The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-08-11
THE SCOUTS STORY.
A Probably Authentic Account OF Gus
ter's Last Battle, IS Related by a
Crow Scout.

IrOW SCOUT
The Helena (Montana) Herald of Ju-
ly 18th, gives the following account of
Custer and his troops, told by Crow
Indian scout known as ''Curley," who |
was attached to the Inflated Generals |
command, and whom The Herald be-
ieves to be the only survivor OF that
terrible occasion;
Custer, with his five companies, after
er separating from Reno and his seven
companies, moved to the right around
the base of high hill overlooking the
valley of the Little Horn, through a
ravine just large enough TO admit his
column of fours. There was no signs of
the presence of Indians in the hills on
that side 0he right of the little Horn,
and the column moved steadily until it
rounded the hill and came in sight of
the village lying in the valley below
them. Custer appeared very much
elated, and
ORDERED TRE BUGaLEs TO SOUND A =
CHARGE,
and moved ON at the head OF his col
unm, waving his hat TO encourage his
men. When they neared the river,
the Indians, concealed in the under
groth on the opposite side of the river,
opened fire on the troops, which check
ed their advance Here a portion of
the command was dismounted and
thrown forward to the river, and re-
turned tie fire of the Indians. During
this time the warriors were seen riding
out of the village py hundreds and de-
ploying to his front and to his left, as
il with the intention of crossing the
river to his right, while the women
children were seen hastening out OF the
village in large numbers in the oppo-
site direction.
During the fight at this point Cur
ley saw two of Clusters men killed who
fell into the stream. After fighting n
few moments here, Custer seemed TO |
be convinced that it was iInpractiable |
to cross as it only could be done ip col |
umns of fours, exposed during the |
movement to aheavy fire from the front |
and both fanks. He therefore order
the head of the column to the right,
and bore diagonally into the hills, down
stream, his men on foot leading their
horses. In the meantime the Indians
had crossed the river Cbelow) in i'm
mense numbers, and began to appear
on his right flank and in his rear; and
he had proceeded but few hundred
yards ia the new direction the column
to renew the fight with the indians
who had crossed the stream. At first
the command remained together, but
after some minutes fighting it was di-
vided, a portion deployiDg circulary to
the left, and the remainder similarly
to the right, so that when the line was
formed it bore resemblance to rude
circle, advantage being taken so far as
possible of the protection being affored
by the ground. The horses were in the
rear, the men on the line being dis
mounted, fighting on foot.
OF THR INCIDRNTs OF THE FIGHT
in the other parts of the field than his |
own, Curley il not well Informed, as he
uaS q himsfolf eor.ao Ia1 in a Jaa,, ra,,;na
from which but a small part of the
field was visible.
The fight appears to have begun,
from Curley's description of the situa
tion of the sun, about 9: 80 or 3 O'Clock |
PM, and continued without intermis-
sion until nearly sunset The In
dians had completely surrounded |
the command, leaving their horses in
ravines well TO the rear, themselves
pressing forward to attack on foot.
Confident in the great superiority of
numbers, they made several charges
on all points of Clusters line; but the
troops held their position firmly, aud |
delivered IA heavy fire, and every time |
drove them back. Curley said the |
firing was more rapid than anything |
he had ever conceived of, being a con-
tinous roll, (as he expressed it, ''the |
swapping of the threads in the tearing |
of blanket" The troops expended |
all their ammunition in their belts.
and then sought their horses for the |
reserve ammunition carried i'm their
saddle pockets.
As long as their ammunition held |
out, the troops, though losing eonsid
erably in the fight, maintained their po
sition in spite of all the efforts of the
Sioux. From the weakness of til. ir iiie
toward the latter part of the afternoon
the Indians appeared TO believe that
their ammunition was al mt Axho u sted.
and they made a grand final charge,
was destroyed, the men b.
Jag shot in their position in the line,
at such close quarters that many were
killed with arrows. Curley says that
Custer remained alive through the
greater part of the engagement. AMI
mating his men to determined resist
ance, but about an hour before the
close of the fight received mortal
wound
Curley said the field Iwas strewn
with the
DEAD BODIES OF THE SIOUX
who fell in the attack-in number con-
siderabiy more than the force of the
soldiers engaged. He is satisfied that
their less will exceed 800 killed, besides
and immense number wounded. Cur
ley accomplished his escaped by draw
his blanket around him in the manner
lof the Sioux, and passing through an
tnerval which had been made in their
liLes as they scattered over the field in
their final charge. He says they must
have seen him, for he was in plain
view but was probably mistaken by the
Sioux for one of their own number, or
one of their allied Arrapahoes or Chcy-
ennes.
In most particulars the account given
by Curley of the fight is confirmed by
the position of the trail made by Gus
=. Il. \