The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-07-22
CuStpr,S Fight.

Lieutenant JOnn Carlanu, OF company
b, Sixth infantry, with General Glib.
bon's command, writes as fellows con-
cernng the slaughter of the Seventh
cavalry and General Custer. The let
ter is dated Mouth of the Little Horn
river, June 80, and proceeds as follows:
AT the mouth of the Rosebud on the
22d of June we struck large Indian
trail leading up the Rosebud Valley.
General Custer from there took COM
pand of the twelve companies of cav
airy and pushed on after the Sioux. lie
followed them to the foot of the noun
tains, and found by scouting the valley
that they we're encamped on branch
of the Little Horn. This was on the
night of the Gath. On the 25th he took
five companies and followed the stream
down one side, while Major Reno with
seven companies went down on the
other. Major Reno was to attack the
enemy in the rear while Custer fought
them in front. This would have work.
ed all right, as Reno had got in their
rear hut General Custer, marching
down on the other side, saw what he
supposed was the front of the camp and
made charge on them, the Indians
giving way and letting him right into
the gap.
The brave man rode with his 800
men and would have killed the whole
of the 1000 Sioux, believe, if there
had been no enemy behind him. But
instead of charging the front he was
right in the centre of between 5000
and 4, 900 Sioux. Those that were be-
hind him kept concealed until he was
right in their midst, and then, when it
was too late, he made bold dash, try
ing to cut through them. But the enc
my were too many. He fell about the
first one, and the horses becoming un-
manageable the poor soldiers were cut
down in less time than it takes to tell.
The Sioux then turned with all their
force upon Major Reno. lie charged
them with one company and returned
with only eleven men. He then retreat
ed a short distance, placing his men on
Eiuif. He kept them off until the
night of the 9th, his men going with
out water for ortv-eight hours. He
was relieved by Generals Terry and
Gibbon who saw the smoke from where
they were on the Little Horn, and,
thinking it signal of the Sioux, march
ed that way just in time to save the last
handfql of the Seventh cavalry. Out
of tine whole regiment only 42S men
are left, and forty of them are badly
wounded. 1t makes ones heart sick to
look over the battle ground and see the
poor fellows, some of them with their
entrals cut out, others with their eyes
dug out and theil hearts laid across
their faces. They even stopped to cut
their pockets to get their money and
watches. The most fearful sight was
Colonel Cook. He was splendid look
ing man, with long dark whiskers. They
dug his face all out so as to get his fine
beard, it is supposed. They did not
disfgpre General Custer in any way
but his brother, Tom Custer, was OPEN
ed and his heart taken out.
We estimate the loss of the enemy at
500, though it is bard to tell how many
were killed, as they carried most of
them away. Some Of ours claim that
Sitting Rull was killed, as he is known
by some, and an Indian answering
his description was found dead, but no
doubt This is false, as they would have
tried TO carry him along.
General Terry and the remaining Of
ficers are feeling very badly. l was
standing by General Custer when Gen.
eral Terry came up and as he looked
down upon the noble general the tears
coursed down his face as he said /:
"The flower of the army is gone al
last"
Custer was supposed to be the first
one who died, but though he fell first
we found seventeen cartridge shells by
his side, where he had kept them of
until the last moment. There can nc
blame be attached to any one for this
fearful slaughter. If Custer had had
the whole regiment it would only have
been worse, as the Sioux were toe
many. OF course there will be some
blamed by eastern papers, but as ar
eyewitness of the whole battle, l can
not censIre anyone. There is one pool
Crow Indian on the boat who has five
shots through him yet he is happy be-
cause he has nine scalps at his side
This is true statement of Gen Gus
ter's brave charge. These Siouxs were
all from some agency as we found camI
equipments that had never been used
also blankets that were new ard brand
ed gu S. Indian department"
There is very little more to say, ani
as the scout starts for Lincoln with thI
mail in few moments, l will close.
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