The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-12
THE FATE OF CUSTER.
Blood-curdling Accounts Of the Gallant Gen.
30 erals Last Fight.

Blood-curdling Accounts Of the Gallant Gen
~. eral's Last Fight.
A correspondent with yGehers
Terry command on the Big Horn says
'sAt noon on the 23d day of j. June
General Custer, at the head of his fin,
regimenteftwelve veteran companies
left camp. The mouth Of the Rosebud
to: follow thet rai1 Of a very largo bani
of hosti1ssio, leading up the river
and Westward in.the direction of thu
Big Horn: ME Signs indicated. l. thai
the Indhns were king for the east.
ern b1aneh'0f the last s n4aned river,
marked 6ntthe map as the Little Big
Horn. ~. -
cat the same time General Terry,
with Gibbons command of five com:
panies of infantry, four of cavalry,
and the Calling battery, started to as:
cend the Big Horn, aiming to assail
the enemy in the rear. The march of
the two columns was so planned as to
bring Gibbons command within co.
operating distance of the anticipated
scene of action by the evening of the
Goth. In this way only could the in
fantry be made available, as it would
not do to cucumber Clusters march
with foot Troops
Gibbons command, on the first day
marched thirty-tive miles to the mouth
of the Little Big Horn, in. the hopes
OF opening communication with Custer.
Twenty-Five miles were made on
the second day, and on the third evil
dences of the unprecedented fight
were early met with. The col
umn soon arrived ON the site of
an immense Indian village, extending
three miles along the stream, and
where were still standing two funeral
lodges, with horses slaughtered around
them, and containing the bodies of
nine chiefs. Tie ground was strewn
everywhere with carcasses of horses
and cavalry equipments, besides bllffa-
10 robes, packages of dried meat, and
weapons and utensils belonging to the
Indians. On this part of the field was
found the clothing of Lieutenants Stur-
gis and Porter, pierced with bullets,
and a bloOd-stained gauntlet belonging
to Col. Fales. Further ON Wus found
the bodies of men, among whom were
recognized Lieut.. Mcintosh, the inter.
prefer from Fort Rice, and Reynolds,
the guide.
''Just then;a GREATNESS scout arrived,
with the intelligence that Colonel Re-
no, with remnant Of the Seventh
cavalry, was entrencbed on bluff
near by, waiting for relief. The COM
mand pushed rapidly on, and soon
came in sight of group surrounding a
cavalry guidon, upon lofty eminence
on the right bank of the river. Gen.
eral Terry fosded the stream, accom-.
panied by small party, and rode to
the spot. All the way the slopes were
dotted with the bodies of men and
horses.
The General approached, the men
out of the works and greeted
him with hearty and repeated cheers.
Within were found Reno with the re-
mains of seven companies of the regi-
ment.
His command had been fighting from
Sunday noon of the 25th until the
night of the Goth, when General Terry
which caused the Indians to1
retire.e Up to this time Reno and thoseE1
with him were in complete ignOrancel
Of the fate Of the, other five companies
which. had been separated from them
early on the 25th; to- make IAN attack
under Custer on the village at another
point While preparations were being
made for. the removal of the wounded
I party was sent Oh Clusters trail to1
look for traces Of his command. They
found awaiting them sight tit to ap-
pail the stoutest heart.
SAT a point about three miles down
the right bank of the stream, Custer
had evidently attempted to ford and
attack the village from the ford. The
trail was found to lead back up the
bluff and to the nerthward, as if the
troops had been repulsed and COM
PEELED to retreat, land at the same time
had been cut Oft from regaining the
forces under Reno. The bluffs along
the right bank come sharply down to
the water, and are: ihterspersed by nu-
merous, raVines. - ~. : -
''All along the. slopes and ridges, and
in the ravines; lay the dead. arranged
in order of battle, lying as they had
fought, line behind line, showing
where. the defensive positions had
been successfully, taken up, and held
till none were left to fight. There,
huddled in a narrow compass, horses
and men were piled, promiscuously.
Sat the highest point of the ridge
lay Custer, surrounded by a chosen
band. Here were his two brothers
and his nephew, Mr.. Reed, Colonies
Yates and Cooke, and Captain Smith,
all lying in a circle of a few yards,
their horses beside them. ~, Here, be-
hind Yates company, the last stand
had been made, and here onetafter an