Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-07-14

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Little Big Horn, marching until midnight
in the hope of opening communication
with Gen. Custer.
NEWS OF THE MASSACRE.
The morning of the Goth brought intelll-
gencc, communicated W three badly
frightened Grow scouts, OF the battle of the
previous day and its results. The story
was not credited, because 1t was not ex-
pected that an attack would be made earli-
err than the 9th, aud chiefly because no one
could believe that a force such as Custer
commanded could have met with disaster.
Still the report was in no way disregardcd.
All day long the toilsome march was piled,
and every eye bent upon a cloud of smoke
resting over the southern horizon, which
was hailed as a sign that Custer was sue
cessful and had fired the village. 1t was
only when night was falling that the weary
troops lay down upon their arms. The in
iantry hal marched twenty mine miles.
The march of tue next morning revealed
at every step some evidence of the conflict
which had taken place two days before.
At an early hour the head of the column
entered plain half mile wide, bordering
the left bank of the little Big Horn, where
had recently been an immense Indian viii
lage, extending three miles along the
stream, and where were still standing flu
neral lodges, with horses slaughtered
around them, and containing the bodies of
nine chiefs. The ground was strewn ev-
erywhere with the carcasses of horses, cav
airy equipments, besides buffalo robes and
packages of dried meat, and weapons and
utensils belonging to the Indians. On this
part of the field was found The clothing of
Lieuts. Sturgis and Porter pierced with
bullets, and a bloodstained gauntlet be-
longing to Col. Yates. Further on were
found bodies of men, among whom were
recognized Lieut.. Mcintosh, the inteipre-
ter from Fort Rice, and Reynolds, the
guide.
RENO IN DANGER.
Just then GREATNESS scout arrived with
the intelligence that Col. Reno, with
remnant OF the Seventh Cavalry, was in
trenched on a blur near by waiting for re-
lief. The command pushed rapidly on,
and soon came in sight of group sur
roundi ng a cavalry guard upon lefty en-
inence on the right bank OF the river.
Genera Terry forded the stream, accom-
panied by small party, and rode to the
spot. All the way the slopes were dotted
with bodies of men and horses. The Gem
eral approached and the men swarmed out
Of the works and greeted him with hearty
and repeated cheers. Within was found
Reno, with the remains OF seven compa-
MES of the regiment. In the centre of the
Enclosure was a depression in the surface
in which the wounded were sheltered, Gov.
cred witt canvas. Major Rcno's command
had been fighting from Sunday morning
the 18th, until the night of the 10Th, when
Terry's arrival caused the Indians to retire.
Up to this time Reno and those with him
were in complete ignorance Of the fate of
the other five companies which had been
separated from them early on the 25lh TO
make an attack under General Custer on
the village at another point. While prepa-
raiions were being made for the removal
of the wounded party was sent on Clusters
tr all TO look for traces of his command.
TERRIBLE SIGHT.
They found awaiting them sight fit to
appall the stoutest heart. At point three
miles down the right bank Of the stream,
Custer had evidently attempted to ford the
stream and attack the villages from the
ford. The trail was found to lead back up
to the bluffs and 10 the northward as if the
troops had been rePulsed and compelled to
retreat, and at the same time had been cut
pH iY;n l,a a..
| The bluffs along the right bank come
sharply down TO the water and are inter-
| spersed by numerous raviues. All along
the slopes and ridges and in the ravines,
| lying as they had fought, line behind line,
| showing where tho defensive positions had
| been successfully taken up and held till
none were left 10 fight, there were huddled
in narrow compass horses and men piled
| promiscuously.
At the highest point Of the ridge lay Gus
ter, surrounded by chosen band. Here
were his two brothers and his nephew.
Mr.. Reed, Colonies Yates and Cooke and
Capt. Smith, all lying in circle of few
yards, their horses beside them. Here be-
hind Yates's company the last stand had
been made, and here one after another,
| those last survivors of CusteI's five compa-
mics had met their death. The companies
had successfully thrown themselves across
the path Of the advancing enemy, and been
annihilated. Not a man escaped 10 tell the
tale, but it was inscibed on the surface Of
the barren hills in language more eloquent
than words. Two hundred and sixty. one
bodies have been buried from Custer's and
Reno's comma nds. The last one found
was that of Mr.. Kellogg, correspondent o.
the New York Herald.
| Flu RPHER PARTICULARs-THE SCENE Oh
THE CONFLICT.
The precise particulars of that horrible
catastrophe will never be known. There
are no survivors. The course of tho de-
tachment, after it began the attack, is
traced only by the bodies of the slain
How CALAMITY those poor fellows fought
can only be surmised. The Indians car
ried off some of their dead and wounded
others w ere concealed, or cached with In.
dian cunning, in order that the white mou
should not know how much damage they
had suffered.
The streams on which tho late tragica
events have happened are branches of The
Yellowstone, which in this region-South
ern Montana-has a general course from
west to east. Going up stream one sue
cessively passes on the LETT, or southern
bank of the Yellowstone, Powder River
Tongue River, Rosebud Creek, and thu
Big Horn. The last-named stream wa
supposed TO be the extreme western limi
of the operations of this expedition. Gen
Terry is the senior and ranking officer il