The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-05

order; tho length OF the column was fully equal
TO that Of large division Of the cavalry corps OF
the Army Of the Potomac, as have seen 1t on
We now thought OF Custer, Of whom nothing
had boon seen and nothing heard since the
OF the 18th, and we concluded that the Indians
baf gotten between him and us. and driven him
Horn river, the awful fate that did befall him
never occurring to any OF us as within the limits
position, in order 81 secure an unlimited supply
Of water and YVES prepared for their return,
feeling sure they would do so, as they were In
such numbers. But early In tho III ornlng of the
eth, and while we were on the qttt rite for In
dians, saw with my glass dust some distance
down the valley. There was no certainty for
some time wha' they were, but finally satisfied
myself they were cavalry and II so, could only
dcrsio0d that Gen. Terry could tie expected.
Before this time, however, | had written COM
mum alton to Gen. Terry, and three volunteers
were TO try and reach him II had no confidence
In the Indians with me, and could not get them
10 40 anything. IL this dust were Indians, It
was possible they would not expect any one to
leave The men started aud were told 10 20 ns near
as was safe TO determine N the approaching
column was white men. and to return at once In
case they found It SO but II they were Indians,
TO push on to Gen. Terry. In short time we
saw them returning over the high bluff already
alluded to. 1hey were accompanied by scout
who bad note from Terry to Custer. SAYING,
Grow scouts had como to camp saying he had
been whipped, but that II was not believed"
think II was about 1870 A. NJ. that Gen. Terry
RODE into my lines, ana tho fate Of Custer and
his brave men was soon determined 10y Capt.
Benteen proceeding with his company to his
battle ground aud where were recognized the
Following officers. who were surrounded by the
Custer; Col W. W. Cooke, Adjutant; Cspts. N.
Lieutenants, A. L. Smith. James Calhoun; Sec
ond Lieutenants W. v. Reilly OF the Seventh
Cavalry and j. J. Crittenden, Twentieth In
fantry, temporarily attached to this regiment.
The bodies OF First Lieutenant j. K. Porter
j. O. stursis, Seventh Cavalry, and Assistant
surgeon u. w Lord, United states Army, were
not recognized but there Is every reasonable
tain that the column OF ave companies with
Custer had been killed. The wounded In my
lines were, during the afternoon and evening u
the 9th, moved to the camp OF Gen. Terry, aud
at A. ". Of the 18th proceeded with the regi-
ment TO the battle ground Of Custer, and buried
2O4 bodies, including the following named citi-
zens: Mr.: Boston Custer, Mr.. Reed Ga young
nephew Of Gen. CUSTER. and Mr.. Kellogg a cor
respondent OF the Neo York Herald. Tue fol-
lowing named citizens and indians who were
Reynolds guide and hunterj, Isaiah (coioredj,
Interpreter; Bloody Knife (wno fell from imme-
oiately by my sdel Boo Tailed Dull and Stab,
After following over bis trail, It IL evident to
me that Custer intended to support me by NOV
village In flank; that he found the distance
greater to the ford than he anticipated; that he
although hts trail shows he moved rapidly, that
they were ready for him; that Companies
{ and ', and perhaps part of Company f, crossed =.
to the village or attempted 1t ut the charge and
were met by staggering nre, and that they fell
DdCk 10 secure n position from which 10 defend
themselves; but they were followed too closely
by the Indians to permit him to form any KIDD
OF line. think had the regiment gone In as
BODY, and from the woods In which l fought
advanced on the village, that its destruction
was certain, but lie was fully confident they
were running or he would not have turned from
me. think (after the great number of Indians
there were In The villaee) that the following rea-
sons obtained for the misfortune: His rapid
marching Tor two days aud one night before the
nght, attacking In the daytime at IL NJ, and
when they were on the OUT rirt, instead OF early
III the morning, and lastly. his unfortunate diyi-
sion Of tue resiment into three commands.
Durlni my hgnt with the Indians had the
the conspicuous services Of 3revat Col. F.W Ben
toen desire &c coll attention to especially, for II
ever "a soldier deserved recog. ION b. his Gov
ernment for distinguished services, he certainly
does.
OF his battalion from the time Of leaving the
regiment until We joined commands on the hill.
Tar as u can DC mnde az the present time; sspa-
rating them into two lists" A." those killed In
Gen. Clusters command; II" those killed and
wounded IN the command had
The number Of Indians killed can only be OPP
Proxllnsted until we hear through the agencies.
| saw The bodies Of eighteen and Capt Ball,
Second Cavalry, who made scout OF thirteen
miles over their trail. says that their graves were
many along their line Of march. II IS simply
impossible that numbers OF them should not be
hit. IN the several CHARGES they made so close to
my lines. They made their approach through
the deep gulches that led from the hilltop to
the river; and when the Jealous care with which
the Indian guards the bodies Of Killed and
wounded Is considered. 1t Is not astonishing
that their bodies we're not found II is proba-
be that the stores left by them ana destroyed
the next two days. were to mako room for many
OF them on their tTirOis.
he narrowing sight Of the dead bodies crown
ing the height on which Custer fell, and which
viii remain WILDLY IN my memory until death, IL
too recent for ne not ~ ask the good people OF
this country whether policy that sets opposing
parties 10 the field armed, clothed and equipped
by one and the same Government. should not
be abolished. All oil which is respectfully sub.
mitted. NJ A. Reno,
Major seventh Cavalry. Com dg Regt.