The New York herald., 1876-07-07
THE NEWS IN WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, July 9, 1874
thrill OF horror ran through the whole community
here to-day when the received that General
Custer and his officers and command OF nve companies
had been slaughtered in their engagement with the
Sioux Indians on the Littlo Horn River Az nrst
the news discredited at the War Department,
where no dispatches had been late thrce
O'Clock The officers on duty At the Adjutant Gen
erals onice shook their heads and said that ad-
vices had been received from Lieutenant General Shsr-
dan or any Of the officers the West, the whole thing
looked improbable 1t not until half hour later
that a despatch was received by Mr.. Crosby, Chief
Clerk or the War Department from AdJu.An, General
r. c. Drum of Lieutenant General sheridan's stan at
Chicago, confirming the terrible news reported in
the Western papers
The following Is the text OF
THE DEsrArcH-
CHICAGO. July g. ls7e-l:15 Pm.
H. B. CROSBY, War Department, Washington, DC:
Despatch from General Terry, dated from his camp
at mouth OF Big Horn, July2. confirms the newspaper
reports Of a tight the 25th OF June
the Little Big Horn and OF Custer's death. Terry
had fallen back 10 his present camp have full
dispatches to the Lieutenant General who will prob
ably communicate them. have not yet received
General Terry's report Of the action list Of the
casualties X c. DRUM, A. A q.
This despatch was the acknowledgment Of
despatch from General Terry's camp Al
the mouth Of the Big Horn, dated July 2,
received q, Lieutenant General sheridan's head.
quarters Chicago This told Of General Terry's
scquent Also far as he had to fall back
TO his old camp the river which instant
resu, Of the Of the brave Custer his gal
LIANT soldiers feeling OF sadness took possession Of
everybody while frequent tributes OF praise paid
tho memory of General Custer sterling and dashng
oAlc,r HIS magnificent record gone while
some gravely gave expression their apprehensIons
that the sweeping calamity met by him and his com.
mand was attributable bis reckcssness Of life and
gallant but rash daring
A TO PRESIDENT.
The President, few moments later, received Q du-
pcae espatcn announcing the sad fate of Custer aud
was very much concerned At tho calamity which our
little army had suffered IN one OF its bravest CON-
body Of cavalry Gghtcrs on she Plains As is well
known Custer took boundless pridc and had unlimited
confidence his iayorte troopers of the Seventh
airy, while they in turn, were known be willing 10
20 wherever he would lead and 10 have the greatest
faith in their commander. Throughout the whole army
the frontier this has been recognized, and body
troops had any closer tie with their superior officer
than existed between General Custer and the Seventh
cavalry. For along time the progress of tho pending
Indian campaign has been closely watched with great
concern, and .sgvings had at the War Depart
menl, and General shermvn and his experienced
stan, some of whom familiar with severe and
desperate Indian nghiins, have felt
GRAVE ArrRxHEssoss
for the fate Of the small but intrepid columns sent
out to light the best fighting Indian warriors Of the
whole West 1t has been varously estimated by from
usrsmon and The most experienced oaisers that the