The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-09
The Custer Massacre.

DlNNEArOLlS, Ccpt. o.
The Pioneer Press and Tribune publishes
an interview with an old man named
Ridgley who has been long time in the
Yellowstone country, and claims to have
witnessed the Custer massacre, being a
prisoner in Sitting Bulls camp and seeing
every movement of the troops. lie was
taken prisoner last March and kept in the
camp of the Indians ever since until the
massacre, and treated kindly. He says
Sitting Bull organized not to fight the
whites but to drive the miners from the
hills. Previous to Clusters attack mounted
couriers from Sitting Bulls camp lad for
eight days watched his forces, its division
manifestations OF extreme delight Am
buscadcs were immediately prepared, and
while the indians stood ready for an attack,
many of them clambercd on the site of the
hill overlooking the line of march. The
indian camp was divided by 3 bluff, a
point of which ran toward Rosebud and in
the direction of one available ford on the
river to the camp. This ford Custer
crossed and followed their trail down to
the waters edge. There were but 25 teapes
visible to Custer, but there were rs double
teapes behnd the bluff not visible. Caster
attacked the smaller village, and was i'm
media.ely met by 1900 TO 1000 indians in
regular order of battle. Every movement
was made with military precision. Ridgely
says he stood on the side of hill where he
had complete view Of the battle, which
was not over enc mile and half distant
Custer began the fight in ravine near the
fort, and fully half of his command SEEM
ed to be endorsed al the first fire. Then
the soldiers r.trtated toward him in the
rear, and were shot down TN the way with
astonishing rapidly. The commanding
officer falling from his horse in the middle
| of the engagement, which commenced at
| II O'Clock a. m, and did net last more
| than 45 minutes. After the massacre Of
| Clusters forces the Indians returned to the
| camp with six soldiers prisoners, and were
| delirious with JOY over their success Those
six were tied to stakes at wood pile in
the village and burned 10 death. While
the flames were torturing them to death,
the Indian boys fired rcd hot arrows into
their q1ivering flesh. Sitting Bull was met
after the fight, end he exultpgly remarked
that he had killed many soldiers and one
/ 4 10 J,'t L..
squaws then armed themselves with
knives, visited the battle field, and robbed
and mutilated the bodies of the
soldiers. While thes. soldiers were being
burned, the Indians turned their attention
to force, evidently Reno's, attacking the
lower end of the village. Ridgeley says
Clusters command had been slaughtered
before shot was fired by Reno's force,
they attacking the lower end of the camp
about p. IN. The Indians returned in the
evening and said the men had fought like
the devil, but didn't make statement of
their losses. They said the soldiers had
been driven back twice, and then they
piled up stones, and the attack was unsuc-
cessful. The prisoners we're kept burning
over an hour, but Ridgley was not permit
ted to speak with them, and is unable to
state who they were. One was noticeable
from his small size and gray hair and whis-
kers. Reno killed more Indians than Gus
ter, who fell in the midst of the fight, and
two captains, believed to be Yates and
Keogh, were last to die. The night after
the massacre the Indians were wild with
delight. Many were drunk on whisky
stolen from the whites. The sGuaws per
formed the duty of guards for prisoner.