New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-09-09
THE WAR PATH.
Terry ON the Trail. J.


tember 6, says General Terry's command,
after crossing the Yellowstone on the after |
noon of the twenty seventh, made short
halt on the north bank, and then marched
in northerly direction about six miles by
the light of the moon, making dry camp
About six o'clock the next morning the
march was resumed, and the general direc-
ton of the days marching was northwest
erly. On the morning of the twenty ninth
the column marched toward the north, then
turned east, and finally southeast, making
some seventeen and One-half miles. So far
very little indication of Indians have been
| found, but it was hoped that on account OF
| the presence of buffalo We were about to
| fall in with the Indians.
The expedition to the north bank of the
Yellowstone, in go far as finding OF hostile
| Indians is concerned, has proved failure.
| Trails have been found of small hunting
parties, but apparently no large band OF
| Indians have crossed the river unless they
have crossed at point further east.
There is a strong probability that no In
| dians will be met with during the present
campaign. 1t will be imperatively neces-
sary for the troops who have been designa-
| ted to remain in cantonement during the
winter to set to work preparing winter
| quarters, as the severity OF the winter
months renders living under canvas abso-
lutely impossible.
| An Old Vf8pDef'S Story. Oh tnc NustcF
| Massacre.
| MNNEAPoL1s. Minn., September S.-The
Pioneer Press and Tribune publishes an
interview with an old trapper named
Ridgely, who has been for q long
time in the Yellowstone country,
and claims to have witnessed the Custer
massacre, being prisoner in Sitting Bulls
camp and seeing every movement of the
troops. He was taken prisoner last March
~ nT Ind nyy0N
since until the Custer massacre. He was
kindly treated, and says Sitting Bull Or
ganized not to fight the whites but
to drive the miners from the hills.
Previous to Custer's attack mounted c0u-
riers from Sitting Bulls camp had for eight
days watched his forces, it's division into
small detachments being noted with mani
festations of extreme delight. Ambuscades
were Immediately prepared, and while the
Indians stood ready for an attack, many Of
them clambered on the top of the hill over
looking Custer's line of march. The Indian
camp was divided by bluff, point Of
which ran toward the Rosebud and in the
river to the camp. By this ford Custer
followed their trail down to the waters
edge. There were but twenty-five teepes
visible to Custer, but there were seventy
five double teepes behind the blut not
visible.
Custer attacked the smaller village and
was Immediately met by 1900 or 1000 In
dams in regular order OF battle. Every
movement was made with military preci-
sion. Ridgely says he stood on the side of
the hill, where he had q complete view of
the battle, which was not more than mile
and half distant. Custer began the fight
in the ravine near the ford, and fully half
of his command seemed to be unhorsed.
The soldiers then retreated toward the hill
| xr,eth or niehi ron
idity, the commanding officer falling from
his horse in the middle of the engagement,
| which commenced at ii A. M. and did not
last more than fifty -fve minutes.
After the massacre of Clusters force the
| Indians returned to camp with six soldiers
as prisoners, and delirious with joy over
their success. The six prisoners were tied
to stakes at wood pile in the village and
burned to death. While the flames were
tor.uring them to death the Indians boys
fred red hot arrows into their quivering flesh
until they died. Sitting Bull was met after
the fight and he exultantly remarked that he
had killed many soldiers and one damned
was. The squaws then armed them
selves with knives and visited the bat
tie field and robbed and mutilated the
bodies of the soldiers while the six prison
ers were being burned. The Indians then
! turned their ottenti0n to force, evidently
Reno's, attacking the lower end OF the vii,
lage. Ridgely says Clusters command had
been slaughtered before . shot was fired by
Reno's force, which attacked the lower end
, of the camp about P. M. The Indians re-
l | turned in the evening, and said the men
! had fought like devils. But Ridgely says
! they did not make statement Of their loss
. They said the soldiers had been driven
back twice, and they piled up stones and
, | the attack was unsuccessful.
( The prisoners were kept burning for an
9 hour, but Ridgely was not permitted to
1 speak with them, so we are unable to state
: who they were. One was noticeable from
his small stature and gray hair and whis
kers. Reno killed more Indians than Custer
8 Two captains, believed to be Yates ant
3 Keogh, were the last to die.
1 On the night after the massacre the In
Q dians were wild with delight, and man.
were drunk on the liquor stolen from tn
= whites. The equaws performed the duty o
. guards for the prisoners, and bec0min!
T drowsy, Ridgely and two others escaped
: Securing ponies, they began their loni
journey hOmeward.
The party ate game and laid in the wood
e four days to avoid the Indians. On Tn
way his horse stumbled, breaking Ridge!y'
arm, but the party finally reached for
Abercrombie, and thence Ridgely cam
Y here. He describes Sitting Bull as q hal
IA breed, Of large size, and very Intelligent
with peculiar gait to his walk.
An Indian Attack On . Party OF Miners
CHEYENNE, w. r., September S.-Mr: II
10 | graham. who came into RAwhide Springs
the present terminus Of the Black Hill