The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-07-20
TERRIBLE INDIAN SLAUGHTER.
Gen. Custer, Fifteen Officers and Every
Man Belonging to Five Companies
Killed.

Gen. Custer, Fifteen Officers and Every
Man Belonging to Five Companies
Killed.
SALT LAKE, Utah, July 5.
A special correspondent of the Helena
Mont, Herald writes from Saltwater
Mont, July 2: Muggins Taylor, scout
for Gen. Gibbon, arrived here last night
direct from Little Horn River Gen
Custer found the Indian camp of about
1000 lodges on the Little Horn, and i'm
mediately attacked the camp. Custer
took five companies and charged the
thickeSt portion of the camp. Nothing is
known of the operations of this detach-
ment, only as they trace it BY the dead
Mai. Reno commanded the other seven
companies, and attacked the lower por-
ton of the camp. The Indians poured in
mur'lerous fire from all directions. Be-
sides, the greater portion fought on horse
back. Custer, his two brothers, a nephew,
and a brother in-law, were all killed, and
not oAc of his detachment escaped. Two
hundred and seven men were buried in
one place, and the killed are estimated at
300, with only thirty one wounded. The
Indians surrounded Reno's command, and
held them one day in the hills, cut off
from water. until Gibbons command came
in sight, when they broke camp in the
night and left.
The Seventh fought like tigers, and
were overcome by mere brute force, The
Indian loss cannot be estimated, as they
bore off and cached most of their killed.
The remnant of the Seventh Cavalry and
Gibbons command are returning to the
mouth of the Little Horn, where the
steamboat lies. The Indians got all the
arms Of the killed soldiers. There were
seventeen commissioned officers killed.
The whole Custer family died at the
head of their column. The exact loss is
not known, as both Adjutants and the
Sergeant Major were killed. The Indian
camp was from three to four miles long
. and was twenty miles up the Little Horn
from its mouth. The Indians actually
stances. give this as Taylor told me, as
he was over the field after the battle. The
above is confirmed by other letters, which
say Custer met fearful disaster"
The Times extra from BOzeman, Mont.
July 3, seven r. M, has the following:
Mr.. Taylor, bearer of dispatches from
the Little Horn to Fort Ellis, arrived this
evening, and reports the following: "The
battle was fought on the 25th, thirty or
forty miles below the Little Horn. Custer
attacked the Indian village of from
1900 to 1000 warriors on one side, and
Col. Reno was to attack it on the
other. Three companies were placed on
hill as reserve. Gen. Custer and fifteen
officers, and every man. belonging to the
five companies were killed. Reno re-
treated under the protection of the reserve
The whole number killed was 315.
Gen. Gibbons joined Reno The In
dams left the battle ground looking
like a slaughter-p pen, as it really was,
being in a narrow ravine The dead
were much mutilated The situation now
looks serious. Gen. Terry arrived at Glib
bons' camp on steamboat and crossed
the command over and accompanied it to
join Custer, who knew it was coming be-
fore the fight occurred. Lieut.. Crittenden,
son OF Gen. Crittenden, was among the
killed." -
FURTHER PAI TICULARs.
The lnter-O Ocean corr espondent with the
Indian Expedition telegraphs to that paper
the following particulars, learned on the
arrival of Gen. Tery's forces at the scene
of the carnage: Ea,se ~
At an early hour the head Of the column
entered plain half mile wide, bordering
the left bank of the Little Big Horn, where
had recently been an immense Indian Vii
lage, extending three miles along the
stream, and where were still standing funer-
al lodges with horses slaughtered around
them and containing the bodies of nine
chiefs The ground was strewn everywhere
with c'rcasses of horses, cavalry equip
ments, besides buffalo robes, packages
of dried meat and weapons and
utensils belonging TO Indians. On this part
of the field were found the clothing of L cut :.
Sturgis and PorteH pierced with bullets, and
a blood. tanned gauntlet belonging to Col
Yates. Further on were found the bodi- g
OF men, among whom were recognized
Lieut. Mcintosh, the interpreter from Fort
Rice, and Reynolds, the guide. Just then
breathless scout arrived with the intelli.
gence that Col. Reno, with : remnant Of the
Seventh Cavalry, was entrenched on
command pushed rapidly on, and
soon came in sight Of group sur
rounding cavalry guard upon q tsftyem-
mence on the right bank.of the riyerxsS Zen.
Terry forded the stream saccompanledsb a
small party, and rode to the spot. Ar the
way the slopes were dotted with the bodies
OF men and horses. Tie eratapproached,
and the men swArmeA out q thsswoEks end
greeted him with hearty and repeated cheers.
Within was found Reno, with the remains Of
seven companies Of the regiment, with the
following named officers, all Of whom are