Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-07-20
CUSTER'S LAST BATTLE FIELD.

CUSTER'S LAST BATTLE FIELD.
the prairies, and opened 4 heavy fire
on the soldiers. After skirmishing for
a few minutes, Reno fell back to his
horses in the timber.
The Indians moved to his left and
rear. evidently with the intention of
cutting him off from the ford. Reno
ordered his men to mount and move
through the timber. just as the men
got into the saddle the Sioux, who had
advanced iu the timber, fred at close
range and killed one soldier. Col.
Reno then commanded the men to dis
mount, and they did so, but he soon
ordered them to mount again and
move out OH the open prairie. The
Indians were every moment getting
thicker between the companies on the
river bottom and the reserve on the
hill.
''Col. Reno ordered his men to
mount and cut their way through. A
wild scramble for life now began. 1t
was every one for himself. Indians on
every side rose up and fired at the fly
ing horsemen, and hundreds mounted
on swift ponies pursued the soldiers,
easily enough coming up with the
heavy American horses. 1t was a
hand-to-hand tight, one trooper often
having as many as five Indians after
him. The troops used their revolvers
at short range, emptying an Indian
saddle at every shot. At the ford,
about i. mile distant, a strong force of
Indians was found holding it. But the
troopers dashed on them, crossed the
river, and began to ascend the high
bank opposite. 1t was, a mere Indian
trail leading up the face of bald hill.
The Indians rallied. and, taking shelter
in the bushes about the ford, opened 4
deadly fire on the soldiers as they
forded and ascended the opposite
bank.
SLAUGHTER At THE FORD.
"On account Of the narrowness of
the ford Il great crowd soon collected
about the crossing and became jammed
there; and into this mass of men and
horses the Indians fired at short range.
The loss of life here was fearful.
Lieut.. Hodgson fell while gallantly en-
deavoring to get his men across the
stream. Hodgson had already crossed
the stream himself and was ascending
the opposite bank when his horse was
shot and rolled down tho bank with
him. Detaching himself from the
fallen animal he grasped the stirrups
of a passing soldier to help himself up
the bank, and had nearly reached the
top when a shot struck him and he
fell back. The Sioux, mounted on
their swift ponies, dashed up by the
side of the soldiers and fired at them,
killing both men and horses. Little
resistance was offered, and it was a
complete rOut to the ford. just as l
got out my horse stumbled and fell
and was dismounted, the horse run
ming away after Reno's command.
saw several soldiers who were dis
mounted, their horses having been
killed or having run away. There
were also some soldiers mounted who
had remained behind. should think
in all there were as many as thirteen
soldiers, and, seeing no chance to get
away, called on them to come into
the timber and we would stand off the
Indians. Three of the soldiers we're
wounded, and two of them 50 badly
they could not use their arms. The
soldiers wanted to get out, but I said
no, we can't get to the ford, and, be
sides, we have wounded men and must
stand by them. The soldiers still
wanted to so, but l told thes, I was
an old frontiersman, understood Indi-
ans, and if they would do as | said, l
would get them out of the scrape,
which was no worse than Scrapes I
had been in before. About half of the
men were mounted, and they wanted
to keep their horses with them, but l
told them to let the horses 60 and fight
on foot.
"We staid in the bush about three
hours, and L could hear heavy firing
below in the river, apparently about z
miles distant. did not know who il
was, but knew the Indians were fight
ing some of our nen, and learned after
ward it was Custer's command. Near
ly all the Indians in the upper end Of
the valley drew off down the river
and the fight with Custer lasted about
one hour, when the heavy firing ceas
ed. When the shooting below begal
to die away said to the boys, ''Come
now is the time to get out" Most o.
them did not 60, but waited for night
l told them the Indians would come
back, and we had better be off at once
L NARROW ESCAPE.
Eleven of the thirteen said the!
would go, but two stayed behind.
depl0yed the men as skirmishers. ant
we moved forward on foot toward TIN,
river. When we had nearly got to TIN
river we met FIVE Indians on ponies
and they fired on us. / returned TIN
fire and the Indians broke, and w
then forded. the river, the water beinl
breast, deep. We finally got over
wounded men and all, and headed TO
Reno's command, which I. could. Sc
drawn up on the bluffs alon9 the-rive
about mile off. We reached Reno il
safety. We had not been with Rem
more than fifteen minutes when l sa,
the Indians coming up the valley fror
4 Clusters fight. Reno was then mOvi1i
his whole command down the ridge tt
ward Custer.
The Indians crossed the river belo,
l 0ns al 10 1~~A9 -