New-York tribune., 1876-07-13
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
CLUSTERS LAST BATTLE.
DETAILS OF THE MASSACRE.

| fFRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBUNE.l
| CAMP AT THE MOUTH OF THE BIC HORN, NJ. T.,
July 3.-It is the eve of Independence Day-the Gen.
tennal Fourth-and all the land is ablaze with en-
thusiasm Alas if the tidngs of Gen. Clusters terri
bile disaster could be borne on the wings of the four
winds dirges and not anthems would be heard in
the streets of Philadelphia, New-York, and San
| Francisco Tomorrow! great shadow has fallen
upon the valley of the Big Horn. The youngest OF
our generals, the beau saJreW of the Army of the
| Potomac the golden-halred chief whom the Sioux
had learned to dread has fought his last light Sur
| rounded by over $50 brothcrs-in-arms, Custer lies
buried on the field where he fought and fought and
| fought until he could fight no longer.
ADVANCE OF THE INFANTRY.
| Let me make the story of his death simple as
| can. You already know that before Gen. Terry
| reached the mouth of Powder River Inc had sent
Major Reno with six companies OF the 9TH Cavalry
to scout along the headwaters of the stream and to
Join the main column at the mouth of Tongue River.
Major Reno went as far the Rosebud, and on his
arrival at the mouth of Tongue River brought word
that he had discovered heavy Indian trail Tho
command Mt once set out for the Rosebud. Gen.
Gibbons column was met on the left bank, and was
soon on the march in the same direction. On juno
o. after full consultation between Gems. Terry,
GibbOn and Custer, a plan OF operations was ar
ranged and Gen. Custer started on his fatal errand
1t was high noon when his regiment set out Never
were troops in better spirits than those bold riders
As they disappeared from our view, half OF them
forever an old soldier remarked, There goes
command of which even a corps commander might
have been proud during the civil war" Poor fell
lows! They little thought as they spurred their
horses out of camp that the valley beyond was the
Valley of Death!
Gen. Terry had assured Gen. Custer that he would
be at the forks of the Big Horn and the Little Big
Horn by the evening of June 26, and that Gen. Glib
bon's column would be with him. Gen. Terry and
his staff with Gen. Gibbon steamed up the Yellow
stone and on Saturday, June "a, arrived at tho
mouth of the Big Horn. Freemans Sanno's, Cliff
ford's, Logan's and Engslis companies Of the 7th
Infantry were ferred across the Yellowstone. Major
Brsbin with Balls, Thompson's, Whelan's, and
Roe's companies of the 2d Cavalry, and loves Cat
Ting Battery, which had been added to Gen. Glib
bon's column at the Rosebud, under
marching orders. The whole command with five
davs ratons marched that evening to Tullocks
Creek.
NO TIDINGs FROM CUSTER.
On the next day made an early start and
marched with the infantry 23i2 miles TO the Big
Horn II was an exceedingly hot day, and there
were no streams the way, that all the men suf-
fered terribly from thirst. Many Of the soldiers fell
by the way. Our Indian scouts had reported that
smoke was visible in the distance, and hence this
forced march was necessary. We left the infantry
at the river with orders to follow in the morning
and pushed on with the cavalry and battery until
we reached the Little Big Horn at midnight, thus
beinq about hours in advance of the time set by
Gen. Terry. 1t was night of toll and suffering
Up and down bluffs, amid drenching showers and
abyssma darkness, we pressed on; yet all were in
hopeful mood for expected TO strike the hostile
Sioux. We little knew what day of wrath it had
been for our brave companionsl
We finally biyouacked after having marched over
II miles. On Monday, June 26, our scouts were
sent in advance and after we had resumed our
march report brought IN that small trail had
been struck. Subsequently Lieut. Bradley, Chief of
Scouts reported that he had followed the traIl, and
had met two Crows who had joined Clusters COM
mard at the Rosebud, and who reported that
he had been cut to pieces on the little Big Horn.
The story was incredible. We could not believe it
we would not believe it. We admitted that Custer
might have struck an Indian village and have had q
fight but we would not listen to tidmgs Of his de-
feat We pressed on with eager enthusiasm. The
infantry marched 20 miles that day-indeed, until
they were ready to drop. As the twilight faded
away we saw heavy columns Of smoke in the dis
tance and felt sure that Custer was ravaging the
valley. During the night we encamped by our arms,
and it was apparent to those who knew him that
n
commander Night had come. and the promised
scout from Custer had not reported, although we
were far in advance of our promised position. We
had crossed the Little Big Horn amosta days march
from its mouth.
THE VALLEY OF DEATH.
On Tuesday, June 27 clouds of smoke hung in
front of u.s. The command fastened on and soon
entered beautiful plan over three miles long. On
the east was a line of bluffs on the west was the
Little Big Horn with bluffs beyond it. Two tepees
were still standing and in them lay nine Indian
chiefs with their dead horses close by. As we adj
vanced hundreds and hundreds of tcpee poles could
he counted Buffalo robes, cooking utensils, cloth
ing and tools Of all kinds had been abandoned in
hot haste There was time TO peer about and
take notes. There might be serious work for US TO
do The shadow of great calamity had already
fallen upon us. As we drew rein for moment we
noticed some United States regulation saddles OF the
now pottern. Some one picked up a blood-stained
ooye-it had been worn by Yates. And close by
were the ridlled clothes OF Porter and Stur-
cis moment more and We were aShast
with horror. Two hundred of csvarymen lay
dead in the rayines and on the bluffs OH the right
hank of the river. Bradley had gone TO the front
and counted them, and now brought US the news
The Crow scouts had not lied to us. IL was the
awful truth. Faces paled, eyes molstened. teeth
set. -
An advance was now ordered. At every step we
foprd tokens of the dreadful carnage. Here was
brave McIntosh here lay Isaiah, our negro scout;
close BY, Charley Reynolds, the chief scout, had
bravelv met his fate and here close together, were
the bodies of our cavalrynen and their horses AS
we were suoping on these horrors aud asking our
secs whether any one had been left TO describe the