Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-07-12
Bloody Indian Battle.
GENERAL CUSTER AND ms WHOLE COMMAND
sI.AUGHTEREni

bloodiest Indian slaughter known to our his
tory, involving the death Of General Custer,
two brothers, a nephew, and his entire com.
mand, consisting of over three hundred men,
with some sixteen commissioned officers.
We give below the shocking
STONY or rnE fiGnr
TO best understand the story Of the fight which
brought disaster and humiliation to General Gus
teri command. one wants first TO get out the map,
and, looking up the Big Horn river, in Montana,
note the lay Of the land and how the troops and
Indians were disposed before the battle. Locate
the Indians between the Rosebud and the Little
Big Horn rivers, moving towards the latter; Gus
tor and his forces at the mouth of the Rosebud
Generals Terry and Gibbon ON the north bank Of
the Yellowstone, near the mouth Of the Big Horn;
General Crook somewhere To the south of the Lit
tie Big Horn, and General Carr eighty miles or
more to the west Of Crook This was the status
June nd, when Generals Terry Custer and Glib
bon had planned for united attack on the In
dians Custer marchin. across the country from
the Rosebud, and Gibbon up the Big Horn In
this way only could the infantry be made avail
able, as IL would not do to cucumber Clusters
march with foot soldiers The marching began
that day, and, according to the plan, the Indian
camp would be reached by both commands ON the
10Th or 27th, but there was to be no fighting till
both were on the ground ready 10 cooperate
But General Custer forced the march, and
reached the Indian camp ON the 18th, having
pushed his command seventy-cight miles during
the previous twenty -four hours only the Little
Big HON creek separated Clusters forces aud the
Indians. Then, without waiting to learn of the
whereabouts of Gbbon and Terry without even
first feeling the Indians, he ordered au attack
He seems to have reached the Indian camp, which
eItsidcd three miles along the bank Of the river
near is upper or southern end, aud perhaps un-
der-estimating it, extent, ordered Reno 10 ford
the river and charge the village with three COM
panios, while he, with five companies moved
from the right bank and behind the bluii to make
a similar attack at the other end Colonel Benton
being left with four companies in reserve Reno
made his charge, but, finding he was dealing with
q force many times his own number, dismounted
his men and sought shelter in the timber which
frngcd the river bank The position appearing TO
him untenabe, he remounted and cut his way to
the river, iorled back under murderous fire,
and gained the bluffs, where he intrenched and
""7 'V"" J"'h'" " '"'Vi'V' H'"''" W." Wv '""'
companies oil reserves Meantime the Indians re-
sumed the attack, making repeated ana desperate
charges, and Tor foity-eight hours kept Reno and
Benton lenned To Their lntrenchments, save
during bnei sally to the river the second day,
Tor water ana not word had they from custer
nor ana lhtN Know ms iate. Al last "eherNs
Terry aud Gbbon appeared with their forces the
Indians retreatedi and the remnant Of Reno's
forces were relieved
10 80 back to the march oil uibbon command
1t was made in accurate accord with the plan
agreed upon before the movement commenced
1t reached a point where the battle was expected
at the time proposed, and, had not the action
been precipitated 10y General Custer, force
would have been present on the field sufficient to
| retrieve any repuse OF the attacking columns.
Marching up the Big Horn they would, Of course
first come to that part of the Indian campatacked
by Custer. Gibbons first news Of the battle was
brought in ON the morning Of the 18th, by scouts.
The story was not credited, because 1t was not ex-
pected that an attack would be made earlier than
the 18th and chiefly because no one could believe
that force such as Custer commanded could
have met with disaster. Still the report was in
no way disregardcd, and all day long the toilsome
march was piled, and every eye bent upon cloud
of smoke resting over the southern horizon, which
was hailed as sign that Custer was successful,
and had fired the village 1t was only when