Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-07-22
scene of the Slaughter.

OCCnC Va tAG OA1USMtcEa
The correspondent of the st. Paul
Pioneer Press, who was with the res
cuing column OF Col. Gibbon, consist
ing of five comfNales of rifemen, four
of cavalry and IT. 4attling battery, in
all about 800 mEa thus describes how
he found things Aen the command
reached the battlefield between Gus
ter and Reno and the Sioux Indians:
The mnrning Of tho 26th brought
intelligenee, ctImmunicated by three
badly frightened Crow scouts, of the
battle of the previous day and its re-
suits. The STORY was mot credited,
because it was not expected that an
attack would be made earlier than
the 9th, and chiefly because no one
could believe that force such as Gus
ter commanded could have met with
disaster. Still, the report was In no
way disregarded. All day long the
toilsome march was piled, and every
eye bent upon cloud of smoke rest
ing over the southern horizon, which
was hailed as sign that Custer was
successful and had fred the village.
1t was only when night was falling
that the weary troops lay down upon
their arms. The infantry had marched
20 miles. The march of the next
morning revealed at every step some
evidence of the conflict which had ia
ken place two days before. At an
early hour the head of the column en-
tered a plain half mile wide, border
| ing the left bank of the Little Big
Horn, where recently had been an
immense Indian village, extending
three miles along the stream, and
where were still standing funeral lodg-
es, with horses slaughtered around
them, and containing the bodies OF
nine chiefs. The ground was strewn
everywhere with carcasses of horses,
cavalry equipments, besides buffalo
robes, packages of dried meat, and
weapons and utensils belonging to In
dams. On this part of the field was
found the clothing of Lieuts. Sturgis
and Porter, pierced with bullets, and
a blood stained gauntlet belonging to
Col. Yates. Further on were found
the bodies of men, among whom were
recognized Liet. Mcintosh. the inter-
prefer from Fort Rice, and Reynolds,
the guide. just then a breathless
scout arrived with the intelligence
that Col. Reno, with a remnant of the
Seventh cavalry, was entrenched on a
bluff near by waiting for relief. The
command pushed rapidly on, and soon
came in sight of group surrounding
a cavalry guard upon a lofty eminenee
on the right 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 the bodies of men and horses
The general approached, and the men
swarmed out of the works and greeted
him with hearty and repeated cheers
Within was found Reno, with the re.
mains of seven companies of the regi-
ment, with the following-named Off
GERS, all of whom are unhurt Colonies
Benteen and Wier; Captains Felix
Maylan and McDougal; Lieutenants
Godfrey, Mathey, Gibson, DeRudid
Edgerly, Wallace, Varnum and Hare
In the center of the Enclosure was a
depression in the surface, in which the
wounded were sheltered, covered with
canvass. Reno's command had beer
fighting from Sunday noon (the 18th,
until the night of the 18th, when Ter.
RVS arrival caused the Indians to re.
tire. Up to this time Reno and those
with him were in complete Ignorance
of the fate of the other Eve companies
which had been separated from them
early On the 18th to make an attack
under Custer ON the village at another
point. While preparations were be.
ing made for the removal of the
wounded, party was sent on Clusters
trail to look for traces of his command
They found waiting them sight fit tt
appal the stoutest heart At a point
about 3 miles down the right bank Of
the stream, Custer had evidently at,
tempted to ford, and attack the village
from the ford. The trail was found tt
lead back up to the bluffs and to the
northward, as if the troops had beer
repulsed aud compelled to retreat, and
at the same time had been cut off from
regaining the forces under Reno. The
bluffs along the right bank come
sharply down to the water, and are in
terspersed by numerous ravines al
along the slopes and ridges, and in the
ravines lay the dead, arranged in order
of battle, lying as they had fought
line behind line, showing where defen-
sive positions had been successfully
taken up and held, till Done were left
to fight. Then, huddled in a narroW
compass, horses and men we're piled
promiscuously. At the highest point
Of the ridge lay Custer, surrounded By
chosen band. Here were his two
brothers and his nephew, Mr.. Reed
Coils. Yates and Cooke, all lying in q
circle of few yards, their horses be-
side them. Here, behind Yates com
pany, the last stand had been made
and here, one after another, these last
survivors of Clusters five companies
had met their death. The companies
had successfully thrown themselves
across the path of the advancing enc
my and had been annihilated. Not a
man has escaped to tell the tale, but
it was inscribed on the surface .oi
those barren hills in language more
eloquent than words. Two hundred
and sixty-One bodies have been buried
from Clusters and Reno's command
The last one found was that of Mr.
kellogg, correspondent of the Bis
marck Tribune, and also, l believe, Of
the New York Herald.
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