The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-08-09
GEN. CUSTER'S LAST CHARGE.
Lieut.. Carland's Story OF tho snnsuinnry
Battle with the Sioux.

Lieut.. Carland's Story OF tho Snns urinary
Battle with the Sioux.
A letter dated "Mouth of the Little
Horn, giving new version of Clusters
fight with the Sioux, has been received
from Lieut.. John Garland, OF Company
b, Sixth infantry, attached to Gen. Glib
bons' command. Lieut.. Garland says !:
at the mouth Of the Rosebud, on the
twenty second of June, we struck q
large Indian train leading up the Rose
bud valley. Gen. Custer from there
took command of the twelve companies
OF cavalry and pushed on after the
Sioux. He followed them to the foot Of
the mountains, and found by scouting
in the valley that they were encamped
on branch of the Little Horn. This
was on the night of the twenty-fourth.
On the twenty fifth he took five COM
panies and followed the stream down on
one side, while Major Reno, with seven
companies, went down on the other.
Major Reno was to attack the enemy in
the rear while Custer fought them in
front. This would have worked all right,
as Reno had got in their rear, but Gen.
Custer, marching down on the other
side, saw what he supposed was the
front OF the camp, and made charge on
them. the indians giving way and letting
him right into the gap. The brave man
rode on with his three hundred men,
and would have killed the whole 1000
Sioux, I believe, if there had been no
enemy behind him; but instead of charg-
ing the front, he was right in the center
Of between three thousand and four
thousand Sioux. Those that we're be-
hind him kept concealed until he was
right in their midst, and then, when it
was too late, he made bold dash try
ing to cut through them, but the enemy
were too many. He fell about the first
one, and the horses becoming unmanage-
able, the poor soldiers were cut down in
less time than it takes to tell it.
The Sioux then turned with all their
fury upon Major Reno. He charged
them with one company, and returned
with only eleven men. He then retreat.
ed short distance, placing his men on
bluff. He kept them off until tho
night of the twenty seventh, his men 60
ing without water forty-eight hours. He
was relieved by Gems. Terry and Glib
bons, who saw the smoke from where they
were at the Little Horn, and thinking
1t signal of the Sioux, marched that
OF the Seventh cavalry.
Out OF the whole regiment only 1928
men are left, and forty OF them are
badly wounded. It makes one heartsick
to look over the battle ground and see
the poor fellows, some Of them with their
entrails cut out, others with their eyes
dug out and heart laid across their face.
They even stopped to cut their pockets
to get their money and watches. The
most fearful sight was Colonel Cooke.
He was q splendid looking man, with
long, dark whiskers. They dug his
face all out SO as to get his fine beard, it
is supposed. They did not dis6gure Gen.
Custer in any way, but his brother, Tom
Custer, was opened and his heart taken
out.
Gen. Custer, Capt. Tom Custer, and
Boston Custer, brothers of the general,
First Lieutenant Calhoun, brother -in-law
Of the general, and A. 81. Reed, the gen.
erals nephew, fell within ten feet of each
other.
We estimate the loss C the enemy at
five hundred, though it is hard to tell
how many were killed, as they carried
most of them away. Gen. Terry and the
remaining officers nre feeling very badly.
I Was standing by Gen. Custer when
Gen. Terry came up, and as he looked
down upon the noble general tears
coursed down his face as he said "The
flower of the army is gone ut last" Gus
ter was supposed to be the first one who
fell, but we found seventeen cartridge
shells by his side, where he had kept
them of until the last moment.
No blame can be attached to any one
for this fearful slaughter. If Custer
had had the whole regiment, it would
only have been worse, as the Sioux were
too many.
There is one poor Grow Indian on the
boat who has five shots through him, yet
he is happy because he has nine scalps
at his side.
These Sioux were all from the same
agency, as we found camp equipments
that had never been used, also blankets
that wero new and branded United States
Indian department..
Inauguration Day.