Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-07-14
THE GREAT INDIAN BATTLE.

of things possible 10 forget or cloak them up
At noon on the 22d of June Gen. Custer, at
the head OF his fine regiment OF twelve yele-
ran companies, left camp at the mouth OF the
Rosebud to follow the trail OF very large
band of hostile Sioux leading up the river,
and westward in the direction OF the Big
Horn. The signs indicated that the indians
were making for the eastern branch of the
last named river, marked on the map as Lit
tie Big Horn" AT the same time Gen. Ter
nv. with Gibbon's command of five companies
Of infintry, four of cavalry and the gatling
battery, started to ascend the Big Horn, aim
ing TO assail The enemy in the rear
The march of the two columns was so planned
as to bring Gibbons forces within co-opera-
ting distance of the anticipated scene Of action
by the evening of the Goth. In this way only
could infantry be made available, as it would
not do to cucumber Custer S march with foot
soldiers. On the evening of the Gath Glib
bon command was landed on the south. bank
of the Yellowstone, near the mouth OF the
Big Horn, and on the 18th was pushed TWEEN
ty-three miles over II country so rugged that
the endurance of the men was tasked to the
utmost. The infantry then halted for the
night but the department commander, with
the cavalry, advanced twelve miles further TO
the mouth of the Little Big Horn, marching
until midnight in the hope of opening com
munication with Custer.
The morning of the 26th brought the in
teligencc communicated by three badly
frightened Crow scouts of The battle of the
previous day, and its results. The story was
not credited because it was not expected that
an attack would be made earlier than the
9th, and chiefly because no one could believe
that force such as Custer commanded could
have met with disaster. Sill the report was
in no way disregarded. All day long the
toilsome march was piled and every eye bent
upon cloud of smoke resting over the south
ern horizon which was hailed as Il sign that
Custer was successful and had fired the viii
lage. 1t was only when night was falling that
the weary troops lay down upon their arms.
The infantry had marched 20 miles.
The march of the next morning revealed at
every step some evidence Of the conflict which
had taken place two days before. Atan ear
ly hour the head Of the column entered plain
half a mile wide bordering the left bank of the
Little Big Horn, where had recently been an
immense Indian village, extending three miles
along the stream, With horses slaughtered
around them, and containing he bodies of nine
chiefs. The ground was slrewn everywhere
With carcasses Of horses, cavalry equipments,
besides buffalo robes packagesof dried meat
and weapons and utensils belonging TO the
Indians.
On this part Of the field was found the
| clothing of Lieurs. Sturgess and Porter,
| pierced with bullets, and a blOod-stained
gauntlet belonging TO Col Gates. Further
on were found bodies of men, among which
were recognized Lieutenant Mcintosh, the in
terpreter from Fort Rice, and Reynolds, the
guide.
jus; then a breathless scout arrived with
the intelligence that Col Reno, with num-
Der of The Seventh Cavalry, was entrenched
on bluff near by waiting for relief. The
command pushed rapidly on and soon came
in sight of Il group surrounding a cavalry
guard upon lofty eminence on the right bank
of the river. Gen. Terry forded the stream,
accompanied by small party and rode 10
the spot All the way the slopes were dotted
with the bodies of men and horses. The gen
ertl approached and the men swarmed out OF
the works and greeted him with hearty cheers
Within was found Reno with the remains Of
seven companies of the regiment. with the
following named officers all of whom are I'M
hurt Coils. Benton and Wier Capts Felix.
Maylah and Mcdonald, Lieuts Godfrey,
Ma they, Gibson. De RADIO, Edgerly, Wallace,
Varnum and Hare.
IN the centre of the enclosure depres-
sion IN the surface in which the wounded
were sheltered, covered with canvas. Reno's
command had been fighting from Sunday
noon the 25tk, until he night of the Goth,
when Terry's arrival caused the Indians to
retire.
Up to this time Reno and those with him
| were in complete ignorance Of the fate OF the
other five companies which hpd been separated
from them on the 25th TO make an attack under
Custer on the village at another point.
While preparations were being made for the
removal of the wounded, party was sent on
| Clusters trail to look for traces Of his com
mand. They found awaiting them sight fit
to appal the stoutest heart. At a point about
/ three miles down the right bank of the stream
| Custer had evidently attempted TO ford ans
attack the villages from the ford. The trail
was found TO lead back up 10 the bluffs and TO
the norihward as if the troops Ind been re-
! pulsed and compelled 10 retreat, and at the
same time had been cut off from regaining the
| forces under Reno The bluffs along the
| right bank come sharply down to the water,
and are interspers d by numerous ravines. All
along the slopes and ridges and in the ravines,
| lying AS they bad fought, line behind line,
| showing where defensive positions had been
| successfully taken up and held till none were
| left TO fight, then, huddled in narrow com
pass, horses and men piled promiseuously.
| Al the highest point OF the ridge lay Gus
Ter surrounded by a chosen band. Here were
| his two brothers and his nephew, Mr.. Reed,
| Coils. Yates and Cook and Capt Smith all
| living in circle of a few yards, their horses
beside them. Here, behind Yates's company,
the last stand had been made, and here, one
| after another, these last survivors Of Custer S
| five companies had met their Death.
The companies had successfully thrown
| themselves across the path of the advancing
enemy and had been annih;lated Not a man
has escaped TO tell the tale, but it was inscrib-
ed on the surface of the barren hills in lam
guage more eloquent than words Two hum
| dred and sixty-one bodies have been buried
from Custer's and Reno commands The last
one fouad was that of Mr. Kellogg correspon-
| dent Of the Bismarck Tribune, and also, | be-
| lieve, the New York Herald.
The following are the names of the officers
whose remains are recognized: General Gus
ter, Colonel Keagh, Colonel Yates, Colonel
Custer, Cononel Cooke, Capt. Smith, Lieut..
Mcintosh, Leut. Calhoun, Lieut.. Hodgesoi.
and Lieut.. Reilly. All of these belonged TO
| Seventh cavalry. Lieut. Crittenden, of the
Twentieth infantry, was serving temporarily
with the regiment Lieutenants Porter, Stur-
gis and Harrington, and Assistant Surgeon
Lord are reported missing, as their remains
were not recognized but there is small ground
to hope that any of them survived, as it is OBJ
vious that the troops were completely sur
rounded by force of ten times their number.
The history of Reno's operations comprises
| all that is now known of this sanguinary
affair. II seems that Custer, with eight COM
panies, reached the river in the forenoon of
the 25lh, having marched continuously all the
previous day and night. Seeing The upper
OF southern extremity of the village, and pro-
| badly Understanding its extent, he ordered
| Reno to ford the river and charge the village
with three companies, while ne with five com
panies moved down the right bank and behind
the bluff, made similar attack at the other
end. Reno made his charge but finding that
he was dealing with force many times his