Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-08-09
The Sioux Account Of the Custer
Slaughter.
ST.. PAUL. Mimi July s.

under date of July "a, reports to Adj't.-
/ Gen. Ruggles Is follows;
4 SIR respectfully report the following as
! having been derived from seven Sioux In
| dams just returned from the hostile camp,
| July 81, some OF whom were engaged in the
| battle OF June 25 with the Seventh Cavalry.
! Their account is as follows: The hostiles
were celebrating their greatest of religious
! festivals, the Sun Dance, when runners
! brought news of the approach OF cavalry.
! The dance was suspended, and general
| rush followed, mistaken by Custer perhaps
| for a retreat for horses, equipments and
arms. Maj. Reno first attacked the village
| at the south end and across the Little Big
Horn. Their narrative Of Reno's operations
! comedies with the published account Of how
| he was quickly confronted and surrounded;
! how he dlsmounted, rallied in the timber,
remounted and cut his way back over The
! ford ard up the bluffs with considerable
| loss, and the combination OF the light for
some little time when runners arrived
| from the north end If the village or camp
with the news that the cavalry had attacked
| the north und, some three or four miles dis
J tAnt. The Indians about Reno had not be-
! fore this the slightest intimation of fighting
at any other point. A force large enough to
prevent Reno FROM assuming the offensive
was left, and the surplus available force
| followed to the other end OF the camp,
where, finding the Indians successfully
driving Custer before them, instead of
! unitioC with them, they separated into two
parties and moved around the Hanks Of his
cavalry. They report that Custer crossed
the river, but only succeeded in reaching the
edge of the Indian camp. After lie was
driven to the bluffs, the fight lasted perhaps
an hour The Indians have no hours of tho
| day, and the time can only be given approx
I imately. They report that small number
! of cavalry broke through the line of Indians
| in their rear, and escaped, but were over
| taken within distance OF five or six
miles and all killed. infer from
| this that this body of retreating cav
airy was probably led by the missing officers,
and that they tried to escape only after
! Custer fell. The last man that was Killed
was killed by the two sons Of a Santee In
| dian, Red Top, who was leader in the Min.
nesota massaeres of '62 and g.
! After the battle the squaws entered the
| field to plumber and mutilate the dead.
| General rejoicing was INDUCED in, and IA dis
| tribution of arms and ammunition hurr; cdiy
made. Then this attack on Reno was vigur-
| ously renewed. Up to the attack the Indians
had lost comparatively few men, hut now
| they say their most serious loss
! took place. They give no idea of
numbers, but say there were a
great many. Sitting Bull was neither killed
nor personally engaged in the fight. He re-
NAMED III the Council tent directing opera
tons. Crazy Horse, with a large band
and Black Moon were the principal leaders
on the 18th of June. Kill Eagle, Chief of
the Blackfeet, was at the head of some
twenty lodges of this Agency. He was prom
inently engaged in the battle of June %, and
afterward upbraided Sitting Bull FOR not
taking an active personal part in the engage
ment.
Kill Eagle has sent me word that he was
forced into the fight; that he desires to re-
turn to the Agency; and that he will return
! to the Agency If he is killed for it. He is
reported to be actually on the way back to
go to his Father and Agent and make con.
! fession and receive absolution for his defiant
crime against the hand that had gratuit
ously fed him for three years He is truly
q shrewd chief, who must have discovered
He who fights and runs away
May live to light another day"
The Indians were not all engaged at any
one time. Heavy reserves were held To re-
pair losses and renew tacks successfully.
| The fight continued until the third day
when runners, kept purposely on the look
out, urried into camp and reported great
! body Of troops Gen. Terry's command) adj
yancing up the river. The lodges having
been previously prepared for a move, 4
| retreat in a southerly direction followed,
toward and along Rosebud Mountain
They marched about fifty miles, went in
to camp and held consultations when it
wa determined to send into all the Agencies
reports of their success, and 10 call upon
| them to come out and share the glorics that
! there were expected to he in the future.
! We may expect an influx of oycrbearing
and impudent Indians, to urge, by force,
! perhaps, an accession to Sitting Bulls de-
mands. There is a general gathering in the
hostile camp from each Of the Agencies on
the Missouri River, Red Cloud and Spotted
] Mil ~ /.
Arrapahoes.
They report for the especial benefit of
their relatives here that in the three fights
they had with the whites they have captured
| over 400 stand of arms, carbines aud rifles
| reyulvers not counted; ammunition without
end, and some sugar, coffee, bacon and hard
/ bread. They claim To have captured from
/ the whites this summer over 800 horses and
mules. | suppose this includes operations
/ against soldiers, Crow Indians and Black
Hills miners.
/ The general outline of this Indian report
! concurs with the published reports. The
/ first attack OF Reuo'S began well on in the
/ day say the Indians. They report about
| 800 whites killed, tut do nos say how many
/ Indians were killed.
4 report from another source SAYS the
! Indians obtained from Custer command 500
! carhinCs and reyolvers. | have, since writ
/ INK the above, heard from the returned
| hostiles, which they communicated as
secret to their particular friends here,
Information that a large party of Sioux and
Cheyennes were to leave Rosebud Mountain,
or hostile camp, for this Agency To intimi.
date and compel the Indians here TO Join
Sitting Bull, II these refuse, they are or
4 dered to soldier them beat theml and
steal their ponies, Very respectfully,
]. ;. POLAND
/ Captain Sixth Infantry, Breyet Lieutenant
( Colonel, Commanding.