The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-05

were nearing their village, which was still standing;
besides, could not Custer, any other support
and at the same time the very earth seemed to grow
Indians, and they we're running toward me in swarms,
and from all directions saw must defend myself,
and give up the attack mounted. This did taking
possession Of point OF woods and which furnished
its edge shelter for the horses; dismounted,
ard fought them ON foot, making headway through
the wood. soon found myself in the vicinity Of
the village, saw that was gnting odds OF at least five
to one, and that my only hope to get out OF the
wood, where would soon have been surrounded, and
gain some high ground. accomplished this by mount
ing and charging the Indians between and the bluffs
the opposite side OF the river In this charge First
Lieutenant Donald Mcintosh, Second Lieutenant Ben
Jamin H. Hodsson, Seventh cavalry and Acting As
| sistsnt Surgeon J. NJ Dc Wolf were killed l sue
cceded in reaching the top OF the buG with loss Of
and seven meh wounded Almost at the same time
reached the top mounted men were seen to be coming
toward us, and IL proved to BIO Colonel Bentecn's bat
taon companies II, ID and X; joined forces and in
short time the pack train came up. As senior my
command was then companies A, b. ID. G, II, and N,
about $50 men, and Tho following officers Captains
Benteen, Weir French and McDougal, First Lieuten-
ants Godfrey. Mathcy and Gibson. Second Leutenants
Edgerly, Wallace, yarnum and Hare and Acting AS
was in the dismounted tight in the woods but having
some trouble with his horse did not join the command
IN the charge out and, hiding himself the woods,
joined the command after nightall OF the goth.
Sill hearing nothing OF Custer, and with this rein.
| the village keeping on the bluffs. We had heard
firing II that direction, and knew could only BIO Gus
ter moved to the summit oil the highest blum, but
seeing and hearing nothing sent Captain Weir, with
his company, TO open communication with the other
command He soon sent back WORD oy Lieutenant
Hare that he could so further and that the Indians
were getting around HIN. At this time he was keeping
up = heavy fire from his skrmsh line. l at once
turned everything back to the first position had taken
the blum, and which seemed to INC the best dis
mounted the men, had the horses and mules OF tho
pack train driven together In depression, put the
men the crests OF the hills making the depression,
and had hardly done so when was iurously At
tackled. This was about six p. NJ. We held our ground
with the loss of eighteen enlisted mon killed and forty
six wounded until the attack ceased, about p. N.
AS knew by this time their overwhelming numbers,
md huh uiV I'M nj nOrf nft
regiment with Custer, had the Dig rifle pits, bar
ricaded with dead horses, mules and boxes OF hard
bread, the opening oil the depression toward the In
dams, in which the animals were herded; and mado
every exertion to DC ready for what would DO
terrihc assault the next day. All this night The
were busy aud the Indians holding scalp dance
dcrneath US in tho bottom and In our hearing on tho
my own and was rendy as far as could be, when, at
daylight, about haipast two A. NJ, heard the crack
OF two rifles This was the signal for the beginning of
fire that have ncvor seen cqualled Every rifle was
handled by an expert aud skilled marksman aud with
range that exceeded carbine. and 1t was simply
impossible TO show any part OF the body before II was
struck. We could see, the day Frightened, countless
hordes OF them pouring the valley from out the vii
the places desisnatcd for them by their chiefs, and
which entirely surrounded our position. They had
sufficient numbers TO completely encircle u.s. and men
were struck the opposite sides OF tho lines from
where the shots were fired. think we were fighting
all the Sioux nation and also all the despcradoes
gades, hall breeds and squaw between he Missouri
and the Arkansas and east OF the Rocky Mountains
They must have numbered at least 500 warriors The
a.
and then discovered that they making last
desperate attempt and which directed against the
lines held by Companies II and NJ In this attack they
charged close cnough to their bows and arrows
and ono man, lying dead within our lines, touched
by the "coup stick of one Of the foremost Indians.
When say the stick only about twelve feet
long idea OF the desperate and reckless fighting
these people may be understood This charge theirs
CALAMITY repulsed by the that limo led by
Captain Benteen. They also close enough send
their arrows into the line held by Companies and X
but wore driven away by like charge oi the lne which,
question OF water was VITAL as from six r ~ Of the
previous evening until now ten A. N. about sixteen
hours) We had been without It,
a skirmish line formed, under Captain Benteen
to protect the descent OF volunteers down the hill in
front OF his position to reach the water We succeeded
in getting ntcens, although many OF the men
were hit in doing The fury oil the attack
over, and 10 my Advertisements. the Indians
| going in parties toward the village. But solutions
occurred to US for this movemcnt-that thoy were 60
had been throwing arrows) that Custer coming.
We took advantage OF this lull to I'LL all with
water, and soon had II by tho camp kettle full; but
they continued TO withdraw, all firing ceased
occasional shots from sharpshooters annoy
about the water About two p. NJ the grass the
bottom set on fire. and followed up by Indiana who
encouraged Its burning and it evident done
Tor purpose which purpose discovered later on, to
| be the creation OF dense cloud Of smoke behind
which they were packing and preparing to move their
tepees.
IL was between six and seven O'Clock p NJ that the
village from behind the clouds Of smoke and
dust We had close and good view Of them ~ they
flied away IN the direction OF the Big Horn Mountains
moving In almost perfect military order Tho length
OF the column fully equal 10 that OF large division
OF the Cavalry corps OF the Army OF the Potomac as
have seen 1t on its march.
We now thought OF Custer, OF whom nothing had
been seen and nothing heard since the firing In his
direction about six O'Clock r NJ the OF The 25th
and we concluded that the Indians had gotten between
him us, and driven him toward the boat, At tho
mouth Of Little Big Horn River the awful fate that did
beial him occurring any OF within the
limits Of possibilities During the night changed my
position IN order to secure an unlimited supply OF wa
ter and prepared for their return, feeling
carly the morning OF the 9th, ana while We
on the qui rire for Indians with my glass a dust
some distance down the valley. There was no GER
talnty Tor time what they were, but finally
satisfied myself they were cavalry and ii SO could only
be Custer, as 1t ahead oil the time that under
stood that General Terry could be expected Before
this time, however had written comm unlcation 10
General Terry, and three volunteers to try and
reach him Il mad no confidence In the Indians Will me,
and could get them TO do anything Ii this dust
Indians II possible they would not expect any
one to leave The men started and were told TO go as
safe To determine II the approaching col
umn was white men, ana to return at once In case they
found 1t so but, II they Indians, to push to
General Terry In short time We saw them return
ing the high blun already alluded to; thoy were
accompanied by scout who had note from Terry TO
custer, saying, "Crow scouts had camp saying
he had been whipped, but it was not believed" !
think It was about halt past ten A. NJ. that General
Terry rode my lines and the fate Custer and
his brave determined by Captain Ben
teen proceeding with his company TO the battle ground
and where were recognized the following officers who
surrounded by The dead bodies OF many OF their
men. th,re follow names of the killed already pub
After following his trail is evident to me that
Custer intended 10 support me by moving further down
the stream and attacking the village In flank, that he
found the distance the greater antic-
pated; that he did charge but his march had taken
long, although his trail shows he moved rapidly that
they ready for him; that companies and l. and
perhaps part CT company f. crossed to the village
attempted It at the charge and we're met by saggcr-
iLg hrc ana that they fell back to position
from which 10 defend themselves; but they were ol-
lowed too closely by the Indians to permit hIh form
any kind oil ilne. think had the regiment gone
ID
vanced on the village, that It's destruction CERTAIN
but he was July confident they running he
would not have turned from me. think tafter the
great number OF Indians that in the vlagc that
the following reasons obtained for the msiorl une.
HIS rapid marching for two days and night before
tho fight, attacking in tho day twelve clock
NJ. and when they were on the qui rire, instead OF
early IN The morning; and lastly, his unfortunate
division oil the regiment into three commands
During my fight with the Indians had the hear ticst