Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-07-07
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC TICKET.
COUNTY DEMOCRATIC TICKET.
sLAueHrsR OF CLUSTERS COMMAND.

GEORGE W. GORDON.
SLAUGHTER OF CUsTER's COMMAND.
Those of our people in sthe old
States who have regarded the noble
red man from a sentimental stand
point as a dying race, driven back
to the slopes Of the Pacific, where
he viii dance his last war dance
and smoke his last pipe and stole
ally die to slow music, will learn of
the determination of Clusters en-
tire command with establishment
and incredibly. General Custer,
with seventeen officers and three
hundred soldiers, were surrounded
and slaughtered, after a desperate
fight, and not a man lived to tell
the tale. If we are not mistaken
this terrible affair is without a par
allel in the history of Indian war
fare on this continent. Nothing
like it has ever occurred, even in
early colonial days. General Gus
ter was a bold, dashing Indian
fighter, and has rarely been worsted
in his numerous conflicts with
the treacherous and war
like Sioux on the plains.
He was in command of the Seventh
cavalry, a regiment that has seen
much hard service, and was thor
oughly armed and equipped for the
campaign. The Indians had Sc
lected their position with the judg-
ment of educated military leaders.
They numbered from $500 to 1000.
and occupied a space of three Oh
four miles. While Major Reno
attacked on one flank General Gus.
ter charged with five companies OIL
the other, became enfiladed and sur.
rounded, and the entire command
was cut to pieces. Even in civilized
warfare history records few such
instances. The Sioux have been
well fed by the government, and
well armed by the post traders and
suffers that have made fortunes BY
this constant agitation. The coun.
try has lost one of the most gallant
and meritorious officers of the ser.
vice in General Custer, and as gal.
liant a troup of soldiersa as ever rode
into battle. A natural result of the
false and pernicious policy O.
the government. The Indians
have their grounds and are
perfectly justifable in defending
the territory guaranteed t.
than by solemn treaty. That treaty
has been utterly disregarded by tn,
government. When a few grain.
of gold was discovered in the Blacl
Hills the country went wild, an,
thousands of men rushed to tina
country with the tacit sanction o
the authorities, thereby yiolatin.
the letter and spirit of the treaty
and inviting the Indians to do thei
worst. They have ayailed them
serves Of the opportunity to wreal
a fearful vengeance, and while thei
losses are doubtless heavy, they ar
virtually masters of the situation
and can defy the whole militar
force Of the United States 70
months to come. Meanwhile set
tiers on the frontiers will be labl
to destruction ; many valuable live
will be lost, and millions of treas
ure poured out. The Indians al
entitled to the peaceable possessio
Of their lands. Practical ~agricultu
ralists do not disturb them. 1t
the land grabber, the speculate.
the army sutler and post trade.
and the agents of powder mil
and manufactures of improve
fire arms, that disturb IL
Indians and provoke bloody retal
alton that they may grow rich an
fat upon the misfortunes of I'll
country. 1t is said that the j
dians do not cultivate these resery,