The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-07-15
Custer's Last Fight.

| L Nb Ublbdb Ol N6H. CuSttT anu lIlt
annihilatlon of one wing of the Seventh
cavalry by the Sioux, continues the
event of the day. The news in all es-
sentials is confirmed, it also appearing
that the other division of the regiment,
under Major Reno, suffered very severe
| ly, and was only saved from entire de-
struction by the arrival of Gen. Terry.
| Gen. Custer seems to have miscalcula
| ted the number of the savages and tie
time at which Major Reno was expect
ed to have taken his part in the joint
attack.
The command reached the Indian
camp on the Little Horn on June 20.
Major Reno, with three companies, at
tackled on the south, and was repulsed,
the loss including Lieutenants NJ M'lntosh
and HOdgson, DR.. Dewolf, aud fifty
men killed and FIVE wounded. Captain
Benteen's command made for the bluffs
across the river, and was saved from
instant destruction by the timely arri-
val of a battalion. General Custer,
with five companies, attacked the lower
part of The camp, down the river some
four or five miles from Reno's ford.
They were repulsed at the ford, but
made gallant defense among the
bluffs. The command was extermina"
ted.
The loss is thirteen officers and over
200 men. The balance are missing,
but are probably killed. General Gus
ter, Colonel Custer, Colonel Keogh,
Colonel Yates, Colonel Cook, Captain
Smith, Lieutenant Calhoun, Lieutenant
Porter, Lieutenant Sturgis, Lieutenant
Reilly, Lieutenant Crittenden and DIR.
Lord were killed, also Clusters brother
Boston and nephew, and the Herald's
correspondent, Kellogg. Lieutenant
Harrington is missing. Clusters express
sion was serene. About 5000 warriors
were engaged, The Indians suffered
heavy loss and abandoned an immense
store of supplies. RenO's and Ben
teens command entrenched themselves
and were under a murderous fire until
the evening of the 26th. The men
were saved by the opportune arrival of
Gen. Terry. Gen. Custer underestim-
ated the enemy, separated his force and
was defeated in detail. He probably
misjudged the time necessary to make
bilp biotuhbO DtbNCCb niN wv anu
nos force, thus losing the moral effect
of a simultaneous attack.
CHICAGO, July IAN account of the
Custer massacre, received from the
mouth of the Big Horn river, dated July
I, says: AT noon, June %, Gen. Custer
at the head of his fine regiment, con-
sisting of twelve veteran companies,
left his camp at the molth of the Rose.
bud river to follow the sioux, whom he
believed were in force. On the Goth
Gen. Terry with Gibbons command,
wearied with making forced marches,
were met by Crow scouts who reported
the massacre of Custer's command
which, however, was not credited. Still
the report was not disregardt d, and next
morning at an early hour the head of
the column entered plain, half mile
wide and bordering on the left bank of
the Little Big Horn river, where had
recently been o large Indian village,
extending three miles along the stream,
and where were still standing several
lodges with horses slaughtered around
them, and containing the bodies of nine
chiefs. The ground was strewn every
where with carcasses of horses and cav
airy equipments, besides buffalo robes,
packages of dried meats, and weapons
ana utensils belonging to the Indians.
On this paIt of the field was found the
clothing of Lieuts. Sturges and Porter
pierced with bullets, and q blood.stain-
ed gauntlet belonging to Col. Yates,
Further on wei9 found bodies of men,
ho
interpreter from Fort Rice, and Rey
nolds, the guide. The slopes were dot
ted over with bodies of men and horses,
On bluff near by, waiting for relief,
was found the remnant of the Seventh
cavalry under Col. Reno, who greeted
Terry with hearty cheers. They had
been fighting from Sunday noon, the
25th, until the night of the Goth, when
Gen. Terry's command scared the In
dians off. They were not aware of
Custer's defeat.
While preparations were being made
for the removal of the wounded, a par.
ty was sent on Clusters trail, to look
for traces of his command. They found
awaiting them a sight to appal the
stoutest heart at point about three
miles down the right bank of the stream
Custer had evidently attempted to
ford and attack the village. The trail
was found to lead back up to the bluffs
and to the northward, as if the troops
had been repulsed and compelled to re-
treat, and at the time had been cut off
from regaining the forces under Reno
The bluffs along the right bank come
sharply down to the watersand are in
terspersed by raVines. All along the
slopes and ridges and In the ravines,
lying as they had fought, line behind
line, showing where defensive positions
had been successfully taken up and
held till none were left to fight, there
huddled in narrow compass horses
and men were piled promiscuously. At
the highest point of the ridge lay Gus
ter, surrounded by chosen band
! Here were his two brothers and his
nephew, Mr.. Reed, Coils. Yates and
Cook, andCaptain Smith, all lying in a
circle of q few yards, their horses be-
side them. The last body found was
that of Kellogg, correspondent OF the
1 .nIw -