Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-08-02
4 New Story Of the Little Big Horn
Massacre.

;,
has the following interesting points in relation
to the Custer massacre:
The impression prevails that Custer was
gwen away treacherously by breed guide
he had with him, by the name of Billy Gross.
aud every circums,a ance, SO far as ascertalned.
tends to confirm the impression that this guide
had an understanding with the Indians belOre-
hand, aud treacherousy led Clusters command
iuto snare, where they were all massacred,
with the exception of one Crow scout and two
guides, named respectively Girard and Jackson.
Cross, with the Indian scouts that came from
Lincoln with Custer, deserted the command
shortly after The fight began, aud nothing was
heard of them uutil they came ioto this camp,
about 100 miles--tour days travel-from The
scene OF coufic. Had they joined Gibbon or
keuo, the latter of whom was in close proxim-
lty aud the former no more than twenty five or
thirty miles away, aud Informed the one .: the
other of Gus er's situation, the lives OF at least
some Of the brave men who perlshed ulsht
have been saved
The guides came in two distinct parties.
Cross and one party about two o'clock ln the
AFTERNOON of the 2Sth Of June, and another
party. OF about nlne or ten more, leading sur
plus pouies, 10 about FIVE hours after. When
their different stories We're com pared they were
found to want harmopy in several very essen
t,al particulars. Most of the Indians cartridge
trs were full, and none of them bad expeud
ed more than two or three rounds This, IN
connection with their contradictory stories, Gre
ated 10 the minds OF many, myself among the
number, doubts as to their courage and honesty
toward Custer on this occasion, and for Que
iuI it difficult to eradicate this impression from
INV mind Most all of them are mere boys,
aud one Of them gave evidence the other day
that he was deficient IN courage, aod he Is
doubtless fair criterion by which to judge the
whole Parties who have arrived from Ferry
siuce with dispatches inform US that the men
who were fortunate enough to escape this
dreadful carnage, the Crow scout especially,
eh .rve these Indians with cowardice, aud say
they ran away at the beginning of the fight
They also say that the Dight before the fight
this Cross was sent out to scout and reconuoi-
ire aud was gone ten or eleven hours; that be
returned in the morning and Informed General
Custer that the village was small one and he
would encounter but very little difficulty in OBJ
tanning an easy victory. Custer, who is said
by his men to be very impulslve, without first
satisfying himself as TO the truth or talslty OF
the report, mounted his command and gave
the command forward. The command came 10
sight of the village within an hour and half
and he then gave the order to charge 1t, which
was gallan,ly done, but no resistance was met
with until they arrived on the other side of the
village location, when they received terrific
volley, which put 40 end to many noble tel
lows existence, and the troops then found
themselves in the centre of large camp OF
many villages and completely surrounded by
the red de vlls.
"At this spot the grass and brush were found
tied and kuotted so as to impede the progress
ol the horses, and the Indians and some of the
villages were screened from view by sort OF
wicker breastwork of willow brush, behind
which these red seuthhounds of hell cou'd
quietly pick off any Of the soldiers without en-
daugcring their own precious hides. All re
treat b.iug cut off there was nothing for it but
to forward. Custer then designated knoll tor
his command to rally at, which they did, break
ipy through the bronze wall of savages like
streak OF barbcd lightning and gained the kaoll,
where they made the last stand, all hands
fighting desperately. as men only can light
whose lives are at stake and where the night
became hand to hand conflict.
THE sauaws made thcms sclyes conspicuous,
Knocking 10 the skulls with heavy club with
stone at the end of it, and mutllating In div
crS other ways too sickouing to mention, every
soldier that fell.
The brcastwork referred 10, and the knot
ted grass especially, presented every Indication
Of thaving been freshly done, and that the ln,
daus were fully informed aud aware OF Custer
intentions toward them, and had accordingly
made every necessary preparation for giving
him warm reception. Everybody was scalped
and otherwise mutatcd, excepting General
Custer and Corporal Tiemsu, whose scalp was
partly off aud who had the sleeve of his blouse
with the chevron uplsld ovor it 10 peculiar
mauner. This enabled good many men OF
the Seventh cavalry, who are here dlsmounted,
todetect one of the participants 10 the hight 90
the Indians side 10 the person OF one Ralu.ln
the Face, who was 10 the guard house last WIN
ter and chained to corporal, also prisoner at
the tune Not even button was removed
from Clusters uniform, while his brother and
The rest of the officers were terribly mutllated.
k.no command was several miles away from
she scene OF Clusters fight, but was not aware
OF his having been engaged uutll after the bat.
tie was all over and General GIbbon had arrived
with his command to re enforce him. 10 the
umcy arrival OF Gibboo with his Dough
Boys is due the salvation of Reno aud his
Command, for they were also surrounded aud
hshtiug desperately aud with very slight hope
Of ever coming out alive
OF Coloue Bcnteen, of the Seventh cavalry. at
the beginning Of Reno engagement. is due the
avatlon Of Reno and the greater part OF his
eOumaDd. lie now occupies the very envlsble
POSITION OF idol in the esteem ofthose who were
,.nyaged with him and came out with their
lives
One of the wounded of Reno's command
Who Is ln the hospital here, says that at one
tlnle, during the 6ybt they heard the advance
s9uaded 90 the trumpet from Indians; they al
fos" up, thinking it was Custer come to rein
i3Tce them, aud cheered Justify; when the ln
u'aus let forth derisive yell at them, fired {
terrible voey and made charge which they
teplIsed, as they did several others that were
@ade 10 rapid succession. The Indian los
VAS Very heavy, aud it is said that after tn
oa'te was over. where Gibbons and Reno
t,Omusnds we're buryng the killed. they wer
'Ound piled up like cordwood, SO effective wa