The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-08-04
THE GALLANT SEVENTH.

THE GALLANT SEVENTH.
ate Fight with the Sioux.
Gen. Custer started on the 22d of
June, at II o'clock, marched about fif-
teen miles, and encamped on the Rose
bud. On the 23d the trail discovered
by Col. Reno was found and followed.
1t turned off from the Rosebud and led
over the divide to the Little Horn. The
scouts reported village on the Little
Horn, and Custer pushed out, marching
all night. On Sunday morning, June
25, the scouts reported the village only a
few miles ahead, on the north bank of
the Little Horn, and immense numbers
of Indians swarming out of it. One of
the scouts, half-breed Sioux, Michael
Boyer, told Custer the village was the
largest he had ever seen in the West.
Clouds of dust were rising over the In
dian town, and masses of horsemen were
seen by q dense growth of timber and
bushes. The bank of the river opposite
the village was abrupt and overhanging
the stream, with high, conical hills in
the background. In many places the
bluff was twelve feet high and almost
perpendicular. On the side where the
village stood the land was level and
the timber which ran to the waters
edge.
AS the troops raised the crest Of the
hills on the opposite bank a singular
sight lay before them. Below was the
village, its white tepees stretching for
miles along the stream. Riding rapidly
over the plain scout came back and
said the Indians were running, and Gus
ter Immediately told Col. Reno to go
ahead and pitch in and he would sup
port him. Reno was given seven COM
panies, the bulk of the regiment, while
Custer reserved five companies for his
person. Col. Reno went ahead with
three companies, Capt. French, Capt.
Waylan and Lieut.. Mcintosh. The
regiment had been travelling along the
right bank of the stream, and down its
waters, the village was on the left bank
of the river, and the river bank was COW
cred out and away for miles with lodges,
and on the plain hundreds OF hoisemen
were galloping about apparently in the
widest confusion. Clouds OF dust rose
over the different bodies of Indians,
rendering it impossible to number them.
Only now and then, when few ponies
shot out of the cloud, could the Indians
be seen, and apparently then going 10
the rear.
The report soon spread that the
Indians were retreating, and Gen.
Custer, after ordering Reno over the
Keogh, Capt. Yates, Capt. Thomas
II ~f ~ IN
Lieut.. Smith and Lieut.. Cal
houn, with their companies, to keep on
down the right bank of the river until
they came to point opposite the village
and below it, and then GROSS over and
charge the village on the flank. 1t was
evidently Clusters intention to attack the
village at both ends, and have the forces
work toward each other. Having
ordered the attack above, Custer placed
four companies, to be held in reserve and
to guard the pack trains, and, turning
over the command of the reserve to
Capt. Benton TO be sent to Reno in
case he needed them, Custer with the
five companies galloped down the ridge
to cut off the Indians. AS he dashed
forward be raised his hat, and the sol
diers cheered Justify. This was the last
seen of Custer or his men until they
were found dead and horribly mutilated.
We must now recount the movements
of Reno. In obedience to Clusters
orders he had crossed the river above the
village, and was advancing upon it.
Little resistance was made to his cross
ing, and but few Indians showed ip his
front as he deployed on the plain be-
fhr rsx,o md +bo l,,G
ley stretched down to the village, which
was about four miles distant, and Reno
lvanced in column of companies. The
valley was little over a mile wide, and
the companies met with no serious resis-
tance in their front for considerable
distance. The first intimation of great
danger was the appearance of masses of
Indians on the bluffs on the faux of the
left company. A heavy fire was opened
from the bluff, and at the same time the
Indians charged in front. Officers and
men behaved with great gallantry, driv
ing back the charging foe. But the fire
from the bluffs was so heavy that Reno's
men were forced over toward the river.
Reno ordered the companies into the
timber, and dismounted the battalion.
They were formed on the edge of the
woods, under little depression to fight
on foot. The Indians charged across
the plain and made every effort to dis
lodge the white men from the timber,
but were repulsed time after time. They
charged both on ponies and on foot, but
were driven back each time with heavy
loss. Reno soon discovered that the
Indians were working around to bis rear,
and had entered the timber above him,
and between him and the reserve. The
order was given to mount and charge
through the timber toward the reserve.
The Ip1ians had already become 80 strong
that IL was found impracticable 70 dis
lodge them, while mounted, from be-
hind the bushes and trees, and the