Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-14
CUSTER'S LAST BATTLE.
Graphic Particulars OF the Little Biz
Horn Tragedy.

Horn Tragedy.
A correspondent OF the ". Y. Herald says:
A survey Of the Custer battle Held is hor-
rfble In the extreme. All but Custer himself
are brutally mutilated. He is stripped only.
Captain Keogh had left around his neck an
Asnus Del, suspended by a gold cnain, and
had not, evidently, been mutilated further
after the discovery OF this.
SHOCKING AFFILIATIONS.
IT Is stckening to look at the bodies stripped.
CHASTITY gashes cut 10 all parts of the bod "
eyes gouged out, noses and ears cut of and
skulls crushed in.
on the plain or near the river, and upon a
near approach the cleaning white skin of q
naked cavalry soldier, the body cut and
view.
A SCOUTS STORY OF THE MASSACRE
A Crow scout Curly who stayed until he
saw that the last man must be killei, saw a
Sioux jump off his horse to flush a wounded
officer, and, taking the Sioux blanket aad
horse, effected his escape. From nis descrtp-
ZION or the massacre, Lieut. Took was tue
men killed of the Sioux more than their In
NUMBER. There is every evidence OF a des-
perate fight, but Custer was outnumbered
nfteen To one. The fight could not have
lasted over two or three hours. The Ind an
says that Clusters column moved forward To
cross the ford into the village and, being
met by large force of Indians, dismounted
and gave them volIey. BY this time another
force came in their rear, com pletely hem
ming them In. He (Custerj then retreated by
the right flank TO the top OF hill, where the
desperate fighting took place.
THE SCOUTS WHO WERE KILLED.
q correspondent OF the ". Y. Times writes:
This deprivation of water was q terri Die
misfortune to the troops. Tfere are many
terrible incidents given, but forbear writ
Ing them until can reach the ground or
learn with accuracy. There were five tribes
reported as engaged in the actiouLthe Unka-
papas, Ogallallas, Sans-Arcs, MinnecOnions.
and Cheyennes. "Bioody Knife" one OF the
best Indian scouts in the army, was killed
the nrst day. Frederick Girard, interpreter
at Fort Lincoln, and Charley Reynolds.
probably the best-kuown scout aud hunt
In the western country, were killed at the
same time. Gerard was well known aud
well hated by the Sioux. Several years
since he defended Fort Berthold almost
alone against strong attack made by the
Sioux on Christmas Eve. He had posses
sion OF the block house, and on that occa-
sion and at other times he is said to have
killed about twenty Indians. Reynolds mas
also been in many Indian fights; In the hot
test excitement OF battle he would kDeel,
GOODNESS and severity than most men would
o1spIay on the psrade ground. Yet tho1e
Two men were quiet and unassuming In
their bearing. 1 have met them for many
ears on The frontier and do not recC lect
ever hearing prOfaDe word pass their lips.
l mention this as the typical hunter aud
Scout OF the plains Is usually regarded as
bic knife, and Henry rifle, who procla ms
his presence In loud tones and Language
more elegant than polite.
THE VALLEY OF DEATH.
Correspondence of the N. Y. Tribune says:
On Tuesday, June q, clouds OF smoke hung
In front OF us. The command hastened on
and soon entered beautiful plain over three
on the west was the Little Big Horn, with
bluffs hey ond it. Two tepees were still stand
Ing, and In them lay nine Indian chiefs with
trelr dead horses close by. AS We advanced
rp,i. of fann nj IA.
be counted. Buffalo robes, cooking utensils.
clothing, and tools of all kinds had been
abandoned In hot haste. There was no time
TO peer about and take notes. There might
be serious work for us TO do. The shadoy of
q great calamity had already fallen upon rs.
AS we drew rein for moment we noticed
some United States regulation saddles OF
tne new pattern. Some one picked up a
blood stained glove-it had been worn by
Yates. And close by were the riddled clothes
OF Porter and Sturgis. A moment more and
of our cavalrymen lay dead in the ravlnss
ana on the bluffs on the right bank OF tire
river. Bradley had gone to the front d
counted them. and now brought us the ne rs.
Inc crow scouts had not lied TO US. 1t was
the awful truth. Faces paled, eyes m0is-
tened, teeth were set.
THE RESCUE.
An advance was now ordered. At every
step we found tokens of the dreadful A.
mage. Here was brave Mcintosh; here lay
isaiah, our negro scout; close by Charie,
Rey polds, the chief scoat, had bravely me-
his fate; and here, close together, were the
bodies OF our cavalrymen and their horses.
AS we were suppiDg on these horrors aod
asking ourselves whether any one hal been
Lieutenants wallace and Hall DIRE " near
and Informed us that the survivors OF seven
companies under Reno and Benteen were IN
trenched on the east bluff of the ridge at the
end OF the plain, on the right bank of the
river.
"Where is Custer?r cried dozen voices.
"He left us Sunday morning with i've
companies, and we have heard nothing from
him since"
Our commander with small escort forted
the stream, and scaling the almost perpeu.
dicular bluffs Joined Reno's force. He was
greeted with cheer upon cheer. Stout hear ted
soldiers who had not fiinched in the hou- of
peril now wept like children, and smiles re-
turned to the wan faces OF the wounded men,
our line of infantry approaching. We had
rescued these despairing soldiers.
AN ARMY OFFICERS VIEW.
An army officer In the Big Horn expedi-
ton wrote letter to friend in Boston,
while on the march, q few days prior to the
slaughter OF Clusters command, and from IL
81 think This will be very long and very
tfresome campaign. doubt If we see onr
posts again before fall, IL then. The scarcity
of water adds much to our difficulties, and /
think the country generally much worse
than Arizona, the only growth for miles be-
ing the irrepressiole cactus. The Indians are
very strong In NUMBERS ana Sple0uldiy arm
ed, and they boast that they can and Will
clean out anything that the United States
can send against them. Spotted Tail pre-
tends to be friendly, and on the strength OF
IL he goes 10 Cheyenne, buys u 900 rounds If
ammunition, aud returns TO the agency with
IL. The following day fresh party or In.
dams starts out fully equipped. or the wis
dom OF allowing this proceeding / say
nothing. de was In Cheyenne when We
were there on our march mp. He picks up
all the Information he can get concernirs
our movements, and forwards il to his
friends. IF this sort of thing continues, you
can judge how successful we shall be-"
MR.. BEECHER's ANswER.-Mr. Beecher's
counsel expect to send an answer to Francis
ID. Moulton's complaint In his suit for dam
ages for malicious prosecution, within the
allotted twenty days, which expires this
week. Mr.. Sherman confesses that he Is in
position from which he cannot appeal.
DEAD-HEADs NEED NOT APPLY.-The
dead head system is not to be permitted on
the inter-colonial and other government rail-
ways In the British maritime provinces.
Even railway ofhcials, when travelling on
private business, VIII be required to pay
their fares.