The daily gazette., 1876-07-08
THE CUSTER DISASTER
Two DAYS HARD FIGHTING-"Nor ONE
ssCAPED"-THR PLAN OF
TUE CAMPAIGN

i"o OAfo hahD FlGHTlN6- NOT UNIV
SsCAPED"-THE PLAN OF
TUE CAMPAIGN.
Sioux EXPEDITION, MOUTH OF TIL
BIC HORN, July /, via Bismarck, d.
T., July 6.-Long before the arrival of
this dispatch you will have heard of
the tragedy which has been enacted
here. The ghastly details would seem
to court oblivion If it were in the ma
ture of things possible 10 forget or
clock them up. At noon on the 22d
of June General Custer, at the head of
his fine regiment of twelve veteran
companies, left camp at the mouth of
the Rosebud. to follow the trail of a
very large band of hostile Sioux lead.
ing up the river and westward in the
direction of the Big Horn. The signs
indicated that the Indians were making
for the eastern branch of the aboYe
named river, marked on the map as
the Little Big Horn" AT the time
General Terry, with Gibbons com.
mani of five companies of infantry,
four of cavalry and the Calling bats
terry, Started to ascend the Big Horn,
aiming TO assail the enemy in the rear.
The march of the two columns was so
planned as to bring Gibbons force
within cooperating distance of the an>
ticipated scene of action by the even
ing of the Goth, In this way only
could the infantry be made available,
as it would not do to cucumber Gus
evening of the Gath Gibbons CONS
! mand was landed on the south bank
of the Yellowstone, near the mouth of
the Big Horn, and on the 25th was
pushed twenty three miles over a
country so rugged that the cndurence
of the men was taxed to the utmost
The infantry then halted for the night
but the department commander, with
the cavalry, advanced twelve miles
further TO the mouth of the Little Big
Horn, marching until midnight. in the
hope of opening communication with
Custer. The morning of. the Goth
brought the intelligence communica>
ted by these badly frightened Crow
scouts, of the battle of the previous
day and its results. The story was
not credited, because it was not ex-
pected that an attack would be made
earlier than the 9th, and chiefly be-
cause no one could believe that force
such as Custer commanded could have
met with disaster. Still the report was
In no way disregarded. All day long
the toilsomc march was piled and
every eye bent upon cloud of smoke
resting over the northern horizon.
which was hailed as sign that Custer
was successful and.fred the village.
1t was only when night was falling
that the weary troops lay down upon
their arms. The infantry had marched
twentysnine miles. The march of the
next morning revealed at every steI
some evidence of the conflict that had
taken place two days before, At ar
early hour the head of the column en-
tered plain half mile wide border
ing the left bauk of the Little Big
Horn, where had recently been an i'm
mense Indian village. extending three
miles along the stream and where were
still standing several lodges with hor-
ses slaughtered around them, and con-
tanning the bodies of nine chiefs. The
ground was strewn everywhere with
carcasses of horses, cavalry equipments,
besides buffalo robes, packages of dried
meats, and weapons and utensils be-
longing to the Indians. On this part
of the field was found the clothing of
HASulCuuutS OtuI us anu OItel plCiCCu
with bullets and u blood stained gaunt-
let belonging to Col. Yates. Further
on were found bodies of men, among
which were recognized Lieutenant
Mcintosh, the interpreter from Fort
Rice, and Reynolds, the guide.
THE RESCUE OF RENO.
Just then breathless scout arrived
4 with tho lnfnllrnnnnn Go1ooa aI
Reno, with remnant of the Seventh
Cavalry, was entrenched on bluff
near by, waiting for relief. The COM
mand pushed rapidly on and soon
came in sight of group surrounding a
cavalry guard upon lofty eminence
on the right bank of the river. Gener-
al Terry forded the stream, ,accompaui.
! ed by small party, and rode to the
spot. All the way the slopes were dot
ted with the bodies of men and hor-
ses. The General approached and the
men swarmed out of the works and
greeted him with hearty and repeated
cheers. Within was found Reno, with
the remains of seven companies of the
regiment, with the following-named
! officers, all Of whom are unhurt
Colonies Ben.een and Wier; Captains
Felix, Maylan and Mcdonald; Lieu.
tenants Godfrey, Maltey, Gibson. De
Rudio, Edgetly, Wallace, Varnum and
Hare. In the centre of the Enclosure
was u depression in the surface, in
which the wounded were sheltered,
covered with canvas.
Reno's command had been lighting
from Sunday noon, the 25th, until the
night of the Goth, when 1erry's arrival
caused the Indians to retire. Up to
this time Reno and those with him
were in complete ignorance of the fate
of the other five companies, which had
been separated from them on the 25th
to make an attack under Custer on the
village at another point. While pre-
parations were being made for the
removal of the wounded a party was
sent ON Clusters trail to look for traces
of his command. They found awaiting
them sight fit to appal the stoutest
heart. AT point about three miles
down the right bank of the stream,
| Custer had evidently attempted to ford