Richland beacon., 1876-08-05
THE CUSTER FIGHT.
4 Friendly Grow, the Only Sur
yivOr Of 25O Who Went Into
the Fight. Gives the Only
Connected Account OF
ihe Battle Yet
Published.
fyOw he asauaged to Escape.

New YORK, July ga communi-
cation from Bismarck, ID. T., dated
July 18th, from an officer high in
command of the forces fighting against
the Indians, SAYS the Crow scout
Curley is believed to be the only sur
vivor of the 250 men who vert into
the action with Custer. He is very
clear in his knowledge of the fight,
aud has made 4 statement. He went
| down with two other Crows, and
went into action with Custer. He
says he kept down the river on the
north bank, four miles after Reno had
crossed to the south side above.
! Clusters object was 10 cut off The
Indians. He thought Reno would
drive them down the valley, and at
the same time attack the village on
two sides-be believing that Reno
would take it at the upper end, while
he (CuSter) would 60 in at the lower
end. Custer had to go further down
tbe river, and further away from
Reno than he wished, on account of
the steep bank along the north side
but at last he found ford and dashed
for it. The Indians met him and poured
in heavy fire from across the narrow
river. Custer tismounted to fight on
foot, but could not get his skirmi-hcrs
over the stream. In the meantime,
hundreds of Indians on foot and on
ponies poured over the river, which
was only about three feet deep, and
filed the ravines Oh each side of Gus
ter's men. Custer then fell back tc
some high ground beyond him, and
seized the ravines in his immediate
vicinity. The Indians completely
surrounded him, and poured in a ter
rible fire from all sides. They charged
Custer on foot in vast numbers, bu'
were again and again driven back
The fight began about 2 O'Clock, aht
lasted, Curley says, almost until The
sun went down over the hills. The
men fought desperately, and after ,h,
ammunition in their belts were ex
hausted, went TO their saddle-bags
got more, and continued the fight
Curley says more Indians were killed
than custer had men, He also say!
the big chief Custer lived until nearl
all bis men had heen killed or wounded
and went about encouraging his sol
diers to fight on. He got shot il
the left side and sat down with hi.
pistol in his hand, and another sho
struck Custer in the breast and he fel
over. The last officer killed was
man who rode a white horse, believed
to be Lieut.. Cook, Adjutant of tb
Seventh Cavalry, as Lieuts. Cook ant
Calhoun were the only officers VIII
, rode white horses, and Lieut. Calhoun
r was found dead on the skirmish lin
, near the ford, and probably fell earl.
in the action. Curley says when b
5 saw Custer was hcpelessly surrounde
: be watched his opportunity, got
: Sioux blanket, put it on and wake
up the ravine, and when the Siou
5 charged got among them. and the
, did not know him from one of tbei
e own men. There were some mounte
q Siox, and seeing one fall, Curley ra
5 to him, mounted his pony aud ga
: loped down as if going towards th
5 white men, but be went up q ravin
and got away. He says as he rod
a off lie saw, when nearly a mile fror
j, the battle, dozen or more soldier
: in ravine fighting with Sioux aroun
0 them. He thinks all were killed, q
4 they were outnumbered five to on
c and apparently dismountcd. The
: were. no doubt, part vf the ti;rty-fy