American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-07-15

Smith, all lying IN a circle OF a lew yards
their horses beside them. Here, behint
Yates's company, the last stand had beer
made, and here, one after another, thes'
last survivors of Custer's five companies
had met their death. The companies hat
successfully thrown themselves across tn,
path of the advancing enemy and had beer
annihilated.
NOT MAN HAS ESCAPED TO TELL THU
TALE,
but it was inscribed on the surface Of these
barren hills in a language more eloquen
than words. Two hundred and siXty-ont
bodies have been buried from Custer's an(
Reno's command. The last one found was
that of Mr.. Kellogg, correspondent Of the
Bismarck Tribune, and also, 1 believe, OF
the New York Herald. The following are
tile names of the officers whose remains are
recognized: Gen. Custer, Col. Keogh, Col.
Yates, Col. Custer, Col. Cooke, Capt.
Smith, Lieut.. Mcintosh, Lieut.. Calhoun,
Lieut.. Hodgson, Lieut.. Reilly. All Of these
belonged to the 18th Cavalry. Lieut.. Crit
tenden, of the Goth Infantry. who was serv-
ing temporarily with the regiment. Lieuts.
Porter, Sturgis and Harrington, and As
sistant- Surgeon Lord are missing, as their
remains were not recognized; but there is
small ground to hope that any Of them sur
vived, as it is obvious that the troops were
completely surrounded by force OF ten
times their number.
THE HISTORY OF RENO's OPERATIONS
comprises all that is now known Of this san
culinary affair. 1t seems that Custer, with
eight companies, reached the river in the
forenoon of the 25th, having marched con-
tinuously all the previous day and night.
Seeing the upper or southern extremity of
the village, and probably under estimating
its extent, he ordered Reno to ford the river
and charge the village with three companies,
while he, with five companies, moved down
the right bank, behind the bluffs, to make
a similar attack at the other end. Reno
made his charge, but, finding that he was
dealing with a force many times his own
numbers, dismounted his men and sought
shelter in the timber which fringed the river
bank. This position appearing to him I'M
tenable, he remounted and cut his way to
the river, forded under murderous fire,
and gained the bluff where he was subse-
quently found. Here he was afterward
joined by Col. Benton, with three compa-
mics which had just reached the field, and
by Capt. McDougall. with his company and
the pack-mules. The position was imme-
diately after
COMPLETELY INVESTED BY THE INDIANS,
who for more than twenty four hours
allowed the garrison no rest, and inflicted
severe loss. But for the timely arrival of
relief the command would have been cut off
to a man. The number saved with Reno
was 329, including 81 wounded. The loss
among the Indians was probably consider
able, and bodies have been found in every
direction, and they left behind only small
portion of their dead.
We remained nearly two days on the scene
of this disaster, to bury the dead and pre-
pare for transporting the wounded to place
of safety. The neighboring country was still
full Of scattering bands of Indians watching
our movements, and doubtless prepared to
take advantage of any want of vigilance to
add to the number of their victims. A
species of rude horse-litter was constructed
of poles and strips of hide, and on these
the disabled were carried 20 miles to the
Big Horn, where they were placed on board
the steamer, and last night they were
brought down to the junction of the Yellow
stone. Tomorrow the steamer will convey
the poor fellows to Fort Lincoln. In closing
my hasty narrative of this affair-in certain
respects the most hideously remarkable in
modern history-I purpOsely refrain from
comment. The naked facts, so far as they
are known, must guide your readers to
as to
THE CAUSE OF THE CALAMITY.
Information derived from many sources,
including, of course, the observation of
officers engaged in the battle, lead to the
conclusion that 2, 500 or 8, 900 Indians COM
posed the fighting force arrayed against
Custer and his 600. Still these were odds
which any officer of the It'll Cavalry would
have unhesitatingly accepted for his regi-
ment under any ordinary circumstances
of Indian warfare. The force under
Gen. Terry's immediate command was
designed not only to cut off the retreat
of the Indians, but to afford support to Gus
ter if needed. Its march was made in ac-
curate accordance with the plan commune
Gated to each of the subordinate leaders be-
fore the movement commenced. 1t reached
the point where the battle was expected at
the time proposed, and had not the action
been precipitated for reasons which are yet
a force would have been present
on the field sufficient to retrieve any repulse
Of the attacking column. Gen. Gibbons
cavalry followed the Indians for about ten
miles, and ascertained that they had moved
to the south and west by several trails. A
good deal of property had been thrown away
BY them to tighten their march, and was
found scattered for many miles over the
prairie. Many of their dead were found Sc
,reted in ravines long distance from the
battle field. Among them were Arapahoes
md Cheyennes, as well as Sioux.