The New York herald., 1876-07-26
and says the soldiers fought until the last fell
The other Crow Indians in the battle killed
CUSTER'S BATTLEFIELD.

The other Grow Indians in the battle were killed.
CUSTER'S BATTLEFIELD.
LETTER FROM AN EYE-wITNEss-AS OFFICER
WHO WAS ON rHK aRoUNp-THE MAssAcRE
sCENE OF EORRoR.
From the ST Paul Pioneer Press July 22l
Lieutenant Alfred b. Johnson, son OF well
know townsman, General r. W. johnson, who is
nected with General Gibbons command under Gen.
eral Terry, writes long and interesting private letter
to his father, in which many original particulars
given 10 events which transpired the day
two immediately succeeding the time when
General Custer and his gallant comrades rode
down into the valley Of death. Lieutenant
johnson was connected with the party under General
Gibbon which the relief of General Reno and
his description OF the situation as he approached the
battlefield well what he that bloody
ground after the Indians we're driven away, throw
some new light upon an occurrence which now at
tracing the atten on Of the whole civilized world IL
proper remark that the letter writ for
publication and that General johnson has reluctantly
allowed the Pioneer I'ress and Tribune reporter TO
make coplous extracts from tho private lerer OF his
Lieutenant johnson says
our Command arrived at For, Pease on The oath OF
June found there the Far West with General Terry
take six days rations with pack mules and cross the
the river Tor trip up the Little Big Horn. About
nightaIl the entire command cavalry and infantry
had elected crossing and stood ready for service
required oil IT, On the morning O the 2oth sunday
General Ferry placed the command IN motion along he
margin OF Tulock's Fork. After somewhat circuit
Gus march We struck the Little Bg horn on tho 2dth,
iew miles from IT'S mouth Here It vas reported
that there a dense, heavy smoke to be seen
little in advance, and short time became visible
all The who had already made march of
twenty-five miles In the hot burning sun were getting
quite tired but when they saw the immense tolunn of
smoke rising IN the distance tabout hicen miles onl
picked ND wonderfully and marched oil as II they were
fresh from camp. The Crow scouts IN the meantime
hau IN on the dead run. headed by Bravo, white
man living with them, and reported hat the Indians
were killing soldiers IN great numbers, but their
report could be believed Toward evening We
could Indians on the bluffs in large num-
bcrs, flying around and watching every movement
made by us They moved their main column, 10y tours
with much regularity and precision as regiment or
cavalry. One company OF cavalry was sent on side
hill watch their movements, and when the Indians
them they yelled out, or rather some white man IN
their column did, ''Come on, damn you; We are ready
for you'll"
Al nnc O'Clock r. NJ. the command was
dered to encamp for the night, and, after
pcket,ng our animals and establishing our
guards. rolled ourselves in our one blanket
and asleep Early on the morning OF the
2th the column was in motion beading for the
smoke cloud. which did not seem to be very far dis
tant Lying between US and the smoke was a dense
grove Of timber which was entered cautiously and
thoroughly examined before the main body marched
through IT. Having passed through the timber
10 level plain, and there our advanced guard
succeeded in finding out that General Reno ana his
command were cn,renched on hill and had been sur
rounded by Indians for several days Our march was
continued over beautiful piece OF country, the very
camping the Indians had lett the night before
Our approach having been discovered they concluded
leave and from the looks of things they must have
left in great haste and in much confusion.
Their camp fully four miles long and three
fourths OF mile wide and all along our march were
indications of very hasy flight for they left lodge
poles a set of which worth as much as a pony,
camp kettles, tin cups, tin pans any quantity OF axes,
guns, buffalo robes and some Of their dead in two
standing lodges; also many cavalry saddles, carbine
sings bride bits cured meat, &c There were not
than 200 wagon loads OF stores abandoned by them
Near this spot found twenty dve dead soldiers This
was the first positive evidence had battle had
been fought still further march OF two miles brought
us to the base Of the hill upon which Reno and
the Of his seven companies wcre and such
sight saw before. The gallant men who had
fallen had been exposed to the hot sun for two days
and IN fearful condition. l am clearly OF the
opinion that General Custer did not Know the extent OF
this camp When he separated from Reno ne sand,
.go ahead, wilLbc with you (Which were the last
with three companies, while Custer, with five compa-
mes went round ridge, intending TO attack IN the
rear Four companies wcreHabout tour miles in the
rear, with the pack-train guard) Reno did continue,
crossed the river and attacked but was so ontnumbered
that he was forced to tall back and recross the
river and take position high hill Here
he was Joined by the pack.tran guard. General Gus
but met by such overwhelming numbers that he
not able to carry oui his plans and there his en-
tire command iell There are twenty-five or thirty
missing, whose bodies cannot be ound; whether they
escaped not is not known, but certain Is that
who was with Custer has been seen TO tell Of the
horrors OF that dreadful contct, whlch without
parallel in our history.
Poor Custer's troubles in this world are over He
fell like a gallant soldier he was, and the savages
otherwise mutlatc his person.
When Reno got his command on the hill
he began TO iortiiy best be could, using
knives and tin cups tor picks and shoves. but his
brcasworks we're OF little service TO hm as the Indians
would charge within twenty yards of his ne deliver
their dre generally killing or woundng some at every
charge.
The Indians finding they could dslodge the com
mand undertook to burn them out by firing the grass
timber, but tins failed of success 1t has been
estimated by those who seem TO know that there
about 200 lodges, and from 900 10 ZOO warriors in
the camp making force too large for the glorious
Seventh cavalry. The regiment however, did mag
nincenty, infcting very heavy loss upon the Sioux
IN Killed and wounded Had it not been Tor the ap-
proach OF Generals Terry and Gbbon fear IT would
have been a sad thing for Reno and the brave men
under his command, not one OF whom would have
escaped, IN all probability
You would be surprised TO see the small piece OF
ground it took TO hold Clusters dead. They fell Just
where they fought, and the space where 200
were piled up was not much over two or three times
larger than our General Johnstons) yard. The men,
horses and mules were piled up and across and
under each other presenting of the horrible
sights ever saw. De Rudio cut of from his rcg
ment and surrounded by Indians for about forty hours
during which time he had nothing to eat
~L.eutenants Done, English Kendrick, Edgerly and
myself had charge of Transporting the wounded from
the battlefield Lt,ers and other conveyances were
mprovsed, and by making night marches we sue
cecded getting them to the boat at the mouth OF the
Little Big Horn with little suffering as possible
under the circumstances sitting Bull and hts follow
ers are somewhere on the Big Horn, and II they
remain there be easily reached but should they
difficult matter to overtake them. However Geuerals
Terry Gibbon and Crook old campsgners and will
strike telling blow with AN iron hand should OPP
portunity present ITSELF
GENERAL STURGIS
AN IOWA VOLUNTEER PAYS HIS RESPECTS TO
CUsrERs rRADUCER.