The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-07-09
THE INDIAN WAN.
Mrno's Magnificent right water ~
Denth=srhe u~seue.

BISMARCK, July Cluster left Rose
bud on The 29d Of June with twelve com.
pnnies of the 18th Cavalry. On the gath
n fresh trail was reported. On the morn
ing OF the 2bth an Indian village. three
miles long and half mile wide. WINS re-
ported fifteen miles off, Gen. Custer
pushed for It,.
They made eeventy.eight miles in
twenty four hours preceding the battle.
When near the village the Indians APP
peared To be moving in hot haste as If
rotreating. Reno. with seven companies,
was ordered to attack the right, and
Gen Custer. with five companies. vigor-
ously attacked the left Of the camp.
Reno felt them with three companies,
and was Immediately surrounded. md
after an hours fighting losing Lieuten-
nnts Hodgson and Mcintosh and twelve
men, and several Indian scouts killed
and many wounded, cut his way out and
gained bluff 800 feet high. where he en-.
trenched. and where he was soon joined
by Col. Benton with four companies.
Here the Indians made repeated as
anulta, but were repulsed with great
slaughter. The Indians finally gained
higher ground than Reno, and with
longer range guns than tho cavalry had.
kept up u CALLING fire till night. The
Indians renewed the attack ut daylight.
Up To that time Reno had lost forty odd
killed.
Before reaching the bluff many hand
to hand conflicts occurred, the Indians
Communicating the troops ten to one.
The men were without water thirty-six
hours. when they determined TO reach
water ut all hazards. Col. Benton made
sally and routed the main body guard
ing the approach to water. The water
was gained, with one killed and seven
wounded the fighting then ceased for
the night, during which Reno prepared
to resist further attacks. They had now
been forty eight hours fighting, with no
word from Custer. There was twenty
four hours more OF suspense, and the
fighting ended, when the Indians aban-
doned their village In great haste. Gen.
Berry. with Gibbon, commanding his
own infantry, had arrived, and rs the
commanders met the men wept on each
others necks.
Inquiries were then made for Custer.
but none could tell where he was. Soon
an officer came rushing into camp ana
related that he had found Custer dead
and stripped naked, but not mutllatcd,
and near him his two brothers, Col. Tom
and Boston Custer, his brother-in law,
Col. Calhoun, and his nephew, Col.
Yates, Col Keogh, Capt. Smith, Lieut..
Crittenden, Lieut. Sturgis, Col Cooke,
Lieut.. Porter, Lieut.. Harrington, DIR.
Lord, Mack Kellogg, the Bismarck Ift-
t,pe correspondent, and one hundred
and ninety men and scouts. Custer went
into battle with companies G, L., l, L
and T. of the 18th cavalry, and the stafi
and commissioned staff OF his regi-
ment, and a number of scouts: only one
Crow scout remains to tell the tale-all
are dead
CUsTER's DISASTER.
The Brave Boys Faii Dead in Line OF
Battle.
Gen. Custer was surrounded on every
side by the Indians, and the horses fell
as they fought on the skirmish line OF
in line of battle. General Custer was
among the last who fell, but when his
cheering voice was no longer heard the
Indians made easy work OF the re-
mainder
The bodies of all, save the newspaper
correspondents, were stripped, and
most OF them were horribly mutilated.
Gen. Custer was shot through the body
and through the head. The troops cared
for the wounded, buried the dead, and