South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-08-04
General Clusters Last Battle
Story Of the Only SuDiDor.

The New York Herald has been fur.
nished by an army officer operating a
gainst the Indians with some details OF
Clusters last battle, given by the Crow In.
dian, Curly, who is believed TO be the on.
" survivor ofthose who went into action
with Custer. He says he went down
with two other Crows and went into ac-
ton with Custer. The general, he says,
kept down the river on the north bank
four miles after Reno had crossed to the
south side above. Clusters object was
TO cut off the Indians. He thought Re.
no would drive down the valley and ut
the same time attack the village on two
sides, he believing Reno would take il
at theupper end, while he Custer would
go i'll ut the lower end. Custer had to
go further down the river and further =.
way from Reno than he wished on &C.
count Of the steep bank along the north
side, but at last he found a ford and
dashed for it. The Indians met him
and poured in heavy fire from across
the narrow river. Custer dismounted TO
fight on foot, but could not get his Skin
mishers over the stream. Meantime
hundreds Of Indians, on foot and on 20.
MES poured over the river. which was
only about three feet deep, and filed
the ravincs on each side Of Clusters men.
Custer then fell back 20 some high
ground behind him, and seized the ra.
vines in his immediate vicinity. The
Indians completely surrounded Custer
and poured in terrible fire on all sides.
They charged Custer on foot in vast
numbers, but were again and again
driven back. The fight began about
two o'clock, and lasted, Curry says, al
most until the sun went down over the
hills. The men fought desperately, and
after the ammunition in their belts was
exhausted went TO their saddlebags, got
more and continued the fight
Curly says more Indians were killed
than Custer had men. He also says the
big chief Custer lived until nearly all
his men had been killed or wounded,
and went about encouraging his soldiers
to fight on. He got n shot in the left
side and sat down, with his pistol in his
hand. Another shot struck Custer in
the breast and he fell over. The last
officer killed was 4 man who rode n white
horse, believed TO be Lieutenant Cook.
adjutant Of the Seventh. rs Lieutenants
Cook and Calhoun were the only officers
who rode white horses, and Lieutenant
Calhoun was found dead on the Skin.
mish line, near tic ford, aud probably !
fell early in the action. Curly saws
when he saw Custer was hopelessly sur.
rounded he watched his opportunity. |
got a Sioux blanket, put IL on and work. /
ed up n ravnc, and when the Sioux |
charged he got among them and they !
did not know him from one oftheir own |
men. There we're some mounted Sioux, |
and seeing one fall Curly ran 20 him, |.
mounted his pony and galloped down,
rs If going toward tho white men, but I
went up ravine and got away. lie /
says rs he rode off he saw, when nearly /
a mile from The battlefield. n dozen or /
more soldiers IN q ravine fighting, with 4
Sioux all around them. lie thinks all /
were killed, as they were outnumbered |
five 20 one and apparently dismounted /
These men were no doubt part Of the .
thirty five missing men reported in the .
official dispatches Of General Terry
Curly says he saw one cavalry soldier f.
who had got away. lie was we'll mount. 4
ed. but shot through both hips. and Cur.
~ thinks be died of his wounds, starved /
10 death in the bad lands, or more like f.
" his trail was followed and he killed /
by tho Sioux. Curly dill not leave Gus.
ter until tic battle was nearly over, and 4
he describes 10 as desperate in tho ex.
trome.