The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-09-26
GEMS eusrEa's LAST s'iEssz'
How llis Troapers Were AiIb Us
cadcd and Killed. - "a

- - =
MIsNEAroiIss MIMI, Sept s. The
Pioneer Press and Tribune publishes an
interview with an old tfspper nawed
Ridgely who has been for long tine
in the Yellowstone country, and tfiims
to have witnessed the Custer massacre,
being prisoner-in Sitting Bail,s.cslnp
and seeing every moytment Of tbe
troops, He was taken pfisouers 1ast
March and kept in the camp Of the In
diaus ever since. until the Custer u1usss.'
ere He was kindly treated while there
He says Sitting 3ulI organized, piiot 81,
fight the Whites, but. to drive Ainess
aEss|s|l1 Rfssjgas .s' g ess5s5'z 2 sk IS;
Bu'l's camp had for eight days sn:rliefl
his forces, its division into small detach-
ments being noted wish manifestations
of extreme delight. AmbuscaJes. were
Immediately prepared, and whilevthe
Indians stood ready for an attack, many
of them clambered on the side Of the
hill overlooking Custer's line of march.
The Indian camp was divided By a bluff,
a point of which ran toward the Rose
bud, and in the direction efeue.s efAthe
available fords Of the river To- steeanp
By this ford Custer followed their trail
down to the waters edge There were
hut twenty five tepis visible to Gqstsr,
hut there were seventy five dodbieJtepis
behind the bluff -net-Eisible
Custer attacked theq smaher, ano was
Immediately met by 1900 OF two lhpp-
sand Indians in regular orderj Of Mt1e
Every movement was, made, with mill,
tary precision Ridgely says he stood
on the side. of the hill, where he had
complete view OF The abat,la,o which was
not more tlian mile And q hap aisfsat
Custer began the ishts in the ravh1e near
the ford, and fully Iial6 dfChis command
seemed to be unhefsed at the first fire.
Then the sc ldiersi retreated. sand zwere
shot down wita--sstonishing rapi6ity,
the commanding officer'fahing from his
horse in the rniddlesof the engagement,
which commemorate II A. .IMl,9 and did
not last more than fifty-five minutes
After the massacre of. Clusters forces,
the Indians returned to camp with six
lsoldiers as prisoners, and delerious with
joy over their success These six We're
tied to, stakes at woodpile in theNili-
age, and were burned to deathSe While
the flames were torluring them tol death,
the Indian boys fredred hotarro ws'into
their quivering flesh until thev died
Sitting Bull was met after the fight,s and
he expltingly remarked that he had kill
ed many soldiers and one ! iGener-
al, though he did not know who he
was The squaws then armed them
selves with knives, visited the battle
field, and robbed and mutilated the bod.
les of the soldiers. qass3s8
While the soldiers were being burned,
the Indians turned their attention to a
force, evidently Reno's, attacking the
lower end OF the village. Ridgeway
says Clusters command had been slaugh-
tered before shot was fred by Reno's
force, which attacked the lower end of
the camp about 2 o'clock P. NJ. The
Indians returned in the evening, and
said the men had fought like the devil;
but Ridgely says they did not make a
statement of their losses. They said
the soldiers had been driven back twice,
and they piled up stones, and the attack
was unsuccessful The prisoners were
kept burning for over an hour, Ibut
Ridgely was not permitted to speak
with them; 50 we are unable to state
who they were One was, noticeable
from his small size and gray hair and
whiskers Reno killed more Indians
than Custer, who fell in the midst Of, the
fight, and two Captains, believed to- be
Yates and Keogh, were the last to die.
The night after the massacre the1ndisns
were wild with delight, and ri1anyisere
drunk on whisky stolen from the whites.
The squaws performed the duty of
guards for the prisoners, and, becoming
drowsy, Ridgely and two companions
escaped, securing ponies, and began
theirlong journey homeward. The party
ate game, and laid in the woods four
days to avoid the Indians.
On the way his horse stumbled, brea-
king Ridgely's arm, but the party finally
reached Fort Abercrombie, and thence
Ridgely came here. He describes Sit
ting Bull as a half breed, of large size.
and very intel igent, with apeeuliaf gsit.