The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-07
HOW CUSTER FOUGHT.

A NEW ACCOUNT OF THE TERRIBLE MASSACRE
THE oNK FAITHFUL INDIANA rHRrLLINo
DESCRIPTION.
From the Detroit News, August 81
Tho following letter has been received by Mr. James
Mannion Of No. Al Spencer street, this cisy. from his
James, who u eyewitness Of the Custer
Ii Is the only account OF that terrible affair yet
written by witness OF II and details many incidents
not yet given to the public
Mourn OF POWDER RIVER,
BIG HonS AND YxLLowsroEE EXPEDITION.
July s, 1874
DEAR FArnxR-we len camp on the 10Th OF last
month and started for the Big Horn River $50 miles
thther where joined Terry and Custer marched
the bank OF the Big Horn. striking the In
tie Big Horn, followed well marked trail along its
banks, and on Saturday morning. June "a we came IN
sight OF an Indian village with about 500 tents, and
a fghtIng force OF 5000 warriors. Major Keno In
whose command am commanded the lett flank and
Custer the right, and the fight commenced by Rcno's
charging into tho Indian village, lighting loot, hav
ing tied the horses in grove short way of. While
the fight WAS going on, General Custer reached the
other side Of the village and attacked IT, General Gus
ter and his five companies took position on ridge In
the centre Of tho Indian camp, cut oil from
water, and there fought desperately all day long,
conspicuous mark for the savage marksmcn all around
them.
ousrERs DEATH STRUGGLE
At last, when halt his command had been killed. he
called those that remained ~ follow HIM, and dashed
boldly through the red devils 1t was running the
gauntlet OF least 900 rifles for the whole distance
His did not follow him. and when he got through
he found himself alone with n single Grow Indian one
OF his scouts He would not leave his men to perish
alone and turned 70 go back but the Crow recognizing
that such movement would DO lata grabbed his horse
and implored him not TO SO back.
CUSTER ONLY LAUGHED,
and putting the rens OF his horse between his teeth
with revolver in each hand, he gave Wild cheer and
dashed back through the he'll OF smoke and lying bullets
As If by miracle he reached the remnant of his com
mand, which was now reduced to forty men, Calling
these Survivors again 10 follow him--whch the ex
ample and success Of his former charge disposed them
do-he led them from their place OF peril the
path of his solitary charge
That the last OF them until the battle was
midst, were found stark and dead within circular
rampant formed by their horses bodies They had
evuenty at the last moment made up their minds to
sell their lives dearly, shot their horses and then
raising them as breastwork, fought with the vigor
OF despair un the last man dead. What they
suffered and what they did within the fatal circle will
ever remain locked in mystery. OF all Cusers men
only the Crow scout above mentioned and sergeant Of
company escaped
agtne the horror of The scene after the battle went
It with tue artist US the dead lay in heaps where
was found with all his clothes upon him, his two
brothers were terribly muiilated When the fight
in the Indian squaws would rush the
wounded soldiers and beat out their brains with
DYAKLY SOLD LFK
remarkable story is told Of the fearful at tho
death OF Charles Reynolds Custers chief scout the
best shot the MISSOURI Rwer He snot of the
back OF his horse aud in falling caught the horse and
killed him. and making brsastwork OF the beasts
body he commenced terrible slaughter OF the Indians
He lay behind his horse dying and still shooting, and
every shot he fired his deadly aim savage the
devil When he was laken Off the field alter the fight
twenty-five dead Indians were found around him.
HKLF ARRIVED
At tho time OF the fight was sent with soldier on
message TO the mouth OF the river where the boat
was call Tor General Gibbons command, aud he said
General Terry came just in time one on each SIDE Of
the When reached The mouth there
way OF communicating with Gibbon on tho other
bank. except by swimming and one dared to trust
the rapid and treschesous current peeled of and
dashed in, reaching the other bank without much
trouble experience IN the broad and deep and swift
Detroit, where / often swan in boyhOod, making the
Big Horn appear "A mere creek. As breasted the
and heard the cheers OF the mon on the other
bank urging on often thought OF. hours spent In
the water at Detroit and wondered If they still
rested boys for learning 10 SWIM there 1t was only by
many breach of the city ordinances OF Detroit that
acquired the skill which enabled me 10 reach Gboon
shat terrible day, and bring him the of the
struggling Reno. lie and Ferry; marching up either
the river did not reach Tho OF the battle
a moment too soon. Alter lighting from Two O'Clock
Saturday until Sunday, tho Indians cooly packed up
tents and decamped leaving the grounds n tho hands
Of the dead and wounded aud defeated
We are expecting attack daily from them, and
got of Tho best Indian ponies on the river,
can easily get away with some OF them
JAMES MANNION