New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-09
THE WAR WITH THE sIOUX.


HOW CUSTER WAS DESTROYED.
| DIVISION ov TIM coMMASD.yJoT n GAVE THE
INDIASs-THtIR AMDUscADIs--HALF or Gus
| IN Ii,js MrN JuHBoRsRD. AT TIE FIRST FIRE.
ESCAPE OF AN OLD JTGAPPl.:,i WHO TELDs THE
STORY. ,.,a s.i g- 4 g. Iaf.fAata
MrsNEAPoLIs. Mimi, Sept. 8.-The Pioneer
Press and Tribune publishes interview with an OLD
trapper named Ridgey who has been for long time in
the Yellowstone country and cbdms to have witnessed
the Custer ma, sacrc being prisoner in Sitting Bulls
camp and seeing every movement Of the troops He was
taken prisoner last March, and kept In the camp OF the
Indians ever since until the Custer fight Re WAS kindly
treated while there. He says Sitting Bull organized his
campaign not fight the whites, but TO drive miners
FROM the Hills. Previous to Clusters attack Bounteq
courlers from Sitting BnlPs camp had for eight days
watched his forces division into small detachents
being noted with manifestations Of extreme delight
Ambuscades were Immediately prepared, and white the
Indians stood ready for attack many OF them au
bered on the side OF hill overlooking Clusters line OF
march! The Indian camp divided by blur point
of which ran toward Rosebud and in the direction Of
one Of the available fords OF the river to the camp.
BY this ford Custer followed their trail down to the
rivers edge There only twenty five teepes visible
TO Custer but there were double teepcs bel
hind the bluff not visible Custer attacked the salier
village and Immediately met by 1900 or 1000 lndi'
ana in regular order Of battle. Every movement was
made with military precision Rdgey says he STOOD on
the side Of hill where he had complete view OF the
battle which was not than III miles distant,
Custer began the fight In the raYiDe the lord, ami
fully half OF his command seemed to be endorsed at the
first fire. Then the soldiers retreaed. and we've shot
down with astonishing rapidly. the cpmmandin5 officer
falling from his horse in the middle OF the engagement
which began at IL o. and did not last more than fifty
five minutes. '
After the massacre OF Clusters forces the Indians
turned camp with six soldiers prisoners. and de-
yIous with Joy over their Those six were tied
TO stakes ut woodpile In the village and burned
to death While the flames were tortfng them to death
the Indian boys fred redhot into their quiverng
flesh until they diod Sitting Bull yas met after the
fight. and he exultingly remarked that he had killed
many soldiers and one did general but he
did not know who it was. The squaws then
armed themselves with knives, visited the battle
field and robbed and muii;ated the bodies OF
the soldiers While the soldiers beng burned the
Indians turned their attention TO force, evidently Re
NOS attacking the lower end Of the village. Rdgely
says Clusters command had been slaughtered before
shot fred by Reno force, which attacked the lower
end OF the camp about o'clock p The Indians re
turned in the evening, aud said the had fought
ercely but Ridgey says they did not make statement
OF their losses They said the soldiers had been driven
back twice and they piled up stones and the attack was
unsuccessful The prisoners kept burning for over
an hour, but Rdgely not permitted TO speak with
them 30 he Is unable TO state who thdy were. One was
noticeable for his small and gray hair and whiskers
Gen. Reno killed more Indians than Gen. Custer, who
fell ia the midst OF the fight and two captains believed
to be Yates and Keoeh, were the last to die
The night after the massacre the Indians were wild
with delight, and many were drunk on whisky stolen
from the whites The squaws performed the duty OF
guards for the prisoners, and becoming drowsy Ridge
and two companions escaped, securing ponies, and be-
gan their long journey homeward They atcgame aud laid
IN the woods four days avoid the Indians On the road
his horse stumbled. breaking Rfdgey's but they
finally reached Fort Abercronbe, and thence Ridgely
came here. He describes sitting Bull as halfbree1. OF
large size and very Intelligent, with peculiar gait in
his movements