The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-07-18
Custer's: and Reno's Battle with
the SiOuX

General Custer started on the 22d of
June, at IL o'clock, marched about fif.
teen miles, and encamped on the Rose
bud On tue 23l, the trail discovered
by Colonel Reno was found and follow
ed. 1t turned off from the Rosebud and
led over the divide to the Little Horn.
The scouts reported a village on the
Little Horn, and Custer pushed out,
marching all night. On Sunday morn
ing, June %, the scouts reported the
village only a few miles aheaJ, on the
north bank Of the Little Horn, and i'm
mense numbers Of Indians swarming
out of it. One of the scouts, half
breed Sioux, Michael Boyer, told Custer
the village was the largest he had ever
seen in the West Clouds Of dust were
rising over the Indian town, and masses
Of horsemen were seen by dense
growth of timber and bushes. The
bank of the river opposite the village
was abrupt and over hanging the stream,
with high conical hills in the background.
In many places the bluff was twelve feet
high and almost perpendicular. On the
side, where the village stood, the land
was level. and stretched down, like a
beautiful lawn, to the timber, which ran
to tue waters edge. .sl Z y i7i' 5
s..z. cUsTER's BATTLE. -
| As the troops raised the crest OF the
hills on the opposite bank, singular
sight lay before them. Below was the
village, its white tepees stretching fol
miles along the stream Riding rapidly
over the plain, scout came back and
said the Indians were running, and Gus
| ter Immediately told c C-,lonel Reno to &C
ahead and pitch in, and he would sup
port him. Reno was given seven com
panies, the bulk of the regiment, Will,
Custer reserved five companies for biz
person. Colonel Reno went ahead Will
three companies, Captain French, Cap
tain Waylan and Lieutenant Mcintosh
The regiment had been travelling alonl
the right bank of the stream, and dowl
| its waters; the village was on the lef
/ bank OF the river, and the river banl
was; covered out and away for miles
with lodges, and on the plain hundreds
Of horsemen were galloping about, ap
parently in the widest confusion
4 Clouds of dust rose over the differen
bodies of Indians, rendering it itimpossi
BILE to number them. Only now ant
| then, when q few ponies shot out of th,
cloud, could the Indians be seen, and ap
parently then going to the rear.
), The report soon spread that the In
dians we're retreatine, and General Gus
ter, after ordering Reno over, the rive
above the village, ordered Capt. Keogh
Captain Yates, Captain Thomas Custe
Ca brother OF the GENERALLY, Lieutenan
Smith and Lieutenant Calhoun, will
thoir companies, to keep on down tn
right bank Of the river until they cam,
to q point opposite the village, and be
low it, and then cross over and charg,
the village on the flank. 1t was. evi
dently Clusters intention to attack th,
village at both ends and have the force.
work toward each other. Having or
Iderod the attack above, Custer placet
four companies to be held in reserve ant
to guard the pack trains, and, turning
over the command, of the reserve t
Captain Benton to be sent to Reno il
case he needed them, Custer with tn
FIVE companies gallored down the ridg
to cut off the Indians. As he dashet
forward he raised his hat, and the sol
diers cheered Justify. This was the las
seen Of Custer or his men until the,
we're found dead and horribly mutilated
i RENo's MOVEMENTS. t
I We must now recount the movement
Of Reno. In obedience to Clusters OF
4 ders be had crossed the river above tn
/ village, and was advancing upon it.
Little resistance was made to his cross
ing, and but few Indians showed in hi
front as he deployed on the plain be
tween the river and the bluff-the val
tley stretched down to the village, whicl
was about four miles distant, and Rem
advanced in column of companies. Til
valley was little over mile wide, an
the companies met with no serious r.
sistance In their front for a considers
!, bic distance. The FIRST intimation q
great danger was the appearances d
. masses Of Indians on the bluffs on th
) flank Of the left company. AheaSy fir
} was opened from the bluff, and at th
1 same time the Indians charged in from
Officers and men behaved with gres
3 1gallantry, driving back the charging TO,
!. But the fire from the bluffs was so heav
+ that Reno's men were forced over Ii
!, ward the river. Reno ordered the con
= panies into the timber, and dismounte
the battalion They were formed o
y the edge of the woods, under a littl
depression, to, fight on foot The II
9 dians charged across the plain and mad
/. every effort to dislodge thea white me
from the timber, but were repulsed, tin
after time. They charged both on pt
MES and on foot, but were driven bac
+ eachitime with heavy loss. Reno 500
discovered that the Indians were worI
ing around to his rear, and had entere
. thetimber above him, and between hil
Z and the reserve. The order was give
, totmount and charge through the tin
; Der toward the reserve. The Indian
had already become so strong that
was found impracticable to dislode
them, while mounted, from behind tt
bushes and trees, and the comman
. again dismounted and charged on foo
|, The Indians we're every moment gettin
thicker between the companies on th
: river bottom and the reserve on the bill
i S7ine RENO RETREATS. aS.ra .a5gs
fColorel Reno ordered his men,
mount and cut their way through. !.
/, wild scramble for life now began.
Twas every one for himself. Indians o
fteysty, side rose mp and FREQ at the flyin
horsemen, and hundreds, mounted o
swift ponies, pursued the soldiers, cas-
Y ly enongh coming up with the heav
: American horses. 1t was a hand t
J hand fight, one trooper often having a
many as five Indians after him. Th
troops used their revolvers at shol
range, emptying an Indian saddle at e,
} cry shot. At the ford, about mile dis
tant, strong force of Indians wa
found holding it. But the trooper
dashed over them, crossed the river, an
began to ascend the high bank opposite
| It was a mere Indian trail loarinu m