Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-07-07
CuSter'S Disaster.

PHILADELPHIA, Juiy g. --Ine following dis.
patches have oeeu received by Geaerai Sher-
dan:
Lieutenant Gs,eraz p Il. SAeriaau. Co~ti.
mental Hotel, PhiladeLplsia: lie fOow.ug is
General Terry ) dl-pncn. markcd conhd "utal !:
CAMP on YELLOW STONE RIVER,
NEAR THE MOUTH OF BIG Horn Jul y . J
think | owe II TO ny self 10 put you 10 moe
full possession of the facts of the ae operations.
While at the mouth OF the Rosybud | sub
uitted my plan to Genera! GiDbou aud Gene.
raj Custer. They approved it heartily. It
was that Custer with his white regiment, should
move up the Rosebud till he should meet a
trail that Reno had discovered few days be.
fore, but that he should net follow it direct to
the Little Big Horn; that be should send scouts
over it, and keep the man force further to the
south, so as to prevent the Indians from slip
ping 10 between himself aud the mountains.
He was also to examine the head water vi lai
loska creek as he passed it ard send NE word
of what he tound there. \ scout was tu'nlshed
him fer the purpose Of crossing the cuuhtry to
me. We calculated it would take Gibbons
column until the 10Th to reach the mouth OF
the Little Big Horn, and that the wide sweep
which | had proposed Custer should make
would require so much time that Glboon would
be able to cooperate with INN 10 attacking the
lodlans that might be found Oh that stream. L
asked Custer how long his march would be.
He said they would b: at first about thirty
miles day. MeasuI emeus were made aud
calculations based On that rate of progress. l
talked with him about his strength, AID al Que
time suggested that pcrhapslt wou d De well for
me 10 lake Gibbons cavalry ard 20 with nlm.
70 this suggestion he replied, that without ref
49, hrs
own regiment Alone as homogeneous body
as much could be doue with it as with tue two
combined, and expressed the utmost conhdeUcc
that be had all the force that he could uecd,
and shared his confidence The plan adopt
the infantry into action | desired to make
sure of things by getting up every available
man. | offered Custer the battery OF gatlug
guns, but he declined BY sayog that it might
embsrrass him; that be was strong enough
without it. The movements proposed by Gen.
Gibbon' column were carried out to the letter,
and had the attack beeo deferred until 1t Was
up, cannot doubt that We should have been
successful. The Indians had evidently nerved
themselves for stard, but, as learn frow
Capt. Benton. on the 22d, the cavalry marched
IL miles, on the 23d % miles from ) a. n.
till D. m.; 90 the Oath, 45 miles. and then
after night 10 miles further; then, after resting
without unsaddIlng, % mics TO the battle field.
The proposed route WAS DOT taken, but as soou
as the trail was struck il was followed. l Cannot
learn that any examination of Tullock creek
WAS made
A. H. TERRY
Major General Commanding.
CHICAGO. July 6.
Lieut. Gen. p r. .Shcridom: Continental
Hotel, PHILADELPHIA
Inc following Is another dispatch from Gen.
Terry, received this morning. Il have tele-
graphed Ruggles Informing him that no off
cial report of Clusters fight has been received,
and asking him il be has anything OF the kind.
Your dispatch of this date just received.
RI. e. Down, A. a. G."
CAMP ON YELLOWSTONE. NEAR MOUTH
OF BIC HORN July :.
Gr the evening OF The 18th we commenced
~ Down with the Wouoded but were able
I, IS ,s1 III few miles, as our nani littcrs