The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-07-08

miles down the right banking of STRAIN
Custer had evidently attempted to ford and
attack the village from the ford. The trail
was found to lead up TO the Bluffs and to the
northward, as if the troops had been repulsed
and compelled to retreat, and at the same time
had been cut off from regalning the forces un-
der Reno. All along the slopes and ridges and
the ravines lying as they had fought, line be-
hind line, showing where the defensive posi-
tIons had been successfully taken up and held
till none were left to fight, then huddled in a
narrow compass, horses and men were piled
promiscuously.
At the highest point of the ridge lay Custer
surrounded by chosen band. Here with his
two brothers and his nephews, Mr. Reed Colss
Yates and Cooke and Capt Smith, all lying in
cilcle of few yords their horses beside
them Here behind Yates company the last
stand had been made, ard here one after an
other those last survivors of Clusters five COM
panies had met berideath, and the com panies
had successfully thrown themselves across the
path of the advancing enemy and been annihi
lated. Nota man escaped to tell the tale, but
it was inscribed on the surface of the barren
hills in language more eloquent than words
261 bodies have been buried from Clusters and
Reno's command. The last one found was
that of Mr.. kellogg, correspondent of the Bis
marck Tribune, and also believe of the New
York Herald.
The following are the names of the officers
whose remains are recognized:
oOu SuStCI, SOl. 1AcOSA, OOis Idtcs1 Sols
Custer, Col. Cook, Capt. Smith, Lit Mcintosh,
1t Calhoun, Lit Hodgson and.Lt Reilly. All
of these belonged to the 18th cavalry. Lit. Crit
tenden of the I'd infantry was serving Temporal
rily with the regiment Its. Porter, Sturges
and Harrington and Assistant Surgeon Lord,
are reported missing as their remains are not
recognized, but there is small ground to hope
that any of them survived, as it is obvious that
the troops were completely surrounded by a
force of ten times their number.
af 20 nnor arrso
all that is now known of this sanguinary affair.
1t seems Custer, with eight companies, reached
the river on the the forenoon of the 25th, hav-
ing marched continuously all the previous day
and night. Seeing the upper or southern ex-
tremity of the village and probably under-esti-
mating its extent be ordered Reno to ford the
river and charge the village with three COM
panies, while he with five companies moved
down the right bank, and behind the bluffs to
make similar attack at the other end Reno
made his charge, but finding he was dealing
with force many times his own number, dis
mounted his men and sought shelter in the
| timbers which fringed the river bank. The
position appearing to him untenable, he re-
| mounted and cut his way to the river, forded
under murderous fire. gained the bluff, where
| he was subsequently found.
Here he was afterwards joined by Col. Ben
ton, with three companies which had just
reached the field, and by Capt. Mcdowell,
with his company and the pack of mules. The
position was afterwards completely invested by
Indians, who for more than "a hours allowed
no rest and inflicted severe loss.
But for the timely arrival of relief the COM
mand would have been cut Oft to man. The
| number saved with Reno was 329, including 81
| wounded. The loss among the Indians was
| found in every direction and they left behind
| only small portion of their dead,
We remained nearly two days on the scene
| of this disaster to bury the dead and prepare
for transporting the wounded to place OF
| safety. The neighboring country was still full
of scattering bands of Indians watching our
movements and doubtless were prepared to
take advantage Of any want of vigilance to add
to the number of their victims. A species OF
| rude horse litter was constructed of poles and
| strips of hide and on these the disabled were
carried 20 miles to the forks of the Big Horn,
where they were placed ON board steamer and
| last night brought down to the junction with
the Yellowstone.
Information derived from many sources, in
Guiding of course the observation of the officers
engaged in the battle, lead to the conclusion
| that $500 or 5000 Indians composed the fight
| ing force arrayed against Custer and his 600.
| Still these were odds which any officer of the
| 9TH cavalry would unhesitatingly have accepted
| for his regiment under any ordinary circum-
stances OF Indian warfare. The force under
Gen. Terry 8 immediate command was design
ed not only to cut off the retreat of the Indians,
but to afford support to Custer if needed. Its
march was made IN accurate accordance with
| the plan communicated to each of the subordi-
nate leaders before the movement commenced.
1t reached the point where the battle was ex-
pected at the time proposed, and had not the
action been precpitated for reasons which are
| yet unknown a force would have been present
on the field sufficient to relieve any
| repulse of the attacking columns Gen. Glib
bon's cavalry followed the Indians for about
| ten miles and ascertaned they had moved to
the south and west by several trails. A good
deal of property had been thrown away by
them to,lighten their march and was found
scattered for many miles over the prairie.
Many of their dead were also discovered Sc
GREETED in ravines a long distance from the bat
tie field. Among them were Arapahoes and
Cheyennes as we'll as Sioux.
Uneasiness at the Agencies.
OMAHA, July 6.-Information at the Red
Cloud agency, dated July 4, is that great deal
of mourning and uneasness is exhibited by In
dams at the agencies. This would seem to
confirm the reports of severe loss by Indians in
the recent engagements,