The New York herald., 1876-07-30
company commander, and, OF course, ever will be BY
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE.

tenant De Rudo, is from the pen OF an eye witness
The HERALD has published several accounts OF the
great battle but still the outline Of the fight is not yet
full rounded for from time time accounts reach US,
each containing something new tending to throw light
on little details which, lc the curious public. are
always interesting, aud, to the military student in
structive:-
THE ACCOUNT oY AN EYE WITNESS
II was Sunday morning, June 25, and the sun roso
up red and Lazily the long squadrons Of horse
wound over the Mills, followed by hundreds OF pack
animals heavily laden The sun began to pour down
and feel uncomiortaby hot when q commotion was
observed among the dusky scouts in front Several
were gallopng wildly TO and fro, and presently the
death song OF the Crow Indians on the air and
noated the hills. ave going TO have church,,
quietly remarked lieutenant, and could not help
thinking thousands and thousands OF church bells
at that momcn, calling together in tho East
million OF worshppers.
Presently two or three Indians came rushing back
their wry ponies, their long black hair streaming
on the wind and reined up IN front of our idolizod
leader. The words they said few, bat they filed
him with delight, and there was the old CLEAN In his
eyes as he called his officers around him The village
WAS just ahead ana il could not get away.
There was a murmur Of many voices the news
reached the mon, tightening of grths, and then tho
heavy squadrons bore down the hillside. How the
earth trembed the 60O horse thundered along the
slope!
rHK LAST CHEER
Reno kept straight ahead and crossed the ford; Gus
turned the right and followed down the ridge.
Reno already engaged In the valley below aud as
Custer rode along tho ridge above him he raised his
hat, and cheer to their comrades burst from the
,hroats Of tho $50 men who following the stand
ard Of their beloved commander. On down tho ridge
with Custer they RODE over little ridge, disappeared
from sight, and them again alive. That
cheer was the last heard their lips
Meantime the battle ragged in the valley and Reno
was struggling with overwhelming masses Of savages
who pressed him with the GOODNESS and desperation OF
trained troops Is IL any Vouder they fought well
Behind them their village. their property
all they owned and loved the world
and before them only death at worst. Har-
assed In 'front.' flank and Reno fell back to The
hill near where he had parted with Custer, and, tho
Indians seeing that side Of tho village safe for the
present. salloped or to meet the terrible who
laundering the ridge TO attack their the
other side. We did not understand the movement
then, but we understand It now, and who VIC stood on
the hill wiping the from brows and waiting
catch breath, could hear family the sound Of
voleys in the direction in which Custer had gone. In
an hour they ceased and all was still confidently
expected Custer had carried the village and would
appear IN the valley below. Reno evidently became
word from Custer
wHKRE WAS CUSTER?
Captain Weir pushed out In the direction
which Custer had gone and galanty drove the Indians
IN front Of him along the ridge. AZ every step they
increased in numbers and despite tho dash OF the
brave company and its leader the Indians became
thick he obliged TO send word he could advance
further, and feared he should DO cut oil from the
main body Reno at once ordered him hack All this
time Reno aud his men had not been idle Large num-
bers OF Indians firing on them at stated intervals
and masses OF savages coming up the
down. Reno his peril and disposed his men ior
desperate struggle Ii was long coming. and des-
perate indeed II The earth seemed covered with
bowling hends, who rushed down upon US and were
repused only TO be rep'aced by iresn masses The
people in the East quietly coming from their
places worship as that fearful tragedy was beng
acted the far OF banks OF the Big Horn. Custer
dead and around him fifteen oicors AMI $50 dead
soldiers The squaws were stripping tho dead bodies
smashing in the skulls OF tho dead with stone maets
and nutilatng the poor helpless forms in manner too
horrible relate Oh II was terrible Terrible and God
grant II may never happen again In our country.
at the time, and were too busily engaged In
lighting Tor own lives TO think OF him or any one
else Three o'clock came, and still the battle ragged;
many had fallen and every hour added fcarully to tho
list OF killed aud wounded. Al the present rate OF
| mortality how long would We lastY made mental
calculation aud SAID about ten hours; but when we
became weak in numbers the savages would rush
| In body and finish one fell swoop. Oh, 1t was
terrible, terrible but the end would come. AL
ready she Indians masslng In a ravinc just in
front and preparing in overwhelming numbers for
| grand charge Brave old Bentcen saw IT and deter
mined not 10 wait for the onset; he sprang his
ieeoIo breastworks and calling his company fol-
low him, dashed into the ravine.
BRAVE BExTEENs CHARGE.
The Indians tasen completely by surprise and
broke but too late for Bcntcen was upon thcm and
wounded as many more. Tho savages evidently
asonished, and no longer elt safe In the ravines So
fur had fought only tho defensive and the In
dians seemed TO regard as their certain victims
But Bentcens gallant conduct filled all with
courage anu evidently alarmed the enemy. The day
hot and we had no water many had not tasted
drop Of water since tho night before and some not for
thTty-six hours The mems tongues were dry and
swollen; few could speak plainly, and the wounded
begged p,eousIy for drink OF water. The narrow
at the foot of the bluffs scarcely 200 yards
distant, but the timber the opposite side lined
Indian harpshooters guarding every drop vi the
WATER! WATER
Who could 90 down the side OF that steep hill and
come up alive9 Not one. A ravne was found leading
down almost TO the river. and again Benteen formed
Tor "a charge He said lie would make ieint against
the hills pour few vocys into the woods below, and
while the Indians were confused, the men must run
down the ravne, ill the camp kettles and get back
under The strategem succeeded admirably; the
Indians longer trusted to purely defensive policy
the part OF the troops; and when the men sprapg
up, shouted and poured in voleys. there was excite
ment and fusion the savage ranks everywhere
and even Ihe men beyond tho river thought she
soldiers coming down upon thom. Under
of the smoke and voIeys the men with the camp ket
ties had reached the river and filled them.
wnen the Indians discovered what was going
and rallied. They fred heavily but was too late
Of kettles containing many gallons Of water
were on their way up the ravinc and an abundant
supply for present use had been secured Two men
killed and six wounded IN this attempt to get
water Tor thor lamishing comrades; out the loss
considered light pared with the service rendered
Tho Indians had taken every precaution 10 cut OF
from water and they doubt felt greatly discouraged
when they found we had beaten them. The water
revived both spirits and courage aud the went
al their work with Will The battle lasted ali day
at night the Indians drew OF W their village
by, leaving strong Gordon OF plckets about camp
\ WATCHING.
II was horrible night aud we lay OH our arms amid
the dead and dying The Indians were holding great
scalp dance below us. and again could not help thing
ing while these Internal nends were holding their
orgies on the Plans perhaps burning the bodies Of
OF prisoners tney had captured alive the people
home quietly filing the churches Tor evening
worship
need lengthen the horrible recital suflce It
to say that with the dawn OF the morning the battle
ushered IN again and ragged until one O'Clock
IN the afternoon. when the Indians drew OIL
great haste, and knew relief 1as at
hand All evening We watched, but no one