River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-07-13
CUSTER,S DISASTER
An Explanation by General Terry and
Word From Sheridan.

General Terry from his camp on the
Yellow Stone sent a confidential dis.
patch to General Sheridan, which the
latter has given to the press to throw
some light on the lamentable massacre
of Custer and his gallant troops. lie
says, "While at the mouth of the
Rosebud submitted my plal to Gen.
Gibbon and Gen. Custer, and they ap.
proved it heartily. 1t was that Gus
ter with his whole regiment should
move up the Rosebud till he should
meet trail which Reno had discover
ed n few days before, but that he
should not follow it directly to the
mouth of the Little Big Horn, but that
he should send scouts over ii and keep
his main force further to the south, so
as to keep the Indians from slipping
in between himself and the mountains.
He was also to examine the headwa.
tiers of Tulloch's Creek as he passed it,
and send me word of what he found
there.
ave calculated it would take Glib.
bons' column until the Goth to reach
the mouth of the Little Big Horn, and
that the wide sweep which had pro.
posed Custer should make would re.
quire so much time that Gibbons
would be able to cooperate with him
in attacking any Indians that might be
found on the stream.
~ asked Custer how long his march.
es would be. lie said they would be
at first about thirty miles a day.
Measurements were made and cal.
culations based on that rate of pro.
gress. | talked with him about his
strength and ut one time suggested
that perhaps it would be better for me
to take Gibbons cavalry and go with
him.
ITO this suggestion, he replied that
he would prefer his own regiment
alone. As much could be done with
it as with the two combined. lie
expressed the utmost confidence that
he had all the force that he could need
and shared his confidence. The plan
adopted was the only one which prom
Used to bring the infantry into action
and desired to make sure thing of
getting up ever available man. | Of
fcred Custer the battery of Calling
guns, but he declined, saying that il
might embarrass him and that he was
strong enough without it.
"The movements proposed by Gen.
Gibbons column was carried out to
the letter, and had the attack been de-
ferred till it came up cannot doubt
but we should have been successful.
The Indians had evidently nerved
themselves for a stand.
81 learn from Capt. Benteen that on
the Odd the cavalry marched IL miles.
On the 23rd, IS miles from A. to
SIN On the 9th, As miles, 10 miles
further, then after resting, without
unsaddling, % miles to the battle field.
"The proper route was not taken,
but as soon as the trail was discovered
it was followed. | cannot learn that
any examination of TullOch's creek
was made.
81 do not tell you this to cast any re-
Election upon Custer for whatever
errors he might have committed. lie
has paid the penalty, and you cannot
regret his loss more than | do, but
feel that our plan must have been sue
cessful had it been carried out, and
desire you to know the facts in the ac-
ton yourself.
80 far as can make out, Custer
acted under misapprehensions. lie
thought that the Indians were running,
and for fear that they would get away.
he attacked them without getting all
his men up, and divided his COM
mand SO that they were beaten in de-
tails.
II do not at all propose to give the
thing up here, but think my troops
require little rest, and in view of the
strength which the Indians have dis
played propose to bring up what lit
tie reinforcements | can get. should
be glad of any that you can send me.
| can take two companies of infantry
from Powder Rivei, and there are a
few recruits detailed whom | can get
for the cavalry. | ought to have a
larger mounted force than now have,
but this fear connot be obtained.
hear nothing from General Crook S
operations. If | could hear, | should
be able to form plans for the future
much more intelligently."
WHAT SHERIDAN SAYS.
Gen. Sheridan. conversing with a re-
porter on the Custer massacre, said
that the truth was the army was una.
BILE to carry out the purposes of the
government in the Indian country by
reason of its weakness. 81 have" he
said, "sent every man | could spare in
to that region, even taking troops from
Laramie and Salt Lake. The govern
ment in its wisdom directs the doing
of certain things in these regions. 1t
directs an expedition like this of Ter
ry's-an expedition necessary for the
development of that country. We do
the best we can with our material, but
are in no condition to do the work re-
quired of us.
In answer to the question, what are
the reasons for this campaign, Gen.
Sheridan says: ave are doing this at
the special request of the Indian De-
partment. 1t does not originate with
the War Department at all. Our pur-
pose is to drive these Indians are
of the very widest and most savage
sort known-On the reservations. You
can say that we will do it now or ex-
terminate them
A CONTRABAND LETTER.
Omaha Bee
Mr.. John Furay, Special Mail Agent,
has inst received a letter for pTOnpr