The New York herald., 1876-07-08


dismounted and opened fire on the Indians to cover
the crossing Of their comrades The reserve, which
had been left with the pack train, was now re-
ported coming up and soon occupied the hill above
the ford. The Indians who had crossed the river
both above and below the ford
CHARGED THE HILL,
but were repulsed and began TO draw on. As soon
the command was collected Captain Benton,
commanding the reserve, ordered Captain Weir to
push his company along the Of the hill, on the
Custer who had gone In that direction with the
i've companies. Captain Weir pushed out about
mile. fighting heavily, when the Indians became
strong In his and his tanks that he sent
word to Captain Benton that II he advanced any
further he feared he would be cut or and sur
rounded. and Captain Benton at once ordered him
back. lie returned with difrculty, but succeeded
In bringing or his company with loss of
ave men. Colonel Reno, seeing large bodies of In
dams on the plain, ordered the men to put their
animals In the ravines and lie down behind the crest
of the little ridges that extended In all directions.
The Indians kept up brisk fire, but 1t was evident
that the masses had gone OF somewhere, and
Colonel Reno looked for q sudden attack in some
was no news from Custer. All wondered where
he had gone what he could be doing.
Another hour and then Colonel Reno became
anxious about Custer and his command. He was
rtl IN onr for
Custer, but had SO many wounded it took whole
company to carry them While he debating
what best to be done, and waiting to hear from
Custer, he saw large bodies Of Indians coming up
the valley and soon terrible attack began on his
position The men had dug
as well as they could in the hard ground and were
very mperfectly sheltered The Indians charged on
foot aud by tremendous effort attempted to rout
the soldiers. Tie fight for few minutes
was desperate in the extreme, and almost
hand to hand, some Of the Indians, who were evi.
IDENTITY unarmed or out Of ammunition, throwing
stones by hand at the soldiers. Reno's men stood
firm, and, after q desperate struggle, the Indians
made to carry Renos position but without success,
and then tho Indians drew or to hills completely
covering them on every side Of the command. A
large body at time got into q ravine close by,
and Colonel Reno ordered Captain Benton to charge
them out of it with his company The men sprang
out of their rifle pits and with cheer dashed for.
ward the Indians breaking and running at their ap.
proach.
RENO's POSITION DOMINATED.
1t was now discovered that two or three small
Reno and commanded 1t. On these hills the Indians
gathered and poured in CALLING fire. One OF the
hills overlooked the corral and from it the savages
shot down scores Of fine horses and mules and
killed and wounded eleven packers who were with
the pack tram. The fighting closed at nine O'Clock,
when it became too dark to to shoot But ut
dusk the Indians were all the hills m the ravines
and the command was completely surrounded. The
soldiers
WORKED ALL NIGHT
to strengthen their position but the ground was
very hard and they had nothing to dig with except
their butcher knives, hands and tin plates and cups
for shovels At daylight the morning OF the Goth
the battle was renewed. The Indians opened with
hills were black with them, and their number was
varously estimated at from 1000 to 1000. while
Reno's command at that time did not number over
400 men, one-third OF whom had to protect the
hnr nj in
measure OF no use in resisting an Indian assault
and the situation was desperate in the extreme.
FIGHTING FOR WATER.
In the afternoon the sun became very hot, and
the men, who had been without water for thrty-six
hours, were almost famished The horses showed
signs of pershing and the wounded begged piteousy
for water. 1t full 200 yards down the hill the
waters edge. Every inch Of the ground was COM
manded by Indian sharpshooters, and line in the
timber on the opposite bank Of the narrow river
Colonel Reno determined to get water at
all hazards and number Of cantesns
were gathered. While one company took
the camp Kettles and canteens another charged
down the hillside and engaged the attention OF the
made and the went bravey to the river and
dipped up the water, while heavy stream OF nre
was Kept up over their heads. 1t was brave deed
to carry camp kettle to the river and Ill it but It
was done, and sufficient water for present use was
obtained. Five men fell in the charge to get water
At nighttall the Indians drew or and Colonel Reno
ordered the river front Of the camp to be
be had. The work was DONE and all the animals
were watered and good supply for next days dse
obtained. The wounded were suffering terribly,
DIR. De Wolf having been killed early in the action
leaving only one surgeon, DR.. Porter, to attend to