The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-07-13
Terrible Battle with the Indians.
Cen. Custer and has whole Com
nland Killed

camp at the mouth OF the Big Horn. dat
ed Juv 3d, Via. Bismarck, ID. T., July
9TH:
General Caster left the Rosebud, June
IA, with twelve companies Of the Seventh
Cavalry, striking trail where Reno left
il, leading in the direction OF the Little
Horn. on the evening Of the 18th. Fresh
trails We're reported, and on the morning
Of the 18th IN Indian village. 20 miles
above the mouth Of the Little Horn, was
reported. about three miles long, half Il
mile wide and fifteen miles away.
Gen. Custer pushed his command rapid
u, though they mad a march of IS miles
IN twcnty-iour hours preceding the battle,
and when near the village it was discov-
cred that the Indians were moving III hot
haste, as if Ietreating.
Mai Reno with seven companies of the
Seventh Cavalry was ordered to the left
u attack the village. at Its head. while
General Custer with five companies went
~ the right and commenced Il vigorous
attack Major Reno began the attack
with three companies and was almost in
stanily surrounded. After an hour or
more at vigorous lighting, during which
he lost l-ieutenants IIodgson and McIn-
At'Niis ~ l'NNPIi GNU INtINc Jutt, Win
several Indian scouts, killed, and many
wounded, he cut his way through to the
river and gained bluff 500 feet in height
" here he intrenched, and WAS Joined by
Colonel Benton with tour companies
in the meantime the Indians resumed
tar attack, making repeated and desper-
ate charges which were repulsed with
great slaughter 10 the Indians They
gained higher ground than Reno otcu-
lied, and as their arms We're of longer
l.M-e and better than those Of the cavai-
~, they kept up CALLING fire until night
liii
During the night Reno strengthened his
position and was prepared tor another at
Ii1ct, which WAS made at daylight, and
during The day Reno lost, in Killed and
wounded. Il large portion of his COM
mlnd. over forty having been killed be-
fore The buil was reached, many Of them
40 hand TO hand conflict with the Indians.
who oHtnumbcred them ten to one His
men had been without water for thirty
sly hours, and the suffering was heart
rcUdnL
i'm iai1 state of affairs they determined
fn reach water at all hazards, and Colonel
Benton made Il rally with his company
.ad routed the main body OF Indians, who
Ncle guarding the approaches to the riv-
Dt Tie Indian sharp-shooters were near
Aupposlie the mouth vi the ravine through
WAlcit ;hc brave BOYS approached the riv-
or bat the attempt was made, and though
Que man was Killed and seven wounded
luv water was gained and the command
relieved
When The fighting ceased for the night,
Mayor Reno prepared for further attacks.
/ here had been tortE-cight hours of ii 2ht-
in- viii no word from Custer. but after
tMpntN-iour hours more lighting the sus-
pel>e ended. The Indians abandoned their
Village in such great haste and confusion
that Major Reno knew that stlccor was
r.o4r al hand
l.cn- Ferry with Gibbon, commanding
AIS own infantry. had arrived. and as the
comrades met, men wept on each others
necNs. Inquiries were then made for Gen.
Custer, but none could tell where he was
Soon an officer came rushing into camp
and related that he had found Gen. Gus
Ter dead. stripped naked but not mutilat-
81. aud near him his two brothers. bis
ntulhcr-in-llW. Calhoun. md his nephew.
toA Yates, and that Col. keogh, Capt
smith. Lieut. Crittenden, Lieut.. Stlrois,
col. Cooke. Lieut.. Porter, Lieut.. Halrinp-
l'n, pr. Lord, Mack Kellogg, the Bis
mArrl Tribune Spondeut. and 1870
mtn and scuut~ were also killed.
Gcu. Custer went into battle with com
lanie- {. l.. /. 7 and +. of the 9Th caval-
rt. and the staff and non-commissioned
slI.l vl his regiment, and a number Of
ltAI 4 NO, a.
aiNr
G.u. Custer was surrounded on every
side to- Indians and horses. and fell fight
mg He was among the first who fell,
uut when his cheering voice was no long
cr heard the Indians made easy work Of
The remainder
Ii appears that Gen Custer under esti-
mating the enemy, separated his force
aah Was defeated in detail. lie probably
lnl~ judged the time necessary to make the
distance between his own and Reno's ford
thus losing the effect of simultaneous
attack, and with only five companies at
lacked the lower part of the camp down
Ihc river some tour or five miles from
i;eno's ford They Were repused at the
!nrd, but made gallant defense among
The bluffs, where the command was cX-
terminated The loss is thirteen officers
and lover two hundred men The balance
are missing ana are probably killed
Gen. Custer, Col. Custer, Col. keogh,
Col. atcs, Col, Cook, Capt Smith. Lieut..
calhoun. Lieut. Porter, Lieut.. Sturpis,
lAeut Crittenicn and Dr Lord were Kill
ej; also cen. Casters brother Boston.
and his nephew, and the IIcralds cores
peni'nt, Kellogg. Lieut.. Harrington is
missing.
The bodies Of all, save the newspaper
correspondent, were stripped and most of
thom horribly mutilatcd. Clusters was
Mot muilated. lie was shot through the
body aud through the head
HE troops cared for the wounded and
turicd the dead, and returned to their
base ior supplies and instructions from
the General of the army Colonel Smith
arrived at Bismarck Wednesday night
with 80 Of the wounded
The Indians lost heavily in the battle
he Crow scout survived by hiding in Il
rNine- He believes that the Indians lost
more than the whites. The village num-
hcrcd $500 lodges and il is thought there
were 1000 warriors
General Custer was directed by General
cry L. ascertain the force of the Indians
int not to fight unless Terry arrived with
infantry and with Gibbons column. The
casualties foot up 2GI killed and ~ wound
ed
GIN. SHERMAN INTERVIEWED
General Sherman is reported to have
SAID l" a newspaper correspondent in an
>wer 10 questions concerning Clusters com
mand:
We are doing this at the special re-
quest of the Indian department, and it
does not originate with the war depart
ment at all. You will see on my map
where the Indian reservation is. Our pur-
pose Is TO drive these Indians who are of
the very widest and most savage race
down on the reservation You can say that
we will do it now, or eXterminate them. -"
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF TIE FIGHT.
CHICAGO, July Z.
Sioux City Expedition, Mouth of the
Big Horn, July l, via Bismarck. D. r.,
July e. Long before the arrival of this
despatch you will have heard of the trag-
edy which has been enacted here. The