The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-07-20
Custer's Defeat.

HE KILLS SIX INDIANS BEFORE HE fs LAID
Low-FuRTHER PARTICULARS OF THE
MAssAOREE.
Sioux City, Iowa. July 12.-Agency In.
dians along the upper Missouri, who have
received an account of Custers fight
through some hostiles who took part in it,
say Custer shot three Indians with his
pistol and killed three others with his
saber, when he fell shot through the head
by Rain-in the face, chief whom Custer
had forcibly arrested some time ago for
murder. The Indians Lost seventy killed,
among them many noted chiefs. The fight
was hand to hand. The Indians say they
did not fear the pistols rs much as the
sabers. They are nearly out of am
munition, and will not fight until they gat
supply from the agencies.
Cheyenne, July l2.-On Saturday night
n body of Indians raided the rancho of
Rams and Hunter & Abbott, fifty miles
north on the Chug, taking nine horses from
the former aud thirteen from the latter.
Advices from the North Platte state that
Major Walker, inst in from Birdwood, re-
ports the Innians in large numbers in camp
on the headwaters of the Dismal. forty
miles north of that place. Kerders after
turn withou: il.
There is no further news from Crook.
but no uneasiness whatever is felt at Fet
terman for his safety.
The latest adv;ces from General Merrtts
Fifth Cavalry headquarters say all is quiet
in that vicinity.
Atchison, KS, July 13.-Six companies
of the Sixth Infantry, under command of
General Miles, passed through here last
evening, en- route TO the Sioux country.
They were from Fort Leavenworth.
Omaha, July ia dispatch from Fort
Fetterman last night says there was not o
word of truth in the rmuor of Cooks fight
and defeat with the Indians. All sorts of
rumors are afoat, which are contradicted
by officers, except that nothing has been
heard from Cook for the past ten days.
courier is expected here daily, from which
point news will undoubtedly be received
first.
Chicago, July l3.--specials from Sioux
City say Indians arriving there from the
battle with Custer give an account of the
barbarous treatment Of the bo lies of de-
ceased soldiers. Ran in-the face cut the
heart from Custer's dead body, put it on a
pole, and grand war dance was held
around it. The Indians are jubilant,
boastful and sangune of making better
terms on account of their success.
Washington July I3.-General Sheridan,
who telegraphed to General Sherman ex-
pecting to hear from Cook last night, tele-
graphed yesterday, "No news"
The officers of the Seventh Cavalry have
been ordered to join their regiment imm edi-
ately.
New York, July IA Herald special
from Detroit, giving an extract from let
ter col tanning an account of Custer's fight,
says: Reno was to attack the Sioux in the
rear and Custer to fight them in front.
Reno got in the rear, but Custer, marching
down on the other side Of the stream, saw
what he supposed was the front of the
camp, and made charge. The Indians,
giving way and letting him right into the
gap, Custer rode in with his three hundred
men, and would, the writer believes, have
killed the whole two thousand Sioux if
there had been no enemy behind him. But
instead of charging in front he was right
in the centre of and between three and
four thousand sioux.
Those behind him kept concealed until
he was right in their midst, and then when
il was too late, he made bold dash. trying
to cut his way through them; but the
enemy were too many and he fell about the
first one and the horse became unmlnagea.
bic.
The poor soldiers were cut down in less
time than it takes to tell it. The Sioux
then turned with all their force on Reno.
He charged them with one company and
returned with only eleven men. He then
retreated to the Bluff, where he was re-
lieved by Terry and Gibbon Out of the
whole regiment only 92S men are left. The
Indians did not disfgure general Custer in
any way, but his brother Tom was opened
and his heart taken. The loss os the Sioux
is estimated at five hundred, though it is
hard to tell how many were killed as they
carried most of them away.