Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1876-08-10
A THRILLING TALE.
Romance of the Battle Of the Little
Big Horn.


Those who have read the accounts
OF the disastrous battle on the Little
Big Horn are familiar with the name
Of Lieutenant De Rudio, who was
cut !, from his command and lost
for thirty-six hours. The particulars
of his adventures while endeavoring
to get to the fellows of his command
has not yet been given to the public,
and but for the kindness of friend
in this city, to whom he has written
q letter containing an account of his
adventures, the interesting story CIV
en- below might never have reached
beyond his own small circle of army
companions. Through the kindness
of Lieutenant De Rudio's friend We
spread before our readers story of
a thrilling and miraculous escape
equal to anything ever conceived in
the mind of novelist. It contains
an element of truth which makes it
stranger than fiction, and shows what
a world of romance and interest may
be concealed in a single line of tele-
gram. Every one knows that De Ru-
dio had been cut off from his compan-
ions for thirty-six hours, but the story
Of how that time was spent has been
reserved for him to tell.
LIEUTENANT DE RUDIo's LETTER.
The letter is dated "Camp on the
north side of the Yellow Stone River,
opposite the Big Horn, July 5, 1876"
and, referring to the disastrous bat
tie of the Little Big Horn, it says
"I had a narrow escape at the bat
tle of the Little Big Horn on the
18th and 26th of June, and I will
endeavor to give you my experience
of Indian fighting, At about ten A.
NJ, on the 25th Of June, after having
marched all night, General Clusters
scouts returned and reported that
they had discovered an Indian vii
lage, about fifteen miles distant, on
the Little Big Horn, and that from
what they had seen they supposed
the Indians to be retreating before
our advance. We econtinued our march
two or three miles further, when
halt was ordered, and General Custer
began preparations for attacking the
enemy. He detailed companies q,
D and K, under the command ofCol-
onel F. W. Benteen, to take the left
of our route, with orders, so I hear,
to sweep everything in his way. Com
panies N, A and G were put under
the command of Colonel Reno, and
being temporarily attached to oompa-
ny A, / found myself with this diyi-
sion. General Custer took compa-
nies E. I, F, L and occupied the right
of the line of attack. The remain
ing company B) was left to guard
the pack train. After marching two
or three miles, our command, the
centre, was ordered to trot and hold
the gait until we reached the river,
six or seven miles distant. Having
reached the river We forded, and on
the plain beyond the oppo-
site bank we were ordered into line
of battle. Everything being as was
ordered, we started on q gallop, and
two miles pursued close on the verge
Of an immense and binding cloud of
dust raised by the madly flying saw
,ges ahead of us. The dust cloud
was SO dense that we could distin-
yuish nothing, 50 Colonel Reno halted
;he battalion, and, after dismount-
ng, formed g adkirmish line, the right
iank resting on the edgeiof asdry,
hickly wooded creek. While the,
lorses were being Jed ap shelter. in
he wood the Indians sopeasdia gail,