Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-08-30
CLEARFIELD, Pa, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 80, 1875
GEN CUS7ERSLAST FIGHT.

Il
COL. RENo's REPORT OF THE LITTLE BId
HORN BATTLE now THE SEVENTH
CAVALRY WERE DRAWN INTO A TRAP
--RENo's FIGHT WITH THE INDIANS
cUsTER's MISTAKE IN DIVIDING HIS
FORCES.
tFrom he Army and Navy JoumaLl
HEADouAR's, 18th REo'r CAVALRY, J
CAMP ON YELLOWSTONE RIVER.
July 9th, 1876.
Capt. Il. W. Snid, A. d. O., aad A. A. A.G
The command Of the regiment hav-
ing devolvcd upon me, as the senior
surviving officer IRON the battle of June
25 and 20, between the Seventh Caval-
ry and Sitting Bulls band of hostile
Sioux, on the Little Big Horn river, l
have the honor to submit the following
report of its operations from the time
Of leaving the main column until the
command was united in the vicinity OF
the Indian village.
The regiment left the camp at tho
mouth of Rosebud river, after passing
in review before the Department Com
mander, under the command Of Brevet
Major-General George A. Custer, Lieu
tenant Colonel, on the afternoon of the
22d Of June, and marched up the Rose
bud twelve miles and encamped. 23d
Marched up the Rosebud, passing
many old Indian camps, and following
very large lodge pole trail, but not
fresh, making thirty-thrcc miles. Gath
The marching was continued up the
Rosebud, the trail and signs frcshen-
ing with every mile until we had made
twenty-eight miles, and we then en-
camped and waited for information
from the scouts. At 9:25, p. m, Gus
ter called the officers together and in
formed us that beyond doubt the vii
lage was in the valley of the Little Big
Horn, and that to reach it it was nee
essary to cross the divide between
Rosebud and Little Big Horn, and it
would bo impossible to do so in the day
time without discovering our march to
the Indians; that we would prepare
to move at IL p. m. This was done,
the line Of march turning from the
Rosebud to the right, up one of its
branches, which headed near the sum-
nit OF the divide.
About 2 a. m. of the 25th, the scouts
told him that he could not cross the
divide before daylight. We then made
coffee and rested for three hours, at
the expiration OF which time the march
was resumed, the divide crossed and
about s n. m. the command was in the
valley of one Of the branches of the
Little Big Horn. By this time In
dams had been seen, and il was certain
that we could not surprise them, and
II was determined TO move at once TO
the attack.
Previous to this no division OF the
regiment had been made since the or
der was issued, on the Yellowstone,
annulling wing and battalion organi.
zations. Gen. Custer informed mo he
would assign commands on the march.
! was ordered by Lieut.. w. w. Cooke,
Adjntant, to assume command of Com
panies NJ, A, and G Capt. Bentecn, OF
Companies II, d, and X Custer re-
tanning G, Il, +, /, and L, under his
immediate command, and Company b,
Captain McDougall, in rear OF pack
train. | assumed command of the COM
panics assigned to me, and without any
definite orders moved forward with
the rest Of the column, and well to its
left. | saw Benteen moving further
to the left, and, as they passed, he told
me he had orders TO move well 10 the
left, and sweep everything before him
] did not see him again until about
2:30 p. m. The command moved down
the creek toward the Little Big Horn
valley, Custer, with five companies on
the right bank, myself and three COM
panies on the left bank, and Bcnteen
iurther to the loft, and out Of sight.
As we approached deserted vii
lage, in which was standing one tepee,
about IL O. M, Custer motioned me 10
cross to him, which | did, and moved
nearer to his column, until about 1890
q. m, when Lieut.. Cooke, Adjutant,
came to me and said the village was
only two miles ahead, and running
away. To "move forward at as rapid |
gait as | thought prudent and to
charge aftcrward, aud that the whole
outfit would soon support me-" think
those were his exact words. | at once
took q fast trot, and moved down about
two miles, when | came to ford of
the river crossed Immediately, and
halted about ten minutes or less to
gather the battalion, sending word to
Custer that | had everything in front
of me, and that they were strong.
| deployod, and with the Rec scouts
on my lett charged down the valley,
driving the Indians with great ease for
about two and half miles /, how
ever, soon saw that | was being drawn
into some trap, as they certainly would
fight harder, and especially as they
were nearing their village, which was
still standing; besides could not see
Custer or any other support, and at
the same time the very earth seemed
to grow Indians, and they were run
ming toward me in swarms, and from
all directions. | saw | must defend
myself, and give up the attack mount