The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-07-21
NARRATIVE OF A SCOUT.

George Herendon, scout sent by
Gen. Terry with Gen. Clusters column,
relates the following as his experience
IN the recent battle. He was sent by
Gen. Terry from the mouth of the Rose
bud, with Gen. Clusters command, to
carry dispatches from Custer to Tel y
We left the Rosebud on the 22d of
June at IL o'clock marched up the
Rosebud about twelve miles and en-
camped for the night. On the morning
of the 23d we broke camp at clock and
continued up the Rosebud until
o'clock, when we struck large lodge
pole Grail about ten days old and followed
IL along the Rosebud until toward even
ing, when we went into camp on the
trad On the morning of the Oath we
pulled out at o'clock and followed the
trail five or six miles, when we met six
Grow Indian scouts, who hGd been sent
out the night previous by Gen. Custer
to look for the Indian village. They
said they had found fresh pony tracks,
aud that ten miles ahead the trail was
frcsher. Gen. Custer had the officers
call blown, and they assembled around
him, but did not hear what he said to
and moved along at q fast walk. We
moved at l o'clock, and, while the Of
floors were eating their lunch, the scouts
came back and reported that they had
found where the village had been quite
recently. They moved again, with
fiankers well out to watch the trail and
see that it did not divide. About 4
O'Clock we came to the place where the
village had been apparently only few
days before, and went into camp two
miles below the forks of the Rosebud.
The scouts all again pushed out to look
for the village, and at IL o'clock at night
"tCVsser had everything packed up and
followod the scouts up the right hand
fork of tlie Rosebud.
About daylight we went into camp,
made coffee, and soon after it was light
the scouts brought Custer word that
they had seen the village from the top of
divide that separates the Rosebud
from Little Horn river. We moved up
the creek until near its head, and con-
cealed ourselves in ravine. 1t was
about three miles from the head OF
We Ureek where we then were to the
top of the divide where the Indian
scouts said the village could be seen,
and after hiding his command Gen.
Custer, with few orderlies, galloped
forward to look at the Indian camp. In
about an hour Custer returned, and said
nc could not see the Indian village, but
the scouts and a half-breed guide, "Nuch
Bayer," said they could distinctly see it
some fifteen miles off. While Gen.
Custer was looking for the Indian vii
lage the scouts came in and reported
that he had been discovered, and that
news was then on its way to the village
tliat he Was coming. Another scout
said two Sioux war parties had stolen
mp and seen the command ana on look
ing in "a ravine near by, sure enough,
fresh pony tracks were found. Custer
had "ufficers' call " blown, gave his
orders, and the command was put in
sighting order. The scouts were ordered
forward and the regiment moved at walk.
After going about three miles the scouts
reported Indians ahead, and the COM
mand then took the trail. Our way lay
down q little creek, branch of the
Little Born, and after going some six
miles we discovered az, Indian lodge
ahead, and Custer bore down on il at a
stiff trot. Ia coming to it we found out-
selves in q freshly abandoned Indian
camp, all the lodges of which were gone
except the one we saw, and on entering
it we found it contained a dead Indian.
From this point we could see into the
Little Horn valley, and observed heavy
clouds of dust rising about five miles
distant. Many thought the Injians were
moving away. and / think Gen. Custer
believed so, for he sent word to Col.
Reno, who was ahead with three COM
panies of the Seventh Regiment, to push
on the scouts rapidly and head for the
dust. Reno took steady gallop down the
creek bottom three miles to where it emp
tied into the Little Horn. and found a
natural ford across Little Horn river.
BE started to cross, when the scouts
cssane back and called out to him to hold
on. that the Sioux were coming in large
n'ff's eers 70 meet him. He crossed over,
moreover, formed his companies on the
prarIe In line of battle. and moxed for