The Worthington advance., 1876-07-20
CUSTER'S LAST BATTLE FIELD.

the divide, and halted in . ravine. The
distance Of this night march from the
abandoned Indian camp on the Rosebud
is estimated at o miles.
DISCOVERED Bx THE SIOUX.
Custer and a few soldiers and guides
rode forward to the top Of tho divide to
look at the Indian camp. He could not
see it but the Indian scouts insisted that
they could sec it, some ten to fifteen
miles of. Custer returned to the "a.
vine in about An hour. Meantime he was
seen by Sioux scouts and others had dis
covered his command in the ravine.
FORWARD.
Custer again assembled his officers and
then the command WAS arranged in fight
ing order and the forward movement re.
sumed, the scouts leading and the reei.
ment following at walk. Over tho di.
vide tho trail led down little creek, 4
branch Of the Little Big Horn. About
six miles from the ravine where the com.
mand was halted at daylight 4 freshly
abandoned Sioux camp Was discovered in
which one lodge had been left to shelter
dead Indian. From this point q park
or level prairie surrounded by hills was
visible over the Little Big Horn, the
site Of
THE INDIAN RENDEZVOUS,
as outlined in our map. The river was
about three miles away. About two
miles beyond it heavy clouds Of dust
were rising. Some thought the Indians
were decamping and it is probable Custer
thought the same. The subsequent dis.
covery Of a large fresh trail leading into
the Sioux camp from the southeast would
indicate, however, that this cloud Of dust
may have been caused by the arrival Of
heavy rcinforcements for the Sioux. It
is, indeed, certain that all the Indian
forces were united just before the battle,
but the dust may have been caused by
the Indians assembling for the coming
fight.
RENo's ADVANCE.
Custer sent forward to Major Reno,
who was leading with companies A, G
and NJ to push the scouts rapidly for
ward and to head for the cloud of dust
A steady ga'lop Of near three miles
brought Reno to the mouth of the little
creek and natural ford over the Little
Big Horn. The scouts warned him that
the Sioux were coming in force, but he
crossed and formed his companies and
moved forward on the prairie about q
mile, where he dismounted his men, sent
the horses into the timber on the right
and advanced short distance on foot.
AFTER sK1RxlsH1NG
= few minutes, under heavy fire, Reno fell
back to his horses in the timber and, the
Indians beginning to collect in force be-.
tween him and the river, remounted.
Just then the Indians opened fire from
close range in the timber, and one soldier
fell. The men were again dismountcd for
skirmishing, but being thought unequal
to the contest, were again mounted and
moved from the timber over the open
prairie toward the ford. The Indians
pressed them fiercely and soon forced
TIE RETREAT
into run for the ford. The Sioux on
their ponies dashed along, firing at close
range and meeting little resistance. At
the ford and on the run towards it the
companies engaged suffered nearly all
their loss. Lieutenant Mcintosh, Charley
Reynolds, = scout, DR.. DeWolf, Bloody
Knife, scout, ani others, we're killed
before reaching the river. Lieut.. Hodgson
and many others were killed while ford.
ing the river. A number of men, either
cut eff from the retreat or preferring the
shelter of the timber. remained III the
timber and subsequently joined Reno in
safety Is described below. Reno's re.
treat ended At the top Of bluff on the
right bank of the river about mile from
the ford, where he intrenched himself rs
we'll rs he could, and was joined by Capt.
Benteen with companies D, II and K and
subsequently by Capt. McDougall with
company B and train Of pack mules,
These four companies were about two
miles in tho rear when Reno forded the
river on his advance.
THE MEN LEFT BEHIND.
George uernedon, = scout, tells that
thirteen cavalrymen, three Of whom
were wounded, (two 50 badly they could
not use their arms,) remained with him
in the timber whore Reno placed his
horses when he advanced his skirmish
line into the Indian village. They re-.
mained there about three hours and
meantime saw that nearly oil the Indians
went from the upper end Of tho valley
down tho river, and from there they
heard heavy firing which lasted about
one hour and then began to die away.
Then Hernedon persuaded eleven Of tho
soldiers to go with him and escape. They