Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-08-04
The Sioux Account Of the Custer
Slaughter.

ST. PAUL, MINI, July 81.
Brevet Lieut.. Col. j. s. Poland, Captain
of the Sixth Infantry, commanding the
military station at Standing Rock Agency,
under date Of July "a, reports to Adj't.-
Gen. Ruggies as follows;
SIR. respectfully report the following as
having been derived from seven Sioux In-
dians Just returned from the hostile camp,
July u, some Of whom were engaged In the
battle Of June 25, with the Seventh Cavalry.
Their account 10 0s follows; The hostiles
were celebrating their greatest of religious
festivals, the Sun Dance, when runners
brought news Of the approach OF cavalry.
The dance was suspended, and general
rush followed, mistaken by Custer perhaps
for n retreat for horses, equipments aud
arms. Mai. Reno first attacked the village
at the south end and across the Little Big
Horn. Their narrative of Reno's operations
comedies with the published account OF how
he was quickly confronted and surrounded; (;
how he dismounted, rallied In the timber,
remounted and cut his way back over the
ford and up the bluffs with considerable
loss, and the continuation of the fight for
come little time, when runners arrived
from the north end Of the village or camp
with the news that the cavalry had attacked
the north end, some three or four miles dis
tant. The Indians about Reno had not be-
fore this the slightest intimation OF lighting
nj any other point. A force large enough TO
prevent Reno from assuming the offensive
was left, and the surplus available force
followed to the other end OF the camp,
where, finding the Indians successfully
driving Custer before them, instead OF
uniting with them, they separated into two
parties and moved around the Hanks of bis
cavalry. They report that Custer crossed
the river, but only succeeded In reaching the
edge of the Indian camp. After he was
driven TO the bluffs, the fight lasted perhaps
an hour. The Indians have no hours OF the
day, and the time can only be given approx
imately. They report that small number
OF cavalry broke through the line Of indians
IN their rear, and escaped, but were over
taken within distance OF five or six
miles and all killed. infer from
this that this body Of rctreatlng cav
airy was probably led by the missing officers,
and that they tried to escape only after
Custer fell Tue last man that Gus killed
was killed by the two sons OF Santee In
dian, Red Top, who was leader in the Min
nesota massacres of 90 and 6S.
After the battle the squaws entered the
field TO plumber and mutllate the dead.
General rejoicing was INDUCED in, and d dis
tribution Of arms and ammunition hurriedly
made Then this attack on Reno was vigor-
ously renewed. Up to the attack the Indians
had lost comparatively few men, but now
they say their most serious loss
took place. They give no idea Of
numbers, but say there were q
great many. Sitting Bull was neither killed
nor personally engaged In the fight. He re-
muined in the Council tent directing opera
tions. Crazy Horse, with a large band,
and Black Moon were the principal leaders
on the 25th of June. Kill Eagle, Chief Of
the Blackfeet, was at the head OF some
twenty lodges of this Agency. He was prom
inently engaged in the battle of June 25, and
afterward braided Sitting Bull for not
tax ng an active personal part in the engage
ment.
Kill Eagle has sent me word that he was
forced into the fight; that he desires to re-
turn to the Agency; and that he will return
TO the Agency il he is killed for 1t. He is
reported to be actually on the way back to
go to his Father and Agent and make con-
fession and receive absolution for his defiant
crime against the hand that had gratuit-
ously fed him for three years. He is truly
a shrewd chief, who must have discovered
that
He who fights and runs away
May live to aght another day."
The Indians were not all engaged at any
one time. Heavy reserves were held to re-
pair losses and renew tacks SUCCESSFULLY.
The fight continued until the third day,
when runners, kept purposoly on the look
body of troops (Gen. Terry's commandJ ad-
vancing up the river. The lodges having
been previously prepared for move, a
retreat In southerly direction followed,
toward and along Rosebud Mountain.
They marched about fifty miles, went in
to camp and held consultation, when it
wa determined to send into all the Agencies
reports of their success, and to call upon
them to come out and share the glories that
there were expected to be in the future.
We may expect an influx of overbearing
and impudent Indians, to urge, by force,
perhaps, an accession to Sitting Bulls de-
mands. There is general gathering In the
hostile camp from each of the Agencies on
the Missouri River, Red Cloud. and Spotted
Tail, as also the Northern Cheyennes and
Arrapahoes.
They report for the especial benefit of
their relatives here that in the three fights
they had with the whites they have captured
over 400 stand of arms, carbines aud rifles,
revolyers not counted; ammunition without
end, and some sugar, cotfoe, bacon and hard
bread. They claim to have captured from
the whites this summer over 800 horses and
mules. suppose this includes operations
against soldiers, Crow Indians, and Black
Hills miners.
The general outline of this Indian report
concurs with the published reports. The
first attack OF Reno's began well on in the
day, say the Indians. They report about
800 whites Killed, tut do not say how many
Indians were killed.
A report from another source says the
Indians obtained from Clusters command 592
carbines and revolvers. / have, since writ
ing the above, heard from the returned
hostiles, which they communicated as a
secret to their particular friends here,
Information that large party of Sioux and
Cheyennes were to leave Rosebud Mountain,
or hostile camp, for this Agency to intimi-
date and compel the Indians here to Join
Sitting Bull. If these refuse, they are or
dered to "soldier them" (beat them) and
steal their ponies. Very respectfully,
j. s. POLAND,
Captain Sixth Infantry, Brevet Lieutenant