American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-07-22
ReminiscencesofCu Custer.
From the New York SUM-


thirst and hunger, fought under tn
broiling san of the Kansas plains agains
a combined body of Cheyennes, Kiowa
and Arapahoes. Ten days previousl,
this party had pitched their camp, afte
q long days march, on the banks 0
Pond Greek, small stream in the ex
IRENE west of Kansas that helps to form
the Smoky Hill River. Having seen Rt
Indians for many days they felt secure
and their first evening on the little
stream was passed in singing, smoking
and telling stories. At dawn of the next
day the two men who were on guard
saw three shadowy forms stealing in
among the herd of horses picketed just
outside the camp. Giving the alarm
the guards started in pursuit, but had
gone only a few hundred yards when
they were surrounded by at least hun
| dred redskins, and before relief could
reach them borne off eaptives, never
more to be heard from.
In those broiling July days water was
obtained only in the darkness of mid
night, and then in small quantities and
at the greatest risk. Provisions were
rapidly giving out, but mule flesh had
been found not unpalatable. Night af-
ter night were seen the innumerable
camp fires of the dreaded foe on the
top of the bluffs of the little stream.
Day after day the naked and hideously
painted devils charged fiercely on the
little corral of chained and slightly bar
ricaded wagons, their wild yells and
storm of hurting arrows being met by
the unerring bullet of the soldiers, and
many a brave bit the dust Thus for
ten long days was the unequal conflict
kept up, hundreds against handful;
and while hope waned, the row of new
1y made mounds just outside the
wagons increased in number, and the
wounded moaned and tossed under
the thin tent. Their only hope was in
the efforts of the bold scout, who, under
cover of darkness, had stolen from the
environed camp and started for the dis
tant Platte, where Custer, with the gal
liant Seventh Regiment, was avenging
the wrongs of the settlers, along the fer
tile Republican and Little Blue Rivers
The scouts last words were, ss If ain t
back in five days I've gone up" He
was never known to break his word.
The evening of the 9th of July was also
the evening of the fifth day of their i'm
just before sunset, cloud
of dust fioated heavily over a distant en-
inence. Beneath its. shadow the forms
of horsemen were dimly discernible,
and the intensity of suspense was re-
doubled. At last one CHASTITY, blood
smoke-begrimed and wound
ed man, too weak to bear carbine,
cried out, ''It's Custeri thank God, it's
Custer!'" with the glad utterance
fell back as if dead. He had tainted |
from joy.
In few moments more the dimmest |
EYE could make out the slight form and |
bold carriage of the debonnair cavalry
man, as, with his long hair streaming
N the wind, crowned with its white |
,ombrero and black plume, he dashed |
up to the corral and called out, "Here
We are, boys; are we in time?'' "Yes,
hank God!'' was the answer, and
cheer after cheer from the rescued band |
'ang out on the evening air. Even the
crawled from their tent to see
md cheer the noble Seventh with Gus
er at its head.
Yesterday, one of that band that Gus
er rescued nine years ago, and who is
low Sun reporter, went to Paterson
o see and talk with that old plainsman
nd skillful scout, Capt. II. M. Bennett,
perhaps better known as "Dead Shot
'cott,'' or 'sScotty," and always called
y Custer "Dead.'' As the above in
ident was related to him, he said,
Yes, God bless him! he was always
7here he could do the most good"
cotty says that Custer was always
eadv to listen to the advice of his
couts and that whenever they advised
ending out a s'feeler,'' feeler was
sent. 'sBut,'' he said,
don't you think he was a coward!
10 more daring, dashing, hard-riding
avalryman ever lived. Why, one day
hen we was riding together with only
ome two hundred men behind US,
as studying fresh trail pretty -elesss /
nd says I, .Ganerxf. Where's between .
We and six Hundred of 'em close ahead
fus Says he, Dead, Wen bounce
m,' and we did bounce 'em, and never
st a man."
Then, as the tears stood in his eyes,
e said, "Dead! can he be dead? The :,
est Indian fighter the plains ever SAW q
reat God! who did he have for scouts .
lat they let him get into such a scrape? !,
i'll Cody, he was with Crook. I wish
ulster had had him. Bill would have
'oked out. He is my boy, Bill is. He /;
,ok his first ride with me, and l put
inn up to the most that he knows. He !
ways calls me the 'old man.
GO It's wicked war, this Sioux war, :;
nd disgrace to this country" said
lie Captain. "The Black Hills is the :
ioux country; they signed treaty for
and they have the only right TO it.
ut the fight has gone SO far that it =
lust keep on till they are whipped, for +
lere will be no living with 'em now 3
lat they have killed Custer, the only I
IAN ON the plains that they was afeared y
f and all The rest of 'em, Cheyennes, a
ioways, Apaches, and all, will join in !,
ow." =
The Captain has been of late making !,
to Join Custer, the latter !: