The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-07-16
Aword for Caster.

y Gen. Rosser, formerly of the Con-
federate service, but now located in
Minnesota as chief engineer of the
Northern Pacific railroad, dissents
from the view of Custer's action so
unanimously held by the officers of
the army, and, in card, published
over his own signature, says this:
"From what can gather from Gen.
Terry's instructions to Gen. Custer, it
is quite evident that it was expected.
if not expressed. that Custer should
attack the savages wherever found,
and as to the manner of attack. OF
course that was left to the discretion
and judgment of Gen. Custer, and
viewing the circumstances of this
fatal attack from my standpoint, / fail
to see anything very rash in the plan
ming of it, or reckless in its attempt
ed execution. On the contrary. 1 feel
thai. Custer would have succeeded had
Reno with all the reserve of seven
companies passed through and Joined
Custer after the first repulse. l think
it quite certain that Gen. Custer had
agreed with Reno upon plan of
junction in case of the repulse of either
or both of the detachments, and in
stead of an effort being made by Reno
for such a. junction, as soon as he en-
countered heavy resistance he took
refuge in the hills. and abandoned
Custer and his gallant comrades to
their fate. 1t is useless to say that
Custer should have amused those In
diaas as soon as he reached them, or
Terry could have come up with rein
forcements, for. although it is stated
that Gen. Terry was only twenty or
thirty miles off, and he moved by
forced marches, he did not reach the
scene of disaster until three days after
the occurrence. The Indians were
running, and it is very evident to my
mind that Gen. Terry expected them
to make every possible effort to escape,
and Custer was doubtless ordered to
pursue them, cut off their retreat to
the south, and drive them back upon
Terry and Gibbon, and thus hemmed
in between these commands, they
were to be.crushed. To do this it was
necessary for Custer to strike them
wherever found, and by vigorous blows
and hot pursuit he was to drive them
into the trap which Gen. Terry had
prepared for them. Infantry on ex-
peditions against Indians can only be
as guards for supply trains, and in the
pursuit of Indians upon a mission such
as Custer's they are as useless as fox
hounds in. pursuit of wild geese. 1t
was expected when the expedition was
sent out that Custer and the Seventh
cavalry were to do all the fighting, and
did a portion of them do it.
AS a soldier, would sooner to-day lie
in the grave of Gen. Custer and his
gallant comrades alone in that distant
wilderness. that when the last trumpet
sounds could rise to judgment from
my post of duty, than to live in the
place of the survivors of the siege on
the hills. knew Gen. Custer well
have known him intimately from boy
hood, and, being on opposite sides dur
ing the late war, we often met and
measured strength on the fields of
Virginia, and 1 can truly say now
that / never saw a more enterprising,
gallant or dangerous enemy during
those four years of terrible war, or a
more genial, whole-souled, chivalrous
gentleman and friend in peace than
Major General George A. Custer"