The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-07-13

with the hope of opening communication
with Custer.
The morning of the goth brought intel
lgence communicated by three badly
frightened Crow scouts, of the battle of
the previous day and its result. The story
was not credited because it was not eX-
Dected that the attack would be made
earlier than the 9th. and chiefly because
no one cou i believe that force such as
Custer commanded could have met with
disaster. Still the report was in no way
disregarded
All day long the toilsome 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 % miles
The march of the next morning revealed
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 plain half mile in width Dor
dering on the left bank of the Little BIG
mense Indian village, extending three
lllllGS itlOliS lllC SIl GAIL. anu NlClC NClC
standing funeral lodges with horses slaugh-
tered around them and containing the
bodies of nine chiefs. The ground was
strewn everywhere with carcasses Of
horses. cavalry equipments. besides bui1a-
10 robes, packages of dried meat and
weapons and utensils belonging to the
Indians On this part Of the field was
found the clothing of Leuts. Sturgis and
Porter pierced with bullets, and a blood
stained gauntlet belonging to Col. Yates
Further on were found the bodies Of the
men Just then Il breathless scout arrived
with the intelligence that Col Reno with
II remnant OF the 9Th cavalry was en-
trenched on a bluff near hy waiting for
relief The command pushed rapidly on
and soon came in sight Of group sur
rounding a cavalry guard upon the right
bank Of the river.
Gen. Terry iorded the stream and rode
to the spot All the way the slopes were
dotted with bodies Of men and horses
The General approached and the men
swarmed out of the works and greeted
him with cheers.
Within was found Reno with the re-
mains of seven companies of the Regi-
ment. Renos command had been fight
ING from Sunday noon the 10Th. till the
night of the Goth, when Terry 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 sep
arated from them only on the Both to
make an attack under Caster. on the viii
lage at another point.
While preparations were being made
for the removal of the wounded Il party
was sent on Clusters trail to look for
traces OF his command, They found await
Ing them a sight to appal the stoutest
heart At a point about three mies down
the right bank OF the stream, Custer
had evidently attempted to ford and at
tack the village from the ford The trail
was found to lead up to the Bluffs and to
the northward. as If the troops had been
repulsed and compelled to retreat, and at
the same time had been cut off from re-
gaining the forces under Reno. All along
the slopes and ridges and the ravines lying
as they had fought, line behind line, show
ing where the defensive positions had
been successfully taken up and held till
none were left to fight, then hudd!ed in a
narrow compass, horses and men were
piled promiscuouslE
At the highest point Of the ridge lay
Custer surrounded by 4 chosen band.
Here with his two brothers his nephews.
MIR. Reed Coles \ ates and Cooke and Capt.
Smith, Ill lying in n circle OF a few yards,
their horses beside them. Here behind
Yates company the last stand had been
made and here one after another those
last survivors Of Clusters five companies
had met their death, and the companies
had successfully throw themselves across
the path Of the advancing enemy and been
annhilated. Not Il man escaped to tell the
tale but it was inscribed on the surface
Of the barren hills in language more clo-
Quent than words POI bodies have been
buried from Clusters and Renos command
The last one found was that Of Mr.. Kel-
logg, correspondent Of the Bismarck Fri.
bune and also believe Of the New York
Herald
The following are the names Of the Oil
GERS whose remains are recognized:
Gen. Custer, Col Kcogh, Col. Yates,
Col. Custer, Col Cook, Capt Smith, 1t.
Mcintosh, 1t Calhoun, 1t llodgsdon and
1t. Reilly. All of these belonged to the
1th cavalry. 1t Critcnden of the I'd in
tantry was serving temporarily with the
regiment LIS. Porter, Sturges and Har-
rington and Assistant Surgeon Lord, are
reported missing, as their remains are not
recognized, but there is small ground to
hope that any of them survived, as it is
obvious that the troops We're completely
surrounded by a force of ten times their
number.
The history of Reno's operations com
prises all that is now known of this san
culinary affairs. 1t seems Custer, with
eight companies, reached the river on the
forenoon of the 10Th, having marched con-
tinuously all the previous day and night.
Seeing the upper or southern extremity Of
the village and probably under estimating
its extent he ordered Reno TO ford the
river and charge the village with three
companies. while he with five companies
moved down the right bank, and behind
the bluffs to make 4 similar attack at the
other end Reno made his charge. but
finding he was dealing with force many
times his own number, dsmounted his
men and sought shelter in the timbers
which tringed the river bank The posi-
ton appearing to him untenable, he re-
mounted and cut his way to the river,
lorded under Il murderous fire. gained the
bluff, where he was subsequently found
Here he was afterwards joined by Col.
Benton, with three companies which had
just reached the field, and by Capt. Me
Dowell, with his company and the pack
Of mules. The position was afterwards
completely invested by Indians, who for
more than ~ hours allowed no rest and
inflicted severe losses.
But for the timely arrival of relief the
command would have been cut off to Il
man. The number saved with Reno was
1923, including 81 wounded. The loss
among the Indians was probably CON
siderable, as bodies have been found in
every direction and they left behind only
Il small portion of the dead.
We remained nearly two days on the
scene Of this disaster to bury the dead and
prepare for transporting the wounded to
Il place of safety. The neighboring conn
try was still full of scattering bands of In
dams watching our movements and doubt
less were prepared to take advantage Of
any want Of vigilance to add to the num-