The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-07-21

or perish In the attempt. We were
fighting on the bluffs, about 700 yards
from the river, and a ravine led down
from the battle field close to the rivers
edge. The men had to run over an
open space of about 100 yards to get
into the head OF the ravine, and this
open space was commanded by the Indi-
ans on the bluffs. The soldiers, about
fifty strong, dashed over the open
plateau and entered the ravine. They
rushed down it to the mouth and found
it closely guarded by party of Indians
posted in the timber across the river.
The water could be approached to with
in about thirty feet under cover, but
then one had to step out on the river
bank and take the Indians fire. The
boys ran the gantlet bravely. Some
would dash down TO the river with camp
kettles, fill them, and then take shelter
in the bend of the ravine, behind the
rocks, and whose canteens were filled
and carried up the hill. Before all the
men and wounded were supplied one
man was killed and six or seven
wounded in this desperate attempt.
One man had the bone of his leg shat
tered by bal, and it has since been
amputated.
About 2 o'clock the Indians began
drawing of, but kept up skirmishing
until late in the afternoon, and near dark
all drew off. We now got water for the
animals, many of them being almsst
dead, and they were put out to Craze on
the hillside.
In the evening Col. Reno changed his
position and fortified the new one, 1T being
higher and stronger than the old one.
We expected the Indians would renew
the attack next day, but in the morning
not an Indian was to be found. Every
one felt sure that Crook or Terry was
coming to our relief, and Col. Reno sent
out runners. About 10 o'clock the glad
intelligence was received that Gen.
Terry, with a large column of troops,
was moving up the valley, six miles dis
tant, and the head of his column soon
came in sight. In reply to questions,
Mr.. Haynden said :
went in with the scouts on the left of
Reno's line. There were about sixty of
us, thirty-five being Rec Indians, six
friendly Sioux, six Grows, and the rest
white men. 1 saw Bloody Knife, a Rec
scout, throw up his arms and fall over,
and think he was killed. The two cav
airy soldiers left in the timber when /
went out have no doubt were killed, as
they have not been seen since.
1 saw Lieut.. Mcintosh soon after he
fell. He had his horse shot under him
early in the action, and at the time he
was killed he was riding soldiers horse.
He was shot on the river bank while
riding back to the ford.
L saw Lieut.. Hodgson also. His
horse was shot and he WIS wounded. His
horse fell into the river near the opposite
bank of the ford, and to help himself up
horses tail and had got up the bank
when an Indian sharpshooter picked him
off. Clusters packs were with the rear,
and the Indians did not get any of them.
Neither did they get any mules. Most
of Clusters horses were shot in the action,
and do not believe the Indians got over
100 animals by the fight.
think some of our men were captured
alive and tortured. I know the colored
scout Isaiah was, for he had small pistol
balls in his legs from the knees down,
and believe they were shot into him
while alive. Another man had strips of
skin cut out of his body. Hordes of
squaws and old. gray-haired Indians
were roaming over the battlefield howl
ing like mad. The squaws had store
mallets and mashed in the skulls of the
dead and wounded. Many were gashed
with knives, and some had their noses
and other members cut off. The heads
of four white soldiers were found in the
Sioux camp, that had been severed from
the trunks, but the bodies could not be
found on the battlefield or in the village.
Our men did not kill any squaws, but the
Rees Indian scouts did. The bodies of
six squaws were found in the little
ravine.
think the Indian village must have
contained about 5000 people, fully 5000
of whom were warriors. The Indians
fought Reno first and then went to fight
Custer, after which they came back to
finish Reno. The same Indians were in
all the attack. think the Indians were
commanded by Sitting Bull in person.
There were eight or nine other chiefs in
the field.