians
who kept ON their course toward the
heavN woods in advance Of the camp
After following them for some distance
General Custar halted, when the indians
also came to a stand. Finding thai
their uuse to dec0y the troops into the
woods was unsuccessful, the Indians
discovered their ambush, and abOu
three hundred OF them rode boldly oui
and charged upon the cavalry in q per
feet line, and endeavored to intercept
General Custar and his little party. o
the attack
GENERAL GUSTAV SAYS:
"I directed Lieutenant Custar tt
quickly throw forward q dismOuDteC
line of troops and endeayOr to empty 9
few Indian saddles. The order was ObeyeC
with the greatest alacrity, and as the
Sioux came dashmg forward expecting
to ride down the squadron, a line of dis
mounted cavaIrymen rose from the grasi
and delivered almost in the face of thu
warrio.s q volley of carbine bullets
which broke and scattered their ranki
in ali directions, and sent more thar
one Sioux reeiing from his saddle. The
check gave us time to make our diSper
sions TO resist their succeeding attack
which we now knew our enemies would
soon make on US. The entire squadron
except the ehoTseholdeTs, was dismOunteC
and ordered to
FIGHT ON FOOT.
The Indians, Outnumbering us almos
five TO one, were enabled TO envelope u
completely between their lines, formeC
in a semi-circle, and the river, whict
! flowed at our backs. The little belt o
timber in which we had been first at
tackled, formed very good cover fol
our led horses, while the crest of {
second table-land, conveniently located
from the timber, gave US an excellen
line of defense. The length Of our lini
and
THE NUMBER OF THE ENEMY,
prevented US from having any force il
reserve. Every available officer anC
man was on the skirmish line, which
was, in reality, our line of battle. Ever
the number of men holding horses haC
to be reduced, so that each horse-holdel
had eight horses. Until the Indiani
10 -. 20 If
lead, they displayed unusual bOldHess
frequently charging up to our line anC
firing with great deliberatiOn and accu
racy. Finding their efforts to fore,
back the troops unavailing, the Indians
then resoTted o another expedient. By
an evidently preconcerted plan, they
SET FIRE IN SEVERAL PLACES
to the tall grass which covered th'
ground in the front, hoping by TIM
1 means to force the troops back to tht
/ river, and then finish them at thei
pleasure Fortunately there was u,
wind prevailing at the time, while tn
grass was not dry enough TO bun
rapidly. The Indians crept up unde
cover Of the smoke, and often Obtaine,
a shot at a comparatively close range
The troops adopted the same tactics witt
great success" About three O'Clock
after four hours fighting, General Gus
( tar mounted his command and
PUT THE INDIANS TO FLIGHT
without difficulty. The Indians wert
followed until ii was discovered tla
they had crossed the river on the elev
enth of August. General Custar's com
mand was discovered by the Indians
who opened brisk fire from the Oppo
site bank. They soon began to appeal
in strong numbers above and below th,
troops, and brisk skirmish ensued, du
ring which several Indians were killed.
Believing the time for offensive opera.
tions ha0 come, General Custar gave
the necessary order and the troops mov-
ed forward to the tune Of
"GARY OWEN"
The Indians had evidently come Ou
prepared 70 do their best and with DC
misgivings as to their success, as the
mcunds aud high bluffs beyound tn,
river were covered with groups O
squaws, old men and children, who hSC
collected there to witness our destruc
ton. In this instance, the proverbia
power Of music to sooth the savag,
breast" utterly failed, for no sooner die
the band strike up the CHEEKY notes o
Garry OWeR, and the squadron ad
vanced to the charge, than the Indians
exhibited unmistakable signs of com
motion, and then resistance became
more feeble, until finally satisfied of thi
earnestness Of our attack, they turneC
their ponies heads and began dis
orderly flight.