The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-07-27
THE LAST OFFICER KILLED.

over.
THE LAST OFFICER KILLED.
The last officer killed was man who rode
white horse, believed to be Lieutenant
Cook, OF the Seventh, as Cook and Calhoun
were tile only officers who rode white.
horses, and Lieutenant Calhoun was found
dead on the skirmish line near the ford, and
probably fell early in the action. Curly says
when he saw that Custer was hopelessly
surrounded he watched his opportunity to
get Sioux blanket and worked up raYfne,
and when the Sioux charged he got among
them, and they did not know him from one.
OF their own men.
HOW CURLY GOT AWAY.
There were some mounted Sioux, and
seeing one fall Curly ran to him, mounted
his pony, and galloped down as il going to-
ward the white men, but went up q raYipe
and got away. He says as he rode OF he
saw, when nearly mile from the battle
field dozen or m ore soldiers in ravine
fighting, with Sioux all around them. He
thinks all were killed, as they were outnum-
bered FIVE to one, apd apparently demoral-
lied. These men we're no doubt part OF
thirty five missing men reported in the oif-
cial dispatch Of General Terry.
THE SOLE SURVIVOR.
Curly says he saw one cavalry soldier
who had got away; he was well mounted
but shot through both hips; and Curly
thinks he died Of his wounds, starved to
death in the bad lands, or more likely his
trail was followed and he was killed by the
Sioux.
Curly did not leave Custer until the bat
tie was nearly over, and he describes 1t as
desperate in the extreme. He is quite sure
the Indians had more killed than Custer
had white men with him, and says the sol
diers fought until the last man fell. The
other Crow Indians in the battle were killed.
FIFTH CAVALRY ON THE MARCH TO CROOK
ACTIVE OPERATIONS TO COMMENCE SOON
INDIANS GETTING READY FOR BATTLE.
NEW YORK, July pa special to the
Tribune from Fort Fetter1nan, Wyoming,
says: General Merritt's column of the Fifth
cavalry leaves here tomorrow to join Gene
raj Crook. It consists of ten companies OF
cavalry and about one hundred recruits OF
Infantry for the companies now with Gene
raj Crook. It will reach the main command
about the I'd OF August. General Crook
will then have twenty-five companies OF
cavalry and ten companies OF infantry, with
two hundred Snake Indians.
With this force active operations VIII be
Immediately begun against Sitting Bulls
forces. The command will even then be
much smaller in numbers than the Indians
against whom it will contend. Any co6pe-
ration from General Terry's troops will
hardly be practicable before another en-
gagement is had, as the Indians are encamp-
ed very near General Crook, and are EVIL
IDENTIFY preparing for struggle.
The building Of posts at the mouth OF the
Tongue and Big Horn rivers will begin at
once under the protection of General Ter
ry's forces. ~,
It is probable the campaign against the
Indians will be conducted entirely by Cen
eraf Crook, under the direction OF General
Sheridan.
TROOPS ORDERED FROM THE INDIAN TERRITORY
| TO RED CLOUD.
CHICAGO, July 26.--General Mckenzie,
with six companies, has been ordered from
the Indian Territory to Red Cloud to take
the place OF General Merritt, who joins
Crook with the Fifth cavalry.
ARTILLERY MOVING WESTWARD.
PROVIDENCE, r. T., July 28.-Orders have
been received ct Fort Adams to forward
four companies Of the First artillery West
| forthwith.