Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-07-29
GEN. CUSTER'S LAST CHARGE.
Lieut.. CnrIand's story OF the sanauiunry
Battle with the Sioux.

Lieut.. CnrIand's story OF the sanauiuHry
Battle with the Sioux.
A letter dated "Mouth of the Little
Horn," giving a new version of Clusters
fight with the Sioux, has been received
from Lieut.. John Garland, of Company
B, Sixth infantry, attached to Gen. Glib
bons' command. Lieut.. Garland says {:
At the mouth of the Rosebud, on the
twenty second of June, we struck a
large Indian train leading up the Rose
! bud valley. Gen. Custer from there
took command of the twelve companies
of cavalry and pushed on after the
Sioux. He followed them to the foot of
the mountains, and found by scouting
in the valley that they we're encamped
on branch of the Little Horn. This
was on the night of the twenty fourth
On the twenty.fifth he took five com
panies and followed the stream down on
ono side, while Major Reno, with seven
companies, went down on the other
Major Reno was to attack the enemy in
the rear while Custer fought them in
front. This would have worked all right,
as Reno had got in their rear, but Gen.
Custer, marching down on the other
side, saw what he supposed was the
| front of the camp, and made charge on
them, the Indians giving way and letting
him right into the gap. The brave man
rode Oh with his three hundred men,
and would have killed the whole 1000
Sioux, believe, if there had been no
enemy behind him; but instead of charg-
ing the front, he was right in the center
of between three thousand and four
thousand Sioux. Those that were be-
hind him kept concealed until he was
right in their midst, and then, when ii
was too late, he made bold dash try
ing to cut through them, but the enemy
were too many. He fell about the first
one, and the horses becoming unmanage
able, the poor soldiers were cut down il
less time than it takes to tell it.
The Sioux then turned with all theil
fury upon Major Reno. He charged
them with one company, and returned
with only eleven men. He then retreat
ed short distance, placing his men OF
a bluff. He kept them off until thu
night of the twenty-seventh, his men go
ing without water forty eight hours. HC
was relieved by Gems. Terry and Glib
bons, who saw the smoke from where the,
we're at the Little Horn, and thinking
it signal of the Sioux, marched tina
way just in time to save the last handful
of the Seventh cavalry.
Out of the whole regiment only 32|
men are left, and forty of them or,
badly wounded. 1t makes one heartsicl
to look over the battle ground and SCI
the poor fellows, some of them with thei
entrails cut out, others with their eye
dug out and heart laid across their face
They even stopped to cut their pocket
to get their money and watches. Th
most fearful sight was Colonel Cooke
He was a splendid looking man, wit
long, dark whiskers. They dug hi
face all out SO as to get his fine beard,
is supposed. They did not disfgure Gen
Custer in any way, but his brother, Tor
Custer, was opened and his heart take
out.
Gen. Custer, Capt. Tom Custer, an
Boston Custer, brothers of the general
First Lieutenant Calhoun, brother-in-la'
of the general, and A. FL. Reed, the ger
erals nephew, fell within ten feet of eac
other.
We estimate the loss OF the enemy 6
five hundred, though it is hard to te
= how many were killed, as they carrie
] most of them away. Gen. Terry and til
remaining officers are feeling very badly
3 1 was standing by Gen. Custer whe
Gen. Terry came up, and as he locke
down upon the noble general teai
coursed down his face as he said Th
flower of the army is gone at last" Gu
Q ter was supposed'to be the first one VIII
I fell, but we found seventeen cartride
: shells by his side, where he had kel
r them Oft until the last moment.
No blame can be attached to any OF
I for this fearful slaughter. If Custt
@ had had the whole regiment, it woul
Q only have been worse, as the Sioux wei
+ too many.
: There is one poor Grow Indian on I'll
@ boat who has five shots through him, y
C he is happy because he has nine scall
l. at his side.
:, These Sioux were all from the san
u agency, as we found camp equipmen
: that had never been used, also blanke
j. that were now and branded United Stat,
u Indian department.