The New York herald., 1876-07-22
ANOTHER STATEMENT FROM STUR-
GIS
HE AGAIN MoDIFIEs HIS CRITICISM OK cUa-
TER-AN OPINION OF THE INDIAN DIFFICUL-
TIEs-A Personal EXPLANATION.


TER-AN OPINION OF THE INDIAN DIrrIcUL-
TIEs-A PERSONAL EXPLANATION
From the 81 Louis G!obc Democrat, July lal
Tho following 10 an extract from long interview
with Colonel S,urgls published in the Globe Demo.
crd.:-
On being asked why he not with his regiment at
the time OF the disaster the General stated that
the regiment was hrst ordered 20 Dakota provision
had not been made for all the companies and he was
induced TO have his hesdquar at ST. Paul AS time
progressed however, he eIt the rksomcncss Of that
pOsltlon and urged upon General Sheridan and e
TORY both The propricty oil allowing him take per-
sonal command oil MS own regiment But as he failed
this he then appied to be placed recruiting
service IN ST. LOUIS which Is detail gvon to colonies
OF cavalry only IN their turn What no especially
deprecated was the manner III which such papers as
the NEw YORK HERALD sought to make demigod out
oI Custer, and TO erect monument TO Custer only,
not 10 his soldiers. and cited tho fact that the
FIELD or SLAUGHTER
the bodies or 900 more soldiers found piled
in little ravinc, while behind were found those OF Gus
ter and mis- little band oi chosen officers When the
officers OF these ell,' said the General 'who was
officers sent forward with thcm? II relief had
10 the party between these two points, what sight II
would have been 10 find 800 soldiers collected tho
SIDE and III the rear tue COMMANDER OF the little
force surrounded by his officers Mind do not
pagn their bravery. l know each and every
OF them aud | would not, Tor any consideration say
anything that would iarnish their iair lame. Each
OF them knew TO be brave and gallant There were
none better IN the service All of them were well
known 10 me and my family. | had slept with them,
cat with them and fought with them, and II would be
a most extraordinary circumstance Tor TO question
their soldcrly qualities Custer brave man. but
he WAS also very selfish man. He was insanely
bi,,ous OF glory aud the phrase Clusters tuck anords
good clcw 10 his ruling idea The public
OPINION REGARDING CUSTER
Is, TO great extent, formed from his writings and
newspaper reports, aud people having read these
very apt refuse hearing to the contrary statement
saying, elect Oh, we know better than that; and
II on account OF this feature IN public opinion that
do desire put my sell false uosition. People
say ON, yes, General Sturgis has had his kilcd;
he feels IT, and whllc tho feeling lasts liable
aggcraton. Then, too, he was AT the head OF this
regiment and ANXIOUS 10 DC sent out with H. but
not sent Custer sent III his stead, and now he
feels hurt But that ISN'T 1t altogether what would
criiicsc is tho want OF judgment which led these
into a Trap
who had made regulations
As INDIAN FIGHTERS.
The record VIII show the moro successful OF these Ind
may claim place on that list never went after
them that | didn't catch them. The report
OF tho Secretary OF War IN 1850 viii show
that | followed the Iowas end Comanches so
that their camps were entirely broken Up, aud they
caused iurthcr trouble Oakcs anu Hazcn also
good Indian nchters But the war IS over The old
authorities that knew US are all gone; new set of
officers has arisen, and young America grown up
the same time. Indian warfare rs picnic, some
people regard IT,
THE SIOUX
can raise 5000 or 100 men at any time and are quite
dan from day to day and begged him to give hm u
chance to go on an expedition The fact Is the origin
OF the present difficulties may be ound in first
pcditlon 10 the Black Hills, which was brought about
by the persistent efforts oil General Custer craved
for opportunity 10 bring himself before The public
'As an illustration OF the feeling with which Custer
regarded let me tell you short story Two years
ago was at ST. Paul. and Mr. Robinson, OF the Tunes
came 10 me at the Tune Custer was making his cxped
ton 10 the Black Hills.
''hc asked about the propriciy OF sending his
with Professor wnchei, State Geologist VINO go
ing to accompany The expedition. | toid hm frenkly
that tho world was mistaken IN GenrYl Custer. He
no inian hghtcr he had no experience and that
II the Indians determined to repel any Invasion Of the
Black Hill that They would treat Custer lust they
would child and that, IN my opinion SIR, other
wou get back 10 tell of II; that under crcum-
stance would trust my son to Custers under the
circumstances. presume when Mr. Robinson reads
this statement, should II be published. he Will rcme
Der the circumstance thankfully told HIM frankly
just what felt, that Custer IN organizing and
ducting that expedition, was really
HUNTING FIGHT
with the Indians Tor his own glor.tcaton that didt
believe Caster knew sufficient OF the Indian character
10 nght ,he triOes to advantage, but liable
sequence OF his undercstlmaton oi Indian resources
aud hs ovcrcstmation OF his own SKILL 10 bc led into
Trap, IN which case told the gentleman thsrc would
be one lett alive to tell the tale As result oi that
interview The party contemplating the excursion did
did not leave -. Paul Ii is true there attack
that rampaign but now, the first Important
tack, The prophecy sesmcd fulfilled.
when knew that my boy hxi gone out and that
General Terry was IN command, considered that We
were toierably ioridnatc. Terry has matured Juds
mcnt, aud looked Tor the campaign To be conducted
on good military principles. instead OF which Custer
made his
ATTACK RECkLESSLY,
earlier by thirtysx to lory eight hours than he should
have done and with men tired out by forced marches
Why, II they had caused the Indians they
couii not possibly have followed them.
al ee too. that when the news IS received from in
dyiduas OF The regiment II will fully sustain posi-
,ion take. Custer was not popular man among the
troops by any means He t,rann cal ana had no
regard for the sold srs under him.
"Generai do you think u Will lie necessary for the
government TO call out volunteers to quc the Indian
war y"
They have not enough regulars. not enough cav
airy, 10 fght the Indians and would require the
aid VI
VOLUNTEERS
who arc familiar with the tactics ol Indian warfare
'How many troops do you think IL would require TO
thIs war 10 a successful term lnationy'
well. 200 or OJO at least. well mounted and
equipped. Ny convection ~ that 1t VIII bc necessary to
mount that number OF men. put them or the trail aud
Keep them there The troops viii have TO be kept to-
gcthcr IL Will bc impossible cope with tho Willy sioux
with small combinations OF troops coming together from
different directions They would be beaten detail Tho
lndisn> should he necessarily followed. They should
be allowed no ume to hunt am surc a permanent
peace can be assured In no other way ~
"Do you think the war IN It's inception, is justified
by tho state OF Affairs al the time ~
That - n question which II not proper Tor to
go into IL would take Ion. time TO ully explain
that do not think the Indisns have been iarly