The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-07-07
CUsTER'B DISASTER.
szzi
A Torrible Rattle with. Iniiaris.
GENERAL CUSTER AND Two BRoTHEns REPoEr-
ED KILLED.-OUR LOSS VERY HEAvY-THE
Il UNITED STATES TROOPS on THE RETREAT.

4
4 UNITED STATES TROOPS on THE RETREAT.
SALT LAKE, July 5.--A special CORE
spondent OF the Helena (hlontana) Herald
writes from Saltwater, Montana, July Cd
as follows: Muggins Taylor, n scout fol
General Gibb0n, got here last night direct
found the Indian camp OF twenty-five lodges
the camp. Custer took five companies and
! charged the thickest portion OF the camp.
Nothing Is known of the operations Of this
detachment only as they traceit by the dead.
Major Reno commanded the other seven
companies and attacked the lower portion
Fof the camp. z,
The Indians poured in O murderous fire
from all directions; besides, the greater por-
ton fought on horseback. Custer, his two
brothers, nephew, and brother-in-law, were
all killed, and not one Of his detachment
escaped. There were POI men buried in
one place, and the killed are estimated at
300, with only 81 wounded. The Indians
surrounded Reno's command and held them
one day in the hills, cut OFT from water, un-
til Gibbons command came in sight, when
they broke camp in the night and left. The
Seventh cavalry fought like tigers, and
were overcome by mere brute force.
The Indian loss cannot be estimated, rs
they bore off and cached most OF their kill
ed. The remnant OF the Seventh cavalry
and Gibbons command are returning to the
mouth of the Little Horn, where q steam
boat lies. The Indians got all the arms Of
the killed soldiers. There were seventeen
commissioned officers killed. The whole
Custer family died at the head Of their
column. The exact loss is not known, as
both adiutants and the sergeant-maior were
killed.
The above is confirmed by other letters,
which say Custer met a fearful disaster.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
SALT LAKE, UTAH, July 5.-The Times's
dispatch from Boseman, Mon, July 3, P.
NJ, says: Mr.. Taylor, bearer OF dispatches
from Little Horn to Fort Ellis, arrived this
evening, and reports the following: q
The battle was fought on the 25th, thirty
or forty miles below the Little Horn. Gus
ter attacked the Indian village of from $500
to 1000 warriors on one side, and Colonel
Reno was to attack it on the other. Three
companies were placed ON hill as re-
serve. General Custer and fifteen officers,
and every man belonging to the five COM
panies, were killed.
Reno retreated under the protection Of
the reserve. The whole number killed was
315. General Gibbon joined Reno. The
Indians left the battle-ground, which looked
like slaughter-pen, as it really was, being
in q narrow ravine. The dead were much
mutilated. The situation now looks serious.
General Terry arrived at Gibbons camp
over and accompanied it to Join Custer,
who knew it was coming before the fight
occurred. Lieutenant Crittenden, son Of
General Crittenden, was among the killed.
TIE WAR DEPARTMENT BEslEGED BY ANXIOUS
RELATIVES.
WASHINGTON, July G.-The War Office is
crowded with people to hear Of the fate Of
relatives in the Indian country, but they can
learn nothing: General Crittenden has been
informed Of the death of his son by Colonel
Ruggles, Of General Terry's staff.
OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION RECEIVED.
WASHINGTON, July 6.-The War Depart
ment received this afternoon contirmatory
reports Of the newspaper accounts, which
gave them the first animation OF the disaster
to Custer's command. The following was
received this afternoon from Sheridan
headquarters, at Chicago, signed by Adju-
tant- General DOnan: .stsIt.
"Dispatches from General Terry dated
at his camp, mouth Of the Big Horn
river, confirm the newspaper reports OF
fight on the 18th Of June on the Little
has fallen back to his present camp. I have
sent full dispatches to the Lieutenant Gene
raj, who will probably communicate them.
have not yet received General Tcrry's re-
port OF the action or list Of casualties"
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION ON ALL sIDES-A
VILLAGE SWEPT OUT OF ExIsTENCE-FRlGHT-
Full LOSS OF LIFE, &c.
DUBUQUE, July Ga fearful storm swept
over this city night before last. The rain
commenced falling about 10 O'Clock and con-
tinued for three hours with q solid sheet OF
water, accompanied by thunder and light
ming. Death and destruction are visible on
every side.
All the bridges on wagon roads and rail-
roads are swept away, and no trains can ar
rive or depart for several days. Houses
were carried down the stream by the tor
rent, and the occupants drowned. Cellars
were filled with water, streets washed out,
and live stock drowned.
The village Of Rockdale, twenty-seven
miles from this city, built in a ravine, was
inundated at the dead hour Of night, while
the storm was raging and lightning flashing,
by the breaking away of the mill-dam some
distance up stream. Every building in the
place save the mill was carried down or
washed from its foundations. After the
storm forty-two persons were missing. Nine
teen dead bodies OF men, women, and children
have been picked up along the stream, and
search is being made for those still missing.
The railroad bridge at that place was carried
away, and the road made impossible. All
railroads have suffered with wash-outs. No
trains arrived or departed yesterday. Rock
dale was small place OF about two hun
dred inhabitants. .l4,n 1..s,.
BURLINGTON, IOWA, July Ga tornado
swept over this place yesterday, killing
two persons and wounding several. Twenty
buildings were demolished. 1t lasted but
an instant. i. .-.T
MORE DETAILS OF THE RECENT STORM IN IOWA.
CHICAGO, July Ga special dispatch from
Des Moines, Iowa, says the latest re-
ports show that the storm Of Tuesday night
extended over most of Central Iowa, and
was terrific in its effects. In Warren and
Madison counties nineteen persons were
killed. Great damage was done to live
stock and the crops. There was also con-
siderable damage done to property at Pella.
DUBUQUE, July 6.-Thirty bodies have
been recovered at Rockdale, and the search
continues. y. -. -, = !,
: CHICAGO, July G.-Later dispatches from
Dubuque state that thousands OF persons
have visited the scene of the -Rockdale ca
lamity during the day. The neighbors, with
IL; Nv o1oo,;fv nronod fhair doors fo e11ph