The Grange advance., 1876-07-12
Reno made his charge, but finding that

ne was dealing with a force many
times his own in numbers, dismounted
his men and sought setter in the tim
Der, which fringed the river bank.
This position, however, appearing to
MN untenable, he remounted and cut
his way to the river, forded under
murderous fire, and gained the bluff
: Where he was subsequently, found.
Here he was afterward joined by Col.
Benteen with three companies which
had just reac led the field, and by Cap
tain McDougall, with his company and
the pack mules. The position was i'm
mediately after completely invested. by
/ the Indians, who for more than twenty.
four hours allowed the garrison no
rest, and inficting severe loss. But
Tor the timely arrival Of relief the
command would have been cut off to a
man.
''ln closing my hasty narrative of
this affair, in certain respects the most
hideously remarkable in modern his
tory, purposely refrain from CON-
ment. The naked facts, so far as they
are known, must guide your readers
to conclusion as to the cause of the
calamity. Information derived from
many sources, including, of course,
the observations OF officers engaged in
the battle, leads to the conclusion that
$500 or 5000 Indians composed the
fighting force arrayed against Custer
and his six hundred. Still these were
odds which any officer of the Seventh
cavalry would have unhesitatingly &C.
cepted for his regiment under any or.
dinary circumstances of Indian war
| fare. The force under Gen. Terry's
immediate command was designed not
only to cut off the retreat of the
Indians but to afford support to Custer
If needed. Its march was made in ac-
curate accordance with the plan com
municated to each of the subordinate
leaders before the movement COM
menced. 1t reached the point where
the battle was expected at the time
proposed, and had not the action been
preclpitated, for reasons which are
yet unknown, force would have been
present on the field sufficient to re-
trieve any repulse of the attacking col
umn. General Gibbons cavalry fol-
lowed the Indians for about ten miles,
| and ascertained that they had moved
to the south and west by several trails.
A good deal of property had been
thrown away by them to tighten their
march, and was found scattered for
many miles over the prairie. Many Of
their dead was also discovered secret
ed in ravlnes Il long distance from the
| battlefield. Among them were Ara
pahoes and Cheyenne, as well as Sioux.
LETTER FROM KAISER WILIIELu.
On the Fourth Mr.. Cadwalader, act
ing Secretary of State, presented MIR.
SchloZer, German Minister, to the
President for the purpose of delivering
an autograph letter Of congratulation
from the Emperor of Germany. Mr..
SchloZer in presenting the letter,
stated that he was instructed by his
Majesty to deliver upon the 4th day of
July to the President, ils person, an
autographs letter of congr;stulation up
on the occasion Of the Centennial an
niversary, and wished to add his per-
sonal good wishes for the Z United States.
The President briefly replied, assuring
him of his satisfaction in receiving
this evidence of good feeling on the
part of his Majesty that his kind ex-
pressiOns for the United States were
fully appreciated, and that the letter
should be properly acknowledged. \
translation of the letter is as follows
William, by the Grace of God Emperor of
Germany, King of Prussia, etc, To the
+. President OF the United States of America
GREAT AND GUoD FRIEND: 1t has been
Vouchsafed to you to celebrate the
Centennial festival of the day upon
which the great Centennial festival of
the day upon which the great Repub-
lie over which you preside entered the
rank of independent nations. The
purpose Of it's founders have, by a wise
application of the teachings of the his
tory Of the foundation of nations, and
with an insight into the distant future,
been realized by a development with
out a parallel. 10 congratulate you
and the American people upon this oc-
casion affords me SO much the greater
pleasure, because since the treaty of
friendship which my ancestor of glo-
riOus memory, King Frederick H.,
who row rests with God, concluded
with the United States, undisturbed
friendship has continually existed be-
tween Germany and America, and has
been developed and strengthened by
the everincreasing Importance of their
mutual relations, and by an inter-
course being more and more fruitful
in every domain Of commerce and
science. That the welfare of the
United States and the friendship of the
two countries may continue to increase
is my sincere desire and confident
hope. Accept renewed assurance of
my unqualified esteem.
BERLIN, June 9, 1876. WILLIAM.
(Countersigned) Won BISMARCK.