New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-11

halted for the night at . point about
eleven miles in Q straight line above the
stream. This morning the movement was
resumed. and after q march of nine miles
Msjor Rsno's intrenched position was
reached, and the withdrawal of the Indians
from around Ren0's command and from
the valley was undoubtedly caused by the
Msjor Reno and Captain Benteen, both
of whom are officers of great experience,
accustomed to see large masses of mounted
men, estimated the number of Indians en-.
gagged at not less than $500. Other officers
think that the number was greater than
this.
The village in the valley was about three
miles in length and about a mile in width.
Besides lodges proper, great number of
temporary brush wood shelters were found
in 1t, indicating that many men be-
side it's proper inhabitants had gathered
together there. Major Reno is very con.
fident that there were number Of white
men fighting with the Indians. 1t is be.
lieved the loss of the Indians was large. 1
have a. yet received no official report in re-
gard to the battle but what is stated and
gathered from the officers who we're on The
ground, and from those who have been
over it since.
ALFRED Fl. TERRY,
Brigadier General.
The following, of subsequent date, was
received on the eighth:
CAMP BIG HORN, July 2, 1876.
think owe it to myself to put you more
fully in possession of the facts of the late
operations. While at the mouth of the
Rosebud / submitted my plan to Genera al
Gibbon and General Custer. It was that
Custer, with his whole regiment, should
move up tho Rosebud till he should meet q
trail Reno had discovered few days be.
tore, but that he should not follow it di-
rectiy to the Little Big Horn; that ne should
further toward the south, so as to prevent
the Indians from slipping in between him
self and the mountains. He was also to ex-
anime the headwaters of the Tollaska creek
as he passed it, and send me word of what
he found there. A scout was furnished him
tor the purpose Of crossing the country to
me. We calculated it would take Gibbons
column until the twenty-sixth to reach the
mouth of the Little Big Horn, and that
ter should make would require SO much
time tsat Gibbon would be able to
cooperate with him in attacking any In
dams that might be found on the stream.
asked Custer how long his marches would
be. He said they would be at the rate of
about thirty miles day. Measurements
| were made and calculations based on that
rate of progress. l talked with him about
his strength, and at one time suggested
take Gibbons cavalry and 60 with him
To the latter suggestion he replied: THAT.
without reference to the command, he
would prefer his own regiment alone. AZ
homogeneous body, az mucn could be done
with it az with the two combined He
expressed the utmost confidence that he
had all the force that he could need and
shared his confidence. The plan adopted waa
the only one which promised to bring the
infantry into action, and desired to make
sure of things by getting up every available
man. l offered Custer the battery of Cat
ling guns, but he declined it, saying that il
might embarrass him, and that he was
strong enough without it.
The movements proposed By General
Gibbons column were carried out to the
letter, and had the attack been deferred
until il was up, can not doubt that We
should have been successful. The Indians
had evidently screened themselves for a
stand. but as learned from Captain Ben
teen that on the twentv-second the cavalry
marched twelve miles, on the twenty third
twenty-five miles; from A. NJ. till P. NJ
of the twenty. fourth, forty-ive miles, and
then after night ten miles further, resting
but without unsaddling ,wenty-three miles
to the battlefield. The proposed route was
not taken, but as soon as the trail was
struck it was followed. l can not learn
that any examination of Tallaska creek
was maze. do not tell you this to cas-;
any reflections upon Custer, for, whateve!
errors he may have committed, Custer
action is unexplainable in the case.
A. H. TERRY, Brigadie- General.
The is the order directing General Gus
ter's movements:
CAMP THE MOTH OF RosEBrD RIVER. !
June p, 1876.
Lieutenant Colonel Custer, Seventh Cavalry:
CoLoSEL-The Brigadier General com
handing directs that as soon as your regi
Irent can be made ready for the march , on
| proceed up the Rosebud in pursuit of the
Indians whose trail was Uncovered By
Major Reno a few days since. 1t is. o.
course, impossible to give any definite in
structions in regard to this movement, and
were it not impossible to do so, the depart:
ment commander places too much conf.
dence in your zeal, energy and ability to
wish to impose upon you precise orders
which might hamper your action when
nearly N contact with the enemy. He
| WILL however, indicate to you his OWL
views of what your action should be. and lie
| desires that you should conform to them
unless you shall see sufficient reason fol-
departing from them. He thinks that you
should proceed up the Rosebud until you
ascertain definitely the direction in which
| the trail above spoken Of leads. Should i,
| be found las it appears to be almost certain
| that it will be feundj to turn toward the
Little Big Horn, he thinks that you should
| still proceed southwark perhaps as tar as
| the headwaters of the Tongue, and then
| turn toward the Little Big Horn, feeling
| constantly, however, to your left, so as to
| preclude the possibility Of the escape of the
| Indians to the south or southwest by pass
| ing around your left flank. The column OF
Colonel Gibbon is now in motion fol
the mouth of Big Horn. As soon as i,
reaches that point it will cross the Yellow
stone and move up at least as far as the
parks of the Big and Little Big Horn. OF
| course its future movements must be con
| trolled by circumstances as they arise
| bu. it is hoped that the Indians
| if upon the Little Big Horn, may
| DE so nearly inclosed by the two coluD nj
that their escape will be impossible. The
| department commander desires that or
your way up the Rosebud you should thor
oughly examine the upper part of Tul
7 loch's creek, and that you should endeavol
to send scout through to Colonel Glib
bon's column with information Of the re
suit of your examination. The lower part
of this creek will be examined by detach
| ment from Colonel Gibbons command
The supply steamer will be pushed up the
Big Horn as far as the forks of the rivel
are found to be navigable for that space
and the department commander, who will
accompany the column of Colonel Gibbon
desires you to report to him there not latel
than at the expiration of the time for whicl
your troops are rationed, unless IN thu
maartima Won receive further orders,
Respectfully, etc.,
f. w. SMITH,
Captain Eighteenth Infantry, Acting Assist