American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-07-15
BRAVE CUSTER'S FATE.

BRAVE CUSTER'S FATE.
Further Particulars of the Disastrous
Fight With the Indians-The Horrible
Story Told by the Dead of the Seventh
Cavalry.
Especial to the Chicago Inter ocean,
SIOUX CITY EXPEDITION, MOUTH OF
THE BIG HORN, July 1, via BISMARCK. d.
T., July 6.-Long before the arrival of this
dispatch you will have heard of the tragedy
which has been enacted here. The CHASTITY
details would seem to court oblivion if it
were in the nature of things possible to for
get or cloak them up.
At noon, on the 22d day of June, Gen.
Custer, at the head of his fine regiment of
twelve veteran companies, left camp at the
mouth of the Rosebud, to follow the trail of
a very large band of hostile Sioux leading
up the river and westward in the direction
of the Big Horn. The signs indicated that
the Indians were making for the eastern
branch of the last named river, marked on
the map as the ''Little Big Horn.'' At
the same time Gen. Terry, with Gibbons
command of five companies of infantry, four
of cavalry, and the Calling battery, started
to
ASCEND THE BIG HORN,
march of the two columns was so planned
as to bring Gibbons forces within cooper
ating distance of the anticipated scene of
action by the evening of the Goth. in this
way only could the infantry be made availa .
BILE, as it would not do to cucumber Custer's
march with foot soldiers. On the evening
of the oath Gibbons command was landed
on the south bank of the Yellowstone, near
the mouth of the Big Horn, and on the 25th
was pushed % miles over country SO rug
ged that the endurance of the men was
tasked to the utmost. The infantry then
halted for the night, but the Department
Commander, with the cavalry, advanced -
miles further, to the mouth of the Little
Big Horn, marching until midnight, in the
hope Of opening communication with Gus
ter. The morning of the Goth brought the
intelligence, communicated by three badly
frightened Crow scouts, of
THE BATTLE OF THE PREVIOUS DAY
and its results. The story was not credited,
because 1t was not expected that an attack
would be made earlier than the 9th, and
chiefly because no one could believe that
force such as Custer commanded could have
met with disaster. Still the report was in
no way disregarded. All day long the toll
some march was piled, and every eye bent
upon a cloud Of smoke resting over the
southern horizon, which was hailed as a
sign that Custer was successful and had fired
the village. 1t was only when night was
falling that the weary troops lay down upon
their arms. The infantry had marched 90
miles. The march of the next morning re-
vealed at every step some evidence Of the
conflict which had taken place two days
before. AT an early hour the head of the
column entered a plain half mile wide,
bordering the left bank of the Little Big
Horn, where had recently been an immense
Indian village, extending three miles along
the stream, and where were still standing
funeral lodges with horses slaughtered
around them and containing the bodies Of
nine chiefs. The ground was strewn every
where with carcasses of horses, cavalry
equipments, besides buffalo robes, packages
of dried meat, and weapons and utensils be-
longing to Indians. On this part Of the
field was found the clothing of Lieuts.
Sturgis and Porter, pierced with bullets,
and a blood-stained gauntlet belonging
to Col. Yates. Further on were
FOUND THE BODIES OF MEN,
among whom were recognized Lieut.. McIn-
tosh, the interpreter from Fort Rice, and
Reynolds, the guide. Just then breathess
scout arrived with the intelligence that Col.
Reno, with remnant of the 9TH Cavalry,
was intrenched on a bluff near by, waiting
for relief. The command pushed rapidly
on, and soon came in sight of group sur
rounding cavalry guard upon a lofty emf
nence on the right bank of the river. Gen.
Terry forded the stream, accompanied by q
small party, and rode to the spot. All the
way the slopes were dotted with the bodies
OF men and horses. The General approached,
and the men swarmed out of the works and
greeted him with hearty and repeated cheers.
Within was found Reno with the remains Of
seven companies of the regiment, with
the following named officers, all of whom
were unhurt: Coils. Benteen and Wier;
Capts. Felix Maylan and McDougal; Lieuts.
Mathey, Gibson, DeRudid, Ed
gerly, Wallace, Varnum and Hare. In the
center Of the Enclosure was denSasainauoug5
The surfaes.ias srsd wish canTas pa 80
command had been fighting from Sunday
noon Uhe 25th) until the night of the 9th,
when Terry's arrival caused the Indians to
retire. Up to this time Reno and those with
him were in complete ignorance of the fate
Of the other five companies, which had been
from them early on the 25th to
make an attack under Custer, on the village
at another point. While preparations We're
being made for the removal of the wounded,
a party were sent on Clusters trail to look
for traces of his command. They found
awaiting them
A SIGHT FIT TO APPALL THE sTOUTEST
HEART.
At point about three miles down the
right bank of the stream, Custer had evil |
IDENTIFY attempted to ford and attack the viii
lage from the ford. The trail was found to
lead back up to the bluffs and to the north !
ward, as if the troops had been repulsed
and compelled to retreat, and at the same |
time had been cut off from regaining the |
forces under Reno. The bluffs along the |
right bank come sharply down to the water, |
and are interspersed by numerous ravines |
all along the slopes and ridges, and in the |
ravines lay the dead arranged in order of
battle, lying they fought, line behind
line, showing where defensive posi- |
tons had been successfully taken up
and held till none were left To
fight. Then, huddled in narrow COM
pass, horses and men were piled promis |
cuously. At the highest point of the ridge |
lay Custer, surrounded by chosen band. |
Here were his two brothers and his nephew, |
Mr.. Reed, Coils. Yates and Cooke and Capt. |