The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-09-08
TELEGRAPH
REPORTED ExrnrssLr roR THE LEADER.
MIG HIT REPORT.
. THE CUSTER MASSACRE.
Storv OF a White Eye- Witness.

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Minneapolis, Sept Z-An old trapper
named Ridgely, /who claims to have
witnessed the Custer massacre, being
prisoner in Sitting Bulls camp and
seeing every movement of the troops,
says he was taken prisoner last March
and kept in the camp of the Indians
ever since until the Custer massacre.
He says Sitting Bull organized not to
fight the whites but to drive the miners
from the Hills. Previous to Clusters
attack mounted Indian couriers had for
days watched his forces, its division
into small detachments being noted
with manifestations of extreme delight.
Ambuscades were prepared and while
the Indians stood ready for the attack
many of them clambered on the side
hills overlooking Custer's line of march.
waters edge. There were but 25 te-
pees visible to Custer, but there were
rs double tepees behind bluffs and not
visible. Custer attacked the small vii
lage and was Immediately met by fif-
teen hundred or two thousand Indians
In regular order of battle. Every move
ment was made with military precision.
Ridgely says he stood on side hill
where he had complete view of the
battle which was not over mile and
half distant. Custer began the fight in
a ravine near the ford and fully half
his commandsseemedt to be unhorsed at
the first fire. Then the soldiers retreated
toward hill in the rear and were shot
down on the way with astonishing
rapidity. The engagement commenced
at IL a. m. and did not last more than
As minutes. After the massacre of
Custer's force the Indians returned to
camp with six soldiers as prisoners and
delirious with joy over their success.
These six were tied to states at wood
pile in the village and all burned to
death. While the flames were torturing
them to death Indian boys fired red-hot
arrows into their quivering flesh until
dead. Sitting Bull was. met after the
fight and he exultingly remarked that
he had killed many soldiers and one
damned general, but didn't know who
he was. The squaws then armed them
selves with knives, visited the battle
field and robbed and mutilated the bod
les of soldiers. While the six soldiers
were being burned the Indians turned
their attention to force, evidently Re
nos, then attacking the lower end of
the village. Ridgely says Custer's COM
mand had been slaughtered iJefore a
shot was fired by Reno's force which at
tackled the lower end of the camp at
about two 3. m. The Indians re-
turned in the evening and said the men
had fought like the devil, but Rigeley
says they didn't make statement of
their losses. They said the soldiers had
been driven back twice and piled up
stones and the attack was unsuccessful.
The prisoners were kept burning over
an hour but Ridgely was not permitted
to speak with them, SO he is unable to
state who they were. One was notice
able from his small size and grey hair
and whiskers. Reno killed more Indi-
ans than Custer, who fell in the midst
of the fight, and two captains, believed
to be Gates and Keogh, were left to die.
The party ate game and laid in the
woods four days to avoid Indians. On
the way his horse stumbled, breaking
Ridgely's arm, but the party finally
reached Fort Abercrombia, and thence
Ridgely came here.