Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-07-20
Communication.
Our Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., July 8, '76.
The principal topic which is
! discussed here this morning is
the sad disaster which has be-
fallen Gen. Clusters command.
a special correspondents of the
Heleua, Montana, HeraId writes
from Saltwater as follows
"Muggins Taylor, a scout fox
Gen. Gibbon, got here last
night direct from Little Horn
river. Gen. Custer found the
camp of the Indians on Little
Horn river comprised Of about
twenty-five lodges, and imme-
diately attacked it. Custer
took five companies and at
tackled the thickest portion of
the camp. Nothing is known
of the operations of this de-
tachment only as they trace it
by the dead. Major Reno COM
manded the other seven COM
panies and attacked the lower
portion Of the camp. The In
dians poured in a murderous
fire from all directions, the great
er portion Of them being noun
ted. Custer, his two brothers,
nephew and brother-in-law
were all killed, and not one of
hisdetatchments escaped. There
were two hundred and seven
men buried in one place, and
the killed arc estimated at three
hundred, and thirty-one wound
ed. The Indians surrounded
Reno's command and held them
one day in the hills cut off from
water, until Gibbons command
came in sight, when they broke
camp in the right and left. Tho
seventh cavalry fought like til
gers, and were overcome by
mere brGte force. The Indian
loss cannot be ascertained, as
they bore off and concealed
most of their killed. The rem
nants of the seventh cavalry
and Gibbons command are re-
turning to the mouth of the
Little Horn, where a steamboat
lies. The Indians got all the
arms Of the killed, among whom
were seventeen officers. The
whole Custer family died at the
head of their column. The eX-
act loss is not known, as both
Adjutants and the Sergeant-EIa-
jor were killed. The death of
Gen. Custer is much lamented,
and the administration is alone
to blame for it. Had Gen.
Grant and his chosen advisers
adopted a fair, honorable and
upright policy toward the IN
dians, all of these troubles
could have been prevented.
Most of these Indian Chiefs have
been to Washington and were
purposely shown the great
strength and power of the gov
ernment, and it is morally GER
tain that nothing but the dircst
necessity could have driven
them TO arms. But cheated,
robbed and wronged in every /.
way by host of Indian agents,
the pets of the administration,
and one of them the brother OF
the President, it became their
last resort, and so long as the
Indian bureau is conducted rs
it Of late years has been, in the
interest of ''rings" and thiev-
ing cotractors, we may look for
the repetition of scenes like
these.
The city last night, particu-
larly the Avenue, presented the
liyeliest scene that has been wit
messed in many years. The de-
mocracy were out in full force
and glory to ratify the St. Lou
is nominations. Red, white and
blue lights were flashing in ev-
cry direction, while the sky was
agIow with rockets and roman
candles. An immense crowd
gathered IN front Of the City
Hall to listen to great political
truths as they fell from the
mouths of such men as Thur
man, Bayard, Tucker, McCrca-
ry of KY, Eaton Of CT, Har-
rison Of ILL.,, Lane Of Oregon,
Clymer Of Penn, and a number
of other lights. After the adj
journment of the mass meet
ing, a large procession, number
ing several thousands, proceed
ed to Wormley headed by Il
band to screnade Gen. Ham
cock. This was one of the larg-
est and most enthusiastic meet
ing ever held in this city, and
even the Republicans cOncede
that it far surpassed in splendor
OF display and in numbers their
meeting Of the same nature held
here some days since. The de-