The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-07-27
CUsTER's LAST BATTLE.
character or the Ground Movemepts of
the Different Dstschment..


Character or the Ground srovemspts o
the Dimcrent Detschments.
tFrom the st. Paul Pioneer. Press
The Little Big Horn, whose genera
direction Is from south to north, her,
runs in a nearly westerly direction
resuming, however, its general cours,
at the point where Reno crossed it
The point where Reno crossed is wher,
the trail followed by Custer emerged
into the valley where the Indian village
of some 1900 lodges was situated
This valley is about three-ouarters of Il
mile wide, defined on the loft by a ridge
OF low hills, which, about four miles
farther down, close in towards the river.
The Indian village filed this valley and
extended beyond this range of hills last
mentioned. On the right was the river
bottom, covered with a growth Of cot
tonwood trees and bushes. Custer, fol-
lowing the trail already mentioned un-
til he could SEQ the Little Horn Valley
and the Indian village, ordered Reno,
who was ahead with three companies,
to push into the valley, where clouds of
dense smoke were seen arising, rs il
the Indians were running away, and
Custer himself .fato prefngus with five
companies marched along the crest and
behind the bluffs, and apparently made
an attempt TO cross the river into the
village. But here he was apparently
met by a superior force, and compelled
to retire, as the remainA of dead
men and horses indicate. From
this point he was driven back 10
make successive stands on the higher
ground. His line of retreat stretches
from the riverto the spot where he fell.
On the line Of retreat, says the notes
which have been furnished us, Cal
houn's company seems TO have been
thrown across it tn check the Indians.
AT a distance of three-quarters of a mile
from the river nearly the whole of Cal.
houn's company lay dead, in an irregu-
lar line, Calhoun and Cri,tenden in
place in the rear. About a mile beyond
this, on the ridge parallel to the stream.
still following the line of retreat,
keogh's company was slaughtered in
position, his right resting on the hill
where Custer fell, and which seems to
have been held by Yates's company. On
the most prominent point of this ridge,
made his last desperate stand.
Here, with Captain Yates, Colonel
Captain Custer, Lieutenant Ri
ley, and others, and 80 men of Ya,cs's
he went down, fighting
h~eroically TO the last, against the ire
mendous odds which assailed them on
all sides. 1t is believed by some that,
the situation a desperate one,
hey killed their horses for Il barricade.
the point where Custer fell, the
line of retreat again doubles back to-
the river, through a ravine, and
along this line in the ravine 30 bodies
If Smiths company were found.
W here this line terminates near the |
are found the dead men and
Of Captain Clusters company
'ommingled with Smiths, and the situ- |
ltion Of the dead indicates that some
desperate attempt was made to make Il
'tand neal the river or to gain the
Reno, crossing the stream at the point
Indicated, charged the camp, which he
lound Immediately across the stream.
by superior numbers to ar.
his charge, he formed a skirmish
inc, and fought thus on foot for 10
minutes, when, being overwhelmed by
he savages, he was compelled to retreat
cross the river. His retreat was al
out, and he cut his way through the
avagcs to the hill, where he withstOod
siege of q hours. Reno lost in his
rout and defense of the hill A.
lied, 80 wounded, and two officers,
icing ~two-thirds of the whole force he
ook into the fight. Benteen, with his
hree companies, was moving up on
listers and Reno's trail, when, seeing
he desperate situation of Reno, he
him on the hill where he was de-
himself. On this trail, a little
alter, came McDougal's company with
lis trail Of pack mules.
We have in this explanation followed
he notes furnished by n who was on
he grounds, and they correspond pre-
isely with General Terry's official re-
,Ort of the battle.