Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-07-15
T e LAST BATTLE.
IS Miles i'm "a hOurs-A Dcs-
perate Fight.-The Clusters
Die TOgethcr-29I Killed
and 50 Wounded.


special says that Gen. Custer left the
Rosebud on June %, and pushed his
command so rapidly that they made
a march of rs miles in "a hours pre-
cedeing the battle.
When near the village it was dis
covered that the Indians were NOV
ing In hot haste, as if retreating.
Reno, with 7companies of the 18th
cavalry, was ordered to the left to at
tack the village, while Custer with Z
companies, went to the right and
commenced a vigorous attack. Reno
felt of them with three companies of
cavalry, and was almost instantly
surrounded, and after one hour or
more of vigorous fighting, during
which he lost Lieuts. Hogdon and
Mcintosh and DIR. DeWolf and IL
men, with several Indian scouts
killed and many wounded, he
cut his way through to the river and
gained a bluff 800 feet high, where he
intrenched, and was soon joined by
Col. Benton with four companies. In
the meantime the Indians resumed
the attack, making repeated and des-
perate charges, which were repulsed
with great slaughter to the Indians.
They gained higher ground than Re-
no occupied, and as there arms
were longer range and better than
the cayalry's they kept up a CALLING
fire until nightfall. During the night
Reno ST engthened his position and
prepared for another attack, which
was made at daylight. The day wore
on. Reno had lost in killed and
wounded a large portion of his COM
mand, forty odd having been killed
before the bluff was reachnd many
of them in hand-to-hand conflict with
the Indians, who outnumbered them
ten to one, and his men had been
without water for t~hirty-six hours.
The suffering was heartrending.
In this state of affairs they deter
mined to reach the water at all haZ-
ards, and Colonel Benton made a
sally with his company and routed
the main body Of the Indians, who
were guarding the approach to the
river. The Indian sharp shoot
ers were nearly opposite the mouth
OF the ravine through which the
brave boys approached the river, but
the attempt was made, and though l
man was killed and z wounded, the
water was gained and the command
relieved. When the fighting ceased
for the night Reno further prepared
for attacks. There had been forty
eight hours fighting with
NO WORD FROM CUSTER.
Twenty-four hours more Of fight
ing, and the suspense ended when
the Indians abandoned their village
in great haste and confusion. Reno
knew then that succor was near at
hand. Gen. Terry, with Gibbon
commanding his own infantry had
arrived, and as the comrades met
men wept on each others necks.
Inquiries were then made for Custer
but none could tell where he was.
Soon an officer came riding into
camp and related that he had found
Custer dead,
STRIPPED NAKED BUT NOT MUTT
LATED,
and near him his two brothers, Col.
Tom and Boston Custer; his brother
in-law, Col. Calhoun, and his nephew
Col. Cooke, L"ieutenants Porter and
Harrington, DR.. Lord, Mack KEEL
logg, the Bismarck Tribune CORES
pondent, and 1870 men and scouts.
Custer went into battle with com
panies G, l., /, +, ;, of the 18th cav
airy, and the staff and non-commis-
stoned staff of his regiment, and a
number of scouts and only one Crow
remained to tell the tale. All are
dead.
CUSTER WAS SURROUNDED
on every side by Indians, and horses
fell as they fought on skirmiah line
or in line of battle. Custer was among
the last who fell, but when his cheer
ing voice was no longer heard the
Indians made easy work of the re-
mainder. The bodies of all save the
newspaper correspondents were strip
ped, and most of them were horribly
mutilated. Custer was shot through
the body and through the head.
The troops cared for the wounded
and buried the dead, and returned
to theil base of supplies for instruc-
tions from the General of the Army.
Col. Smith arrived at Bismarck last
night with As of the wounded. The
Indians lost heavily in the battle
The Crow scout survived 10y hiding
in a ravine. He believes the Indians
lost more than the whites. The viii
lage numbered 81, 800 lodges, and it
is thought there were
FOUR THOUSAND WARRIORS.
Gen Custer was directed by Gen.
Terry to find and feel of the Indians,
but not to fight unless Terry arrived
with infantry and with Gibbons col
The casualties foot up POI
killed and So wounded.
A Look over the Bio Ody
Field