Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1876-07-12
The Indian Battle.

Indians on the Little Big Horn River il
Montana Territory. The Indians killed
the general and all his men, and came
near capturing Major Reno and the other
companies Of the regiment. Gen. Tcrry's
official report of this terrible affair is as
follows:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF y
DAKOTA. CAMP on LITTLE BIG
liOEN RIVER, June 21h.
10 tic -ldjuta,A- zen. rM Of the -NiIHarg
Dtrtsion Of TIC Missouri at Chicago. III.
1t is my painful duty to report that day
before yesterday, the 25lh inst. Il great
disaster overlook Gen. Custer and the
'rool,s under his command At II 0 clock
on the I'D he started with his whole regi-
lncnt and :. strong detachment of scouts
md guards from the mouth of the Rose
bud. Preceding up that river about
twenty miles he struck Il very heavy In
dian trail which had previously been discov-
cred, and pursuing found that it led rs it
was Supposed to the little Big Horn River.
Here he found Il village of almost uncX-
amplcd extent, and at once attacked il
with that portion Of his force which was
Immediately ut hand. Major Reno, with
three companies, \. &, and Nj, Of the
regiment WAS - mt into the valley of the
stream at the point where the trail struck
II. Gen. Custer. with five companies, {.
+. F. |. and l.. attempted to enter il
tbout three miles lower down Reno
torled the river, charged down its lief,
bank, and dismountcd and fought on foo,
until finally, completely overwhelmed by
numbers, he was compelled TO mount,
rccross the river and seek L refuge on
the nigh bl"if> which overlooked its RIGHT
bank Just AZ he rccrossed, Capt. Ben
| jccn-Who, with three companies, ID, III,
and h, was some two miles to The left OF
Keno when The action commenced. but
Who ltd been ordered by Gen Custer to
| telurn- came 10 The river, and rightly
concluding that it woul,. be useless for his
ioicc to attempt to renew the fight in the
valley, he Joined Reno on the Bluffs
Capt McDougall, with his company 90
WAS ut first ut som" distance in the rear
with Il tram Of packmulcS He also
came TO Reno soon. his united force was
nearly surrounded by Indians, many of
whom, armed with rifles. occupied posi-
tons which commlnncd the ground held
10y the cavalry ~rount from which there
":s 20 escape. l;ite-piis were dug and
The fight WIS maintai,rd, though with
heavy los from about half past clock
of the 9TH ill i o clock of the 10Th, when
he Indians Withdrew from the valley. tax
ing with them their village
Di the movements of Gen. Custer and
he five comp ni,S under his Immediate
command scarcely anything is known
from those who Witnessed them. for no
soldier or officer who accompanied him
has Yet been found alive. His trail from
,.,e.. .1,,,, ,,.I :, H. -,
IF rh. Lions an th.. ,iI,i, I.,nl Co.. '1,
or u,,itr three miles. 1h,n il ,n,,ns 1',,,,,
- ,i. h.,l ~ ,b ,;,.,.r y:
,,.,,,.,. f,.,,,,, -, ,I, '' ~ 'i' ~
,tt,n,,,,1 -, .r,- .I..,, =;
,In,.t cumnI.t,. '.i,,I. .,,I 'l' H.
: ,ur,.L.1 =. t}., ,n,,.,i,,. -:
.,.,I ,,,,,,, ~. h|I;..N'f ''' "''''
,h,.,,, I',I,.1 .l,'. 49, ''''i' ~
n,..,''..l ~ H.. a'' !"''I'' oih'l9
m.,I,. Th,,n .,i,,,,l.,.. ',,iI,,,,@',,l,
.r,il.u. ,.i.,.r.,'. ., ,''.,
-rnn,.- Inn, ,I,.y ,,..,, I,s.., 'a ~, ~ ''''
,,...t,,.,,.,.,i,., r,,r,l,,.,.- ~
The nt}jrrr. Lnnwn 70 h..IiiI.l .r.
l., rr.,,.. c,,,,. E>',.,I, VIZ,
Cn.,,,.. ;.ut. CI.L. I,7,I' VIZ, ''','
l,}}n,n pn,r.. II.i..n,' H,,i,',; ''''',,''
rriIl,.v IF Mo ,.,y.,I.,.'7 ;,.,, 'r,', ,t'','
Of Ihr 9a,h Infantry ,,nI ,rtn.r l,,i' 49,,
>,r.,,..u D.N,rf 5,.,,, II,7;
rh,. 1.,y,1rv md Assistant S., ''i'
are m,,iu.e r,nt Hrntrrn and ;.n,
Varnuln of The. cavalry nr, .l'rh,Iv
wounded. Mr.. Boston Custer. = I,rn1h,r
ana Mr.. Reed. = ncuhrw Of Con t,u-,,r
were with him and were. killed M o,h.r
officer, than those whom have. n,n.I
are among the nile |. wounded and mis-.
ny l. Is impossible vet 20 obtain = r,liI-
Die list Of the enlisted men who were
killed and wouncrl, hut the number of
KILLED, including officers. must reach 80. /
lhc humber of wounded i, y.
At tie mouth OF ,h, Rosebud informed
Cen Cus:cr tina: should take snn,ly
steamer Ear W, i up the Yellowstone. to
terry Gen. Gibbons r,lulnn over IN. river
that should rrI son1lly accompany thai
column. and that vnul,j in NIL ,u,l,hiIi,v