Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-07-15
THE HAPPY FUTURE.
CLUSTERS TERRIBLE DEFEAT.

CLUSTERS TERRIBLE DEFEAT.
We briefly announced last week
tina t Gen. Custer and his entire com.
mand had been killed by the Indi.
ans.
More complete accounts of the
affair show that the slaughter was
even greater than at first reported
and that the wounded and killed
were horribly mutilated by tho old
Indians and squaws. From extend
ed reports of the sad affair, receiv.
ell from various sources, published
in the New York papers, We gather
the following facts:
Clusters March.
General Custer started on the 22d Of june
ut ~ o'clock, marched about fifteen miles and
encamped Oh the Rosebud. On the @2d the
| trail discovered by. Colonel Reno was found
and followed. 1t turned of from the Rosebud
and led over the divide to the Little Horn
The scouts reported q village OH the Little
Horn and Custer lushch out, marchihs an
plight. On Sunday morning June 25, the scouts
| reported the village only few miles ahead,
| on the north bank of the Little Horn. aud i'm
mense numbers of Indians swarming out Of
| it, One OF the scouts a ha!f-breed Sioux, Mich
ael Roger, 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 hOrscmen were seen by dense
growth Of timber and bushes. the bank of
| the river opposite the village was abrupt and
overhanging the stream, with high conicai
hills in the background. In many places the
bluffs was twelve feet high and almost per-
penilicular. On the side where the village
stood the land was level and stretched down
like a beautiful lawn to the timber which ran
to the waters edge
The Indian Village.
As the troops raised the crest of the mis- on
the opposite bank o singular sight lay before
them. Below was the village. its white tepees
stretc hing for miles along the stream Riding
rapidly over the plain u scout came back anu
mcdiatcly told Col Reno to 60 ahead ana
pitch In and he would support him.
The Fight.
Reno was given seven companies, the bulk
of the regiment, while Custer reserved five
companies for his person. Col. Reno went
ahead with three companies, Capt. French,
Can't. Waylan and Lieut.. Mcintosh. The regi-
ment had been travelling along the right bank
of the stream. and down its waters J. the vii.
tho river bank wa, covered out and away
for miles with lodges, and on the plain hun
dreds of horsemen were gallOping about. APP
parently in the widest confusion. Clouds Of
dust rose over the different bodies of Indians
rendering it impossible to number them.
Only now and then, when few ponies shot
! out of the clouds. could the Indians be seen,
and apparently then going to the rear.
The report soon spread that the Indians
were retreating. and General Custer, after
ordering Reno over the river above the village
ordered Capt. Koogh, Capt. Yates. Capt.
Lieut.. Smith and Lieut.. Calhoun, with their
companies, to keep on down the right baAk
of the river until they came to q point 0ppp-
site the village and below it aud then cross
over and charge the village on the flank. 1t
was evidently Clusters intention to attact
the village at both ends and have the forces
work towards each other.
Clusters Last Moments.
Having ordered the attact above, Custer
placed four companies to be held in reserve
and to guard the pack trains, and, turning
over the command Of the reserve to Captain
Benton to be sent to Reno in case he needed
them, Custer with the five companies gallaped
down the ridge to cut Oft the Indians. As he
dashed forward he raised his hat, and the
soldiers cheered Justify. This was the last
seen of Custer or his men until they were
found dead and horribly mutilated.
The Scene of Slaughter.
We came on the ruins or remains of an i'm.
mense Indian village extending three miles
along the stream, and where were still stand.
ing funeral lodges with horses slaughtered
around them, and containing the bodies of
nine chiefs. The ground was strewn every
where with the curcasses of horses, cavalry
equipments. besides buffalo robes and packa-
ges Of dried meat, and weapons and utensils
belonging to the Indians. On this part of
the field was found the clothing Of Lieuts:
Sturgis and Porter pierced with bullets. and
u blood stained gauntlet belonging to Col.
amoug whom were recognized Lieut.. McIn.
tosh, the interpreter from Fort Rice, and
Reynolds the guide.
Reno in Danger.
just then breathless scout arrive with
the intelligence that Col. Reno, with o rem.
nant of the Seventh Cavalry, was int renched
Qua bluff near by waiting for relief. Tho
command pushed rapidly on, and soon came
guard q as upon oftyp e%ineuos on the s" rsGt
bank of the river. Gen. Terry fOrded the
stream, accompanied by small party, and
rode to the spot. All the way the slopes were
dotted with bodies of mon and horses. Tho
General approached and the men swarmed
ty and repeated cheers. Within was found
Keno with the reMains Of seven companies of
the regiment In the center of the Enclosure
was depression in the surface IN which the
wounded were sheltered, covered with can
vass: Major Reno's command had been fight
ing from Sunday morning. the 25th, until the
night Of the 26th, when Terry's arrival caused
the Indians to retire. Up to this time Reno |
and those with him were in complete ignor.
ancc of the fate of the other five compan les |
which had been separated from them early |
on the 25th to make an attact under General
Custer on the village at another point. While
were being made for the remov-
al Of the wounded party was sent on Gus.
ter's trail to look for traces of his comma nd
\ Terrible sight,
They found awaiting them sight fit to an
pail the stou test heart. At o point th rec
miles down the right bank Of the stream,
Custer lister. had y, evidently attempted to ford the
The trail was found to lead back up to the
bluffs and to the nOrthward a. if the troops
lad been repulsed and compelled to retreat,
md at tho same time had been cut of from
'egaining the forces under Reno. The bluffs
llOng the right bank come sharply down to
he water and are intersper sed BY numerous
avines. All along the slopes and RIGGS and
n the ravines, laying as they had fought, line
,ehind line. showing where the defensive posi-.
ions had been successfully taken up and
leIu I'LL none were leIC TO nSnC, Cnere were
luddled in a narrow compass horses and men
lied promiscuously.
The Last stand.
At the highest point of the ridge lay Custer
by q chosen band. Here were
lis two brothers and his nephew. Mr.. Reed,
,olonel Yates and Cook and Capt Smith, ali
wing in a circle of faw yards, their horses
eside them. Here behind Yates company
be last stand had been made, and here one
fter another. these last survivors of Clusters
We companies had met their death. The
ompanies had successively thrown themsel. {
es across the path of the advancing enemy, ,
nd been annihilated. Not man escaped to
Ill the tale, but it was inscribed ON the sur
ice of the barren hill 10 in language more elo- {
uent than words Two hundred and sixty. ,
ne bodies have been buried from Custer's and
eno's commands. The last one found was [
lat Of Mr.. Kellogg. correspondent of the ,
ismarck Tribune, and also, l believe, of the
ew York Herald. e
According to the official reports there were =
officers killed, IA; Acting Asst. Z
argeon, l; enlisted men, 237; civilians, S
ldian scouts, 3.
-PerfOrated card bOard at Oprv .