Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-07
A FORCED MARCH or rs NILES
A DESPERATE CONFLICT.
2el KILLED AND So WOUNDED
NARROW ESCAPE OF MAJOR REyOS CONHlyp
GEN. TERRY CONES TO HIS AID,
THE VAR IN TURKEY,
CUSTERs DEFEAT.
Full Details OF the Engagement Des.
PeIate Fighting ON Moth sides


Perate f1ghtfng ON Roth sides.
NEW YORK, July "A Chicago dispatch
says special TO the Tines recounts most
graphlcally the late encounter with the Iu-
dams on the Little Big Horn. Gen. Custer
left the Rosebud on June %, with twelve
companies OF the 9th cavalry, striking trail
of the Little Horn. On the evening of the
Path fresh trails were reported, and on the
morning of the 18th an Indian village twenty
miles above the mouth OF the Little Horn
was reported, about three miles long and
half mile wide, and fifteen miles away
Custer pushed his command apidIy through
They had made march of
1e MILES In "a HOURS
preceding the battle. When near the village
II was discovered that the Indians were
moving in hot haste, as IL retFeating. Reno,
with seven companies of the eth cavalry
was ordered TO the left TO attack the village
at Its head, while Custer, with i've com
panies, went TO the right and commenced
vigorous attack. Reno felt of them with
three companies OF cavalry, aad was almost
INSTANTLY SURROUNDED,
a s aiIer one nour or more OF vigorous fight
and Mcintosh and DIR DeWolf and 10 men,
with several Indian scouts killed and many
wounded, be cut his way through To the
where he intrenched, and was soon Joined by
Col. Benton with four companies. In the
meantime the Indians resumed the attacs,
making repeated and desperate charges,
REFUSED WITH GREAT SLAUGHTER
10 the indians. They gained higher ground
than Reno occupied. and as their arms were
longer range and better than the cavalry,s
they kept up CALLING fire until nightfall.
During the night Reno strengthened his no
sition and was 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 command, forty old
having been killed before the blum was
reached; many OF them in hand to- hand CON
fiict with the Indians, who outnumhered
them ten TO one, and his men had been with.
ont water for thirty six hours.
THE SUFFERING WAS HEARTRENDING.
In this state OF affairs they determined TO
reach the water at all hazards, and Colonel
Benton made sally with his company and
routed the main body OF the Indians, who
were guarding the approach 10 the river.
The Indian sharp shooters were nearly oppo-
site the mouth OF the ravine through which
the brave boys approached the river, but the
attempt was made, and though one man
was killed and seven wounded, the water
was gained, and the command relieved
When the tighting ceased for tue night r no
further prepared for attacks. There mad been
forty eight hours fighting with
NO WORD FROM CUSTER.
Twenty-four hours more Of fighting, and
the suspense ended when the Indians sban.
doned their village in great haste and con-
fusion. Reno knew then that succor was
near at hand. Gen. Terry, with GIbbon COM
manding his own infantry had arrived, and
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 MUrILATED,
and near him his two brothers, Colonel Tom
and Boston Custer; his brother in-law, Colo
mel Calhoun, and his nephew, Colonel Yates;
Colonel Keogh, Captain Smith, Lieutenauts
Crittenden and Sturgis, Colonel Cooke, Lieu
tenants Porter and Harrington, DIR. Lord,
Mack Kellogg, the Bismarck Tribune CORE
went into battle with companies c, l.. IF
end E, of the 7th cavalry, and the staf and
non-commissioned staff Of his regiment, and
remained to ten the tale. All are dead.
CUSTER WAS SURROUNDED
on every side by Indians, and horses fell as
battle. Custer was among the last who fell,
but when his cheering voice was no longer
heard the Indians made easy work OF the
remainder. The bodies of all save the news
paper correspondents were stripped, and
most of them were horribly mutilated. Gus
ter was shot through the body and through
the head. The troops cared for the wounded
and buried the dead, and returned TO their
base for supplies and Instructions from the
General Of the Army. Col. Smith arrived at
Bismarck last night with 45 of the wounded.
Crow scout survived by hiding In q ravine.
He believes the Indians lost more than the
whites. The village numbered !, 800 lodges,
and Ii is thought there were
FOUR THOUSAND WARRIORS.
Gen. Custer was directed by Gen. Terry to
find and feel OF the Indians, but not to tight
Gibbons column. The casualties foot up 2Gi
killed and 81 wounded.
NEW YORK, July IA special TO the Tn
hume, dated camp Mouth OF Big Horn, July
3, via Bismarck, ID. T, July G, says: General
Custer with the eth cavalry started from the
mouth of the Rosebud June .. The COM
mand reached the Indian camp on the Little
three companies attacked on the south and
was repulsed, the loss, including Lieuten-
ants Mcintosh and Hodgson, DR.. De Wolf,
and 80 men killed and As wounded. Captain
Benton's commend made for the Bluffs
across the river, and was saved from instant
destruction by the timely arrival of a bat
TALON. General Custer, with five CON-
down the river some four or nve miles from
Reno's ford. They were
REPULsED AT THE FORD,
bot made a gallant defence among the bluf
The command was exterminated. The loss
is 10 officers and over 200 men; the remainder
are Sgt are k ns
Col. Cook, Capt. Smith, Lieut.. Calhoun,
Lieut.. Porter, Lieut.. Sturgts, Lieut.. Reilly,
also. Cnsters brother, Boston, and nephew,
and the Herdlds correspondent. Lieut. Har-
ripgton is missing. Clusters expression was
serene. About 300 warriors were engaged.
doned an immense store Of supplies. Reno's
and Benton's commands tntrenched them
selves, and were under
MURDEROUs FIRR
until the evening OF the 10Th. The men were
saved by the opportune arrival of Central
Terry, General Custer under estimated the
enemy, separated his force, and was defeated
In detail. He probably mtsjudged the time
necessary to make the distance between his
own and Reno's force. thus losing the moral
effect Of . simultaneous attack. The survi
vors OF the command remained at the viii
lage two days, burning the dead and caring
for the wounded. The troops fell back 10 the
mouth Of the Big Horn TO bring away the
wounded and TO rent for future operation.
General Sherman, In an interview
yesterday, in answer 20 q question a. to the
reasons Of the Indian campaign, said, ssWe
are doing this ct the special request OF the
Indian department.: 1t does not originate
with the War department At ALL You viii
see on my map where the Indian reserya
ton is. Our purpose is to drive these In
dams, who are Of the very widest and most
savage sort, down On the reservation. Mon
tana is the most promising OF our terrific
ries. IL 10 settled by an Intelligent people.
among whom are many old soldiers, and IT
10 the richest and most promising OF our
settlements. These indians 1--we been an
noying the settlers; and We are 70 drive them
down on the reservation. You can say that
We viii do tt now or
HxrERMIxAII rHEN.n
C3euApaf Q6avfdnu said In the rsv~<>xfo~-