Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-07-15

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longer range and better than the cavalry,
they kept up calling fire until nightfall.
During the night Reno strengthened his pos
sition and was prepared for the attack, which
was renewed at daylight.
The day wore on. Reno had lost in killed
and wounded large portion of his COM
mand-forty odd having been killed before
the bluff was reached. many of them in hand
tOhand conflict with the Indians, who out
numbered them ten to one, and his men had
been without water thirty-six hours. The
appeals of the wounded for water were, in
deed, heartrending, while the others were
almost exhausted-in many instances their
tongues protruding from their mouths, and
few could speak aloud. They tried to eat
crackers but could not moisten them, while
the grass blades which some ate to give re-
lief, chung to their parched lips. In this
state of affairs they determined to gain water
at all hazards, and Col Benton made a rally
with his Company and routed the main por>
ton of the Indians who were guarding the
approach to the river, to which the soldiers
ventured to 60 with camp kettles and cans
teens for water. The Indian sharpshooter
were nearly opposite the mouth OF the ravine
through which the brave boys approached
the river, but the attempt was made. and
though one man was killed and seven
wounded, the water was gained and the
command relieved. When the fighting ceased
for the night. Reno caused his animals to
be likewise relieved, and further prepared
for the attack which he knew would be re-
sumcl on the next morning. Officers and
men kept in good heart, but all woncred what
had become of Custer. There had been IL
hours fighting and no word from their re.
more fighting, and suspense ensued when the
Indians abandoned their village in great con-
fusion. Then Reno knew that succOr was
rear. Gen. Terry, with Gibbons command
and his own infantry, had arrived, and as
the comrades in arms met, strong men wept
on the nccks of each other. After cOngratu-
lating to the gallant commander for his
successful defense, inquiries were made for
Custer, but none could tell where he was.
Soon an officer came rushing into camp
and related that he had found Custer dead
and stripped naked, but not mutilated; and
near him his two brothers, Coils. Tom and
Boston Custer; his brother in law, Col Cal
hOun, and nephew, Col. Yates Col. Keogh,
/ Capt Smith, Lieut.. Crttendcn (son of Gen
Crit,cnden) Lieut.. Sturgis, (son of Gen Stur
| gis, Col Cooke, Lieut.. Porter, Lieut.. Harring
ton, DR.. Lord, Kellogg, the Bismarck 7ri
Jane reporter (the only correspondent with
the expedition, and 100 men and scouts
| Custer went into the battle with Cos. c, L.,
; |, +, and + of the Seventh Cavalry with the
staff and noncommissioned staff of his regi
mcl,t, and number of scouts, and only one
Crow scout remains to tell the tale.
Custer was surrounded ON every side by
: the Indians, and his men and horses fell as
they fought on the skirmish line or in the line
of battle. Custer was among the last to fall
but when his cheering voice was no longer
heard the Indians made comparatively easy,
work of the remainder. The bodies Of all
save the Tribune correspondent alone were
stripped and most of them horribly mutllat
ed; Custer was not mutilated; he was shot
through the body and through the head. Kel
logg lay in the field as lie fell, undisturbed.
Perhaps even the Indians, who had learned
to fear and respect Custer, had also realized
the power of lead pencil, and had come to re
] spect those WELD it. The troops cared for
t the wounded and buried the dead, and re
4 turned to their base for supplies and Instruc
tons from tlfe General Of the army.
= Col. Smith Of Gen. Terry's staff, arrived
last night with dispatches and with the
: wounded 81 in number, aside frOia - who
: died on the way on the Far West, which left
the mouth of the Big Horn at IL O'Clock in
the morning of Monday, arriving here, trav
cling 80 miles by steamer, in less than ~
thours
The Indians lost heavily in battle. When
, Terry reached their village the camp was
|
: finely dressed hides and interesting or valua,
BILE interesting Indian trinkets. In burial
tent they left nine of their chiefs whose
spirits had flown To the happy hunting ground
, arrayed most gorgeously. In the ravines the
) dead were abandoned by the Indians. evil
dently in their solicitudc fer the wounded.
There was found the Crow scout, who sur
vivcd the battle by hiding in ravine. lie
! believes their loss to have been greater than
r tho lncs of tho w in the hattie they
were 50 much more numerous and were the
assaulting party after the first day. Col. Reno
S and his officers agree with this estimate. The
G village numbered 90 lodges, and many will
| low tepecs had been added within few days.
l 1t is believed by those who fought that the
3 warriors must have numbered 1900.
General Terry feels deeply the loss, and
feels it the more keenly as Gen. Custar who
, directed to find and feel the Indians, but not
: to fight then. unless Terry arrived with the
infantry. With Gibbons column .he had
! arranged to reach the mouth of Little Horn
, ON the evening of June Goth when Custer
was to communicate with him and be gov>
erncd by his directions in the fight to follow.
Custer made the attack on the 25th, and af.
f ter one hours fighting, no man of those who
fought SO CALAMITY was left to tell the story
, General Terry has submitted, through Col
Smith, his plan of campaign TO Gen. Shcri>
den. and the action to be taken will depend
on the answer given Meanwhile Terry will
await supplies, provisions and clothing, of
which his command are nearly destitute The
) names of all the officers killed or wounded
!, have been given. The casualties foot up 261
killed and 52 wounded. Thirty.eight of the
wounded were brought to For. Lincoln, and
the remainder, excepting the three who died
were cared for on the field. Charley Key
. nolds was also killed. Reynolds, with KEEL
logg, DeWolf, Reed, Boston Custer and
Lord were the only citizens killed.
SorrOwlng for Custer and his men.
; Sioux CITY, July 10.-The citizens of this
place held meeting yesterday and gave cx
, preston to their feelings in regard TO the
, late disaster to the troops in the Indian cOun
try, resulting in the massacre Of Custer and
his command. Resolutions were passed, and
a message signed by the chairman of the
committee and sent to the Secretary of War
rendering q regiment of l 900 men with horses
and equipments, and q transportation train,
to be ready for service within 10 days after
acceptance by the Government. Indians on
the Upper Missouri are becoming very uneasy
and many are leaving the reservation. A
general outbreak at the agencies is expected.
Floods la Central Iowa.
DIES NOME, July S.-The loss Of property
in Central Iowa by the recent floods is esli
mated at S1,0O0,O0O; over $500, 900 of the
amount in Warren county.
J. Blaine Appointed senator.
) Augusta, Maine, July 8.-Gov. Ccnnor
r.. = Sl. e D.