The New York herald., 1876-08-21
CUSTER'S DEATH TRAP.

EYE-wITNEssKs OF THE BATTLE FIELD ON GOV.
KRxoR's IsLAND-rHE "PENsIvE INDIAN
MAID AS A MuTILAToR-sITrIyG BULLS
PERSONNEL
Privatcs Thomas Harrington, Frank McHugh nnd
Michael j. Fogarty. late OF the Seventh United States
infantry portion OF General Terry's command IN the
Big Horn country have arrived Governors Island
The terms of these three expired few
days alter the Custer massacre. Their oilers TO
enlist on the spot we're not available because to
tnuc in the service they needs bc sent TO
crung station in tho East ana now they are on the
Island awaiting orders to proceed to the frontier again
Through the courtesy of bluff old Sergeant Gruvert
the veteran charge of Castle William, a HERALD re-
porter was introduced to. Harrington. This bronzed
young soldier gave the reporter correct and ntell
gent OF the initial movements OF our troops
against the Sioux, narrating in detail Tcrrys forced
marches TO Renos learning of Custcr's fate
Upon relieving Reno the scene OF the massacre was
next visited. Harringtons company being in advance
was the reach the bloody ravinc and the first 10
find Cuser's body.
.In what condition was the bodya" the reporter In.
quired.
"wc found General Custer lying partly on his right
SIDE hatless and boocss his uniform was stripped OF
its eaudy trimmings his pockets turned inside ont and
their contents missing; his face was unnjurcd, but
upop his body were several bullet wounds, any ono
sufficient 10 cause instant death These wounds must
have been inflicted at close quarters, and after he fell
Across Cus,ers breast laid face downward, the
nude corpse OF a sergeant Of tho Seventh cavalry,
whose name cannot recall just This poor fellow
was robbed OF everything but his undershrt; the
crown OF his skull knocked away hts cut or
his left leg chopped asunder and the rest of his frame
cd with rifle balls +"
"Thcsc atrocities were gcnerasn interrupted the 70
porter.
HORRIBLE MurLATIoS rnE WOUNDED.
"Ycs, sir and even worse in many instances Tom
Cusers heart literally dug out The red devils ap
pcared to have their savagery upon his remains
We could barely lift them up intact, they were so
hacked up with knives Tom used to be worry open in
his prejudice against the Sioux Because of this acs
his body was, perhaps, the most mutiatcd." :"
"How was it that his brother, the General, escaped
similar treatment ?-tho Indians may never have
moro impacablc foe" the reporter observed.
.'Oh. they were afraid of him dead wcl' as alive.
His body the only that met with n soldiers
end, and his uniform the only that was, with the
exception stated lott undsturbcd"
"was thsre much scalpng practsedY
svcry lew the slam had hair org enough to scalp
wo noticed that those who had hair enough
scaIpcd, whilo those whose hair too short
either behcadcd or clso Drained. The savagcs must
have been cxasperatcd where scalping mpossi-
blh,y They varied the monoony by cutting OIL noses,
ears limbs and pcrperatng other indgnities and
Quoted the butchery with method at times, for
would pile OF heads here or stack Of
and legs there, and SO on. As rule, however, noses
cars heads and limbs scattered ali the battle
ground. Some Of the heads impalcd poles
stuck into the ground Tor that purpose. In three
four cases ampuiations performed with surSj-
cal ncatness; IN all others mere chopping was Tho
manner"
.But how could all this butchery have been so CON-
pete in the brief interval that elapsed between the
termination OF the battle and the arrival Of your iorcs
twelve hours aftery"
It could ON " have been accom- pshed by tho squaws
heir young for the warriors had their nands
too full harassng Keno, who had turned up just TOO
late to succor Custer"
"wnat about the armament OF Custer's menS 2"
''rhe savagcs got away with every gun, pistol and
sword and every morscl OF ammunition that remained
tell you sir the stripping aston'shingy thorough
The only items they discarded were undercothes and
shoes; boots they partial TO- generally appropr-
ating the tops alone by cutting or tho bottoms They
made OF with the coors OF tho regiment" !"
Thcy must nave captured many OF Custer's horses?"
suggested the reporter
.Thcy managed to carry away over $50 in good con-
dition. and the dead and dying OF the animals were
stripped OF their brides and saddles ~
'Was General CusIcr's horse Killed Y'
mo, SIR; succeeded IN ing the brute,
a handsome light bay, alive We found 1t lmpin8
along in a dense brushwool some distance from The
battle field section OF It's bride stiil head
but saddle missing Aiter the General Toll OF
the beast mist have plunged into the thcket aud been
overlooked by the enemy. The bays sides lacer
ated by the orusbwood which explained the absehce
Of tho saddle; this may have been picked up by a
struggling Sioux. General Custer fell early
tight lor his horse could not have escaped capnr~
Otherwise"
.swcrc all of Custcr's dead accounted forS'
LIEUrESAyr HAKRiNGroSs FArx
ssAll but Second Lieutenant Harrington OF Company
G. IL believed that he taken prisoner aid borne
away for torture. We Identified every officer him.
Tho behcaded privatcs had erable difficulty IN
Identifying their heads bong mixed np and scattered
around only privatcs were beheaicd"
nAors
Indians aDandoncJ vast quantity OF stores aud prop.
erty, u remarked the reporter.
THAT Is true, sir, but what they did leave behind
more than compensated for what they carried OIL IRON
the battle ground The abandoned stores were agency
supplies. Principally, and the abandoned property
buffalo robes CusIers horses arms and clothing they
preferred to their own com mparavcy vauecss packs.
They be reconced TO the loss OF the buffalo skins,
well aware that they will not have opportunity tor
trading oil the same at any of the agencies THIS winter
at least"
..Did they evacuatc in a hurry"
''olncwhat in hurry as In several OF the tcpscs
lodges picked up damaging crcumstantial evidences
OF Their comphcity tnc black Hills outrages Tor
which we arc cndeavorng to punish them. In ono
lodge found Methodist hymn book. WIN tho
ny-lcaf In another lodge came across diiapidated
BANJO minus strings with ID w. .3' Whitfield the
barrel Mining tools. manuscript letters and pros
pcctng outfits attestcd further Their guilt swallow
tail and other fashionable attire OF the finest
material and make yero included IN my mental
noting"
There Is an impression, Mr. Harrington" tho re-
porter here intcrrogated, THAT suing Bull killed
Ia this battle do you know TO the contrary ~
III know dead chicf answering his description
In a certain respect, was found and believed TO nave
been hun but u was not /"
''You have seen Inn alvcY"
"Not since last fall when he visited Camp Lewis,
Montana where my regiment wss stationed He was
pointed Dy Ieows Kelly. the famous
scout OF the Yellowstone aud toe OF the Sioux
OF their having murdered his father mothor,
brothers and sisters In the Minnesota massacre OF 81
WHAT SITTING LOOKS LIKE
'sSitting Bull, as remember hun well Is n short,
thickset man, Of about thirty live; big head, intel
lcctua face round nosc, large cyes--tne cit partly
closed, Governor 1iiaen closes his sitting Bu.ia
right leg is shorter than the LETT dciormy gives
him Imp In HIS walking Two OF the nngcrs his
lett hand gone HIS attire aud get up the piain.
est ana simplest OF any Of the warriors, bong totally
devoid OF gcwgaws paint. Upon the whole he looked
Ike a European gentlemen OF private fortune demor-
allied into brute"