Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-07-07

Village uuuUeItu l,oUu IUuReSi dUu i ID
thought there w,re 1000 warriors. General
Custer was directed by Gen. Terry to fnd and
feel the strength OF the indians. but not to
fight uoless Terry arrived with infantry and
with Gibbons column The casualties foot up
26l killed and 50 wounded.
New York, July "A special to the Tri
buue, dated Camp Mouth Of Big Horn, July
Sd. via Bismarck, D. l., July 9th. says: Gen.
tiom the mouth of the Rosebud June 22d.
The command reached the Indian CAN'T on he
Little Biz Horn on June 25sh. Major Reno,
with three companies, attacked on The south
and vas repu sed, the loss including Lleuten.
ants McIntosh and HodgSon, DR.. DeWolf, and
50 men killed aud As wounded. Capt. Ben.
tons command made for the bluffs across the
river, and was saved rom instant destruction
by the timely arrival Of a battalion. General
Custer, with FIVE companies, attacked the
lower part of the camp down the river, some
tour or five miles from Rcuo's ford. They
wtre repulsed at the ford, but made a gallant
defense among the bluffs. The command was
. xtcrmiuated. The loss is Is ofhc, rs and over
200 meu. The remainder are missing, but are
prob.bly killed. Gro. Custer, Col. Custer,
Col. Keogh. Col. Yates, to'. Cook, Captain
Smith, Lieut.. Calhoun. Lieut.. Por,er, Lieut..
S:urgis, Lieut.. Refill. Ill vi. Critteuden and
DR.. Lord were killed; also Clusters brother,
Boston, ar! nephew. and the Herald's CORES
pcudant, X lJlg. Iii vi Harrington is ruls-
,iug. Crster's expression was serene About
) 600 warriors were engaged. The lhdIaDs
suffered a heavy loss, and abandoned an lm
Moose store OF supplies Reno's and Ben
IONS command entreuchcd Themselves. ard
were under a murderous fire until the evening of
the 10Th. The men were saved by the opportune
arrival of General Terry. General Custer under
estimated the enemy, separated his force ami was
defeated in detail. He probably InlsJudged The time
necessary To make the distance between his own
and Ronos ford, thus losing the moral effect of a
simultaneous attack. The survivors of The COM
mand remained 1T the village two days burying the
dead and careiDg for the wounded. The troops Tell
back to the mouth of the Big Horn TO bring away
the wounded and to reit for future operations
General Sherman III all interview yesterday, III an
swer 10 d question by a reporter as TO the reasons OF
the Indian campaign said: We are doing this at
the special request of the Indian department. II
does not originate with the War Department at all.
You will see on my map where the Indian resurva-
ton is. Our purpose is TO draw these Indians who
are Of the very widest and mos. savage sort down
on the reservation; Montana is the most promising
of our territories. 1t is settled BY all intelligent
people among whom are many old soldiers, and it
is the richest and most promising OF our settlement.
These Indians have been annoying The settlers
and we are 10 drive them down on The reserv lion.
You can say that We will do it now or
them.
have sent every man / could spare Into that region,
even taxing troops from Laramie and Salt Lake.
The Government in its wisdom directs the doing Of
certain things in these regions. 1t directs an ex-
petition like this OF Terry, an expedition necessary
for the development Of that country. We do the
h.st ,n pon with pur material hnt we are in no
condition to do the work required OF u.s."
LATER.
CHICAGO, July 7th. An inter-ocean special says
Custer left The mouth of the Rosebud with ~ CON-
pauies. They followed up the trail in the direction
of the Big Horn. The Indians were making for
the Eastern branch of the Little Big Horn. Cen
cral Terry with Gibbons command OF live compa-
mics of infantry and toar Of cavalry started To as
ccnd the Biz Horn to attack the enemy on the rear.
On the morning of the 18th. two Crow scouts
brought Intelligence of the battle of the previous
day. Upon the receipt of the news the command
commence its march in a ~southcry direction where
smoke could be seen, which indicated that Custer
had fired the Indian village. The next morning
the mead of the column entered II plain bordering
on the bank of the Little Big Horn, where recently
had stood an immense Indian village three miles
in length. The ground was strcwn with slaughtered
horses, calvary equipments an the dead bodies OF
nine Indian chiefs. The clothing of Llcutcnants
Sturgis and Porter were also found pierced with
bullcts. Further Oh was found the body Of Lieut..
Just then a scout arrived with intelligence that
Col. Reno was entrenched with the remnant of tue
7th cavalry, on a bluff near by waiting relief. The
command pushed on and found Reno with the re
main.ie Of the seven companies. Rcno's command
had been fighting since Sunday noon, the 10Th, un-
til relieved By Gen Terry, the night OF the 18th.
Tcrry's arrival caused the Indians TO retire. Reno
knew noting of the fate of the other five compa-
MES which had been separated from them on the
TO make an attack under Clusters command
at ii point about three miles down the right bank of
the stream. Custer had apparently made all attack
on the lnuians AID was compelled 10 retreat, but
was cut Off from tie main body. They were forced
into a narrow recess where horses and NEIL l.y
slaughtered promiscuously. Here were found the
bodies OF Custer, his two brothers and nephew,
Mr.. Read, CU'oncls Yates and Cooke, and Cap
Smith, all lying in a circle Of a fc W yards, aud
here one after another of Clusters brave command
fell.