Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-07-31
CuSTER,s LAST FIGHT.

cost this country one tits most daring
and famous generals. and nearly half
regiment, which was the pride Of the ar
my, is located in Southern Montana,
south of the Yellowstone river and Of the
serveyed line Of the Northern Pacific
Railroad. Ii was on the Little Big Horn,
branch OF the Big Horn, which runs
north and empties into the Yellowstone,
and was few miles north of the Wyo-
ming line and the Big Horn Mountains.
II was some 200 miles northwest Of the
Black Hills, which are in southwestern
Dakotah and northeastern Wyoming,
and the Indians were being driven to the
southwark. towards their reservations
There is no doubt but that they had or
ganized for extensive raids upon the set
Elements towards which they were ad-
vancing.
All appearances indicate that Custer
was deceived as to the fighting force of
the enemy. 1t cannot be said that his
plan of battle was rash or ill-advised.
Gen. Sherman says that experienced In
dian fighters will always attack vii
lage if they can, because if they can get
the women, children and old men, and
the supplies into their possession, they
demoralize the warriors. and can soon
treat with them for peace. The result
shows that it was mistake to divide
his force. But had there been no more
Indians present than they supposed, a
simultaneous attack at each end Of the
village was evidently the best way to
confuse and overcome them. That Gen.
Custer was brave, even to rashness, no
one of the thousands who have ever serv-
ed under him, or read of his exploits,
will doubt. That he was proud of his
regiment, and confident Of their ability
to overcome six times their number of
Indians, is equally true. and in this con-
fdence he is justified by the best mili-
tary authorities. There is possibility,
too, that he felt spirit of rivalry, and
sought TO secure to his own command
the honors of victory towards the ac-
complishment of which three separate
columns of troops we're moving. To this
motive may have been added sense of
grief that he had incurred the Presidents
displeasure, and was reduced to the COM
mand of his own regiment. But it is
hardly probable that he was guilty of
rashness, if guilty at all, from any 9TH
er motive than the praiseworthy one of
doing soldiers highest duty in the
bravest and most effective manner.
1t will be the policy of the democrat
ic party because this is political year,
to hold the administration responsible
for the slaughter, and it is possible that
certain friends Of the administration will
endeavor to prove that Custer was alone
at fault. But if responsibility is what
we are looking Tor, 1t lies back Of both
Of these. The war department had pre-
viously recommended Congress, at the
urgent request of both Gems. Sherman
and Sheridan, to make an appropriation
for the establishment of two forts up in
that country. The democratic House
refused to make the appropriation. The
field being open there aud an extended
frontier Of settlements exposed, the In
dians when they took the warpath went
in that direction as matter Of course.
SO 1t is easy TO see that had the proper
precautions been taken. and the advice
Of those who knew the ground been fol-
lowed, this disaster would not have oc-
CURED. and the cost Of the forts would
have been but trife compared with the
expenditure which the war now on hand
will necessitate. But these things are
out Of place in presence Of the common
grief that now pals the country.
Gen Custer was marvel. His career
has flashed across our history like q me
teor. Probably no American soldier was
ever in more fights, or ever met with 50
many narrow escapes, and yet he died
at thIrty-seyen. How the boys loved
him during the war Of the rebellion
The sight Of his young face and flowing
locks was the signal for cheer. When
be affected long scarlet necktie. it be-
came the fashion Of bis corps. The lapse
of years and the sobering rays Of peace
have failed to tame the old admiration,
aud to-day, all over this country, hot
tears are flowing from eyes unused q
. weep, because the dear. dashing Custer
has fought his last fight For the quad
/, ruple calamity that has fallen upon his
family. the great sympathy Of q nation
is none too large IL goes out 70 them
from mansion aud cottage The memo
!. ~ Of their dead will be cherished among
the choicest. The future student VI oul
history will open 70 few sadder chaPter'
than that which tells VI the slaughter
c on the Little Big Horn.
Il
4 A feE statistical facts which the Yer
: na0s4 Cly0sieLs has gathered from one
. ,he Oaarterlies. are worth looking at, il