Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-07-24
REMINIsCRNCEs OF CUSTER


Nine years ago party of forty
eight disheartened and weary men,
most of them wounded, and all suf-
fering from thirst and hunger,
fought under the broiling sun of
the Kansas plains against a COM
bined body of Cheyennes, Kiowas
and Arapahoes. Ten days previ-
ously this party had pitched their
camp, after a long days march, on
the banks of Ponk creek, small
stream in the extreme west of Kan
sas that helps to form the Smoky
Hill river. Having seen no Indians
for many days they felt secure, and
their first evening on the little
stream was passed in singing, smok-
ing and telling stories. At dawn
of the next day the two men who
were on guard saw three shadowy
forms stealing in among the herd Of
horses picketed just outside the
camp. Giving the alarm the guards
started in pursuit, but had gone
only a few hundred yards when
they were surrounded by at least a
hundred red skins, and before relief
could reach them borne off captives,
never more to be heard from.
In those broiling July days water
was obtained only in the darkness
of midnight, and then in small
quantities and at the greatest risk
Provisions were rapidly giving out,
but mule flesh had been found not
unpalatable. Night after night
were seen the innumerable camp
fires of the dreaded foe on the tor
of the bluffs of the little stream
Day after day the naked and
hideously painted devils charged
fercely on the little corral Of
chained and slightly barricadeC
wagons, their wild yells and storm o
hurting arrows being met by the
unerring bullet Of the soldiers, an(
many a brave bit the dust. Thus
for ten long days was the unequa
conflict kept up, hundreds agains
a handful; and while hope waned
the row of newly made mound
Just outside the wagons increased
in number, and the wounded
moaned and tossed under the thil
, tent. Their only hope was in tn
efforts of the bold scout, who, unde
cover Of darkness, had stolen from
: the environed camp and started 70
the distant Platte, where Custer
with the gallant Seventh Regiment
was avenging the wrongs of tn
, settlers along the fertile Republican
and Little Blue Rivers. The scout
last words were, "If l amt back il
; five days I've gone up" He wa
; never known to break his wore
The evening Of the 9th of July wa
q q also the evening Of the fifth do
+ of their Imprisonment. Just befor
!, sunset, a cloud of dust foate
;, heavily over a distant eminenc,
h Beneath its shadow the forms {
u horsemen were dimly discernibl
and the intensity of suspense wi
redoubled. At last one ghastl,
IL blood-stained, smoke-begrimed an
D wounded man, too weak to bear
g carbine, cried out, "Its Ouste
! thank God, it's Custer!" and wit
the glad uttegance fell back as
t. dead. He had tainted from Joy,
= In q few moments more Il
. dimmest eye could make out IL
= slight form and bold carriage
the debonnair eayalryman, as, vii
his long hair streaming IN the win
crowned with its white sombrel
aud black plume, he dashed up
the corral and called out, "He
:. we are, boys; are we in time
I eyes, thank Godp was the answo
and cheer after cheer from the re
: cued band rang out on the evenir
- air. Even the wounded crawlt
out from their tent to see and che
the noble Seventh with Custer
its head.
). Yesterday, one of that band til
Custer rescued nine years ago, al
who is now Sun reporter, went
. Paterson to see and talk with th
nr- old plainsman and skillful scor