The Worthington advance., 1876-07-20

who were driven off by pistol shots and
the twelve Gncluding the three wounded
soldiers above mentioned)a~waded the
river and proceeded to Reno's position
without opposition.
RENO ATTACKED.
Indian skirmishers had meantime sur.
rounded Reno's position and kept up 4
scattering fire from commanding posi-
tions, but inflicted little if any loss. The
wounded had been placed in the center.
and the dead horses and mules were piled
in front Of such rifle pits as the men could
dig. Soon after the firing below ceased,
the Indians came up the river in great
force, and Reno's skirmishers retired to
his entrenched position, which he strength
ened during the succeeding night. The
evening attack lasted about IN hour and
covered the Indian chiefs getting their
warriors in position.
Early next morning the Sioux renewed
the attack and several times charged close
up. These attacks ended about ten
o'clock with = sortie led by Benteen,
which dispersed large body gathered in
front feg another charge. Desaltory
firing was kept up, however, all day, and
one notable event was the procuring Of
water from the river at the foot of the
bluff, by volunteer detachment Of SOL
diers, one OF whom was killed and several
wounded in this service. At the time,
the suffering for want Of water, especially
among the wounded, had become terrible.
THE INDIANS WITHDRAW.
During the afternoon the Indians began
to withdraw, and near dark the firing
ceased altogether. In the morning not
an Indian was to be seen, and about ten
o'clock runners sent out by Reno brought
intelligence Of the approach of Gen. Terry
with Gibbons cavalry, the infantry and
the Gatling guns.
cusrER's FATE.
So far as known not one except Crow
scout whose knowledge is extremely
limited, is left alive to tell the story Of
Clusters movements and the loss of all
his command. From such traces as are
lett he appears to have moved with COM
panies G. E, F, snd L on the right side
Of the bluffs on the right bank Of the
river something over two miles aud there
to have met the Indians in force near the
river, where he perhaps attempted to
cross. Here, either then, or later in the
action, Captain Smiths company fell.
Among the bluffs there were numerous
evidences Of desperate defense against
overwhelming numbers and indications Of
repeated defeats of attempts to reach the
river or to break through the encircling
savages: A mile below the re.
mains of Smiths company were found
tho bodies of 4 number of men and
horses, indicating an attempt
to cross the river at -. that
pcint.s :Three-quarters Of mile back
were found the remains Of Custer and the
last Of his gallant comrades. On the
lines Of advance aud retreat indicated on
the map were found the dead singly IS if
they had fallen during fight or attack,
and also lines of soldiers and hcrscs where
unavailing stands had been made. One
company after another was annihilated.
The Indians were ten to one and the fight
was At last 1T close quarters, when there
was nothing left for the survivors but to
sell their lives rs dearly As possible.
All accounts are agreed that Clusters
fight lasted about an hour, during which
the firing was very heavy. It began
about the time that Reno was reforming
his routed troops and providing for his
wounded after his retreat to the bluffs
where Benteen joined him, and while it
lasted the main body Of the Indians went
down the river and engaged in it, return.
ing afterwards to renew the attack upon
Reno. - -
What reason Custer had for dividing
his force and Why he attacked at all may
be explained by Reno and Dcnteen, but
does not appear in any Of the reports yet
published. We can only presume that,
having followed fresh trail, indi.
eating movement of the Indians
in retreat and, not being will informed by
his scouts of the actual position, he i'm.
agined that tho Indians in tha Little Big
Horn valley werc breaking up their vii.
lage and we're likely to get away from
him in the very direction he had been
cautioned by Gen. Terry against permit
ting their fight. This thought that the
Indians were retreating explains his
closely following their trail and his rapid
march and the fact that the Indian force
he had followed was estimated BY Reno,
Gen. Terry and himself at not over fifteen
hundred, all told, accounts for tho con.
fidence with which he sent Reno forward
to tho attack with less than two hundred
men while he proceeded to make = flank
attack with less than three hundred men.
Instead Of fifteen hundred men, women
md children, he had to meet alone not