Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-07-12


A Battle with Indians General
Custer and a Portion Of his Com
mand Ennihilated.
One of the bravest soldiers that
the war against Rebellion developed
was General Custer. The Joy Of the
Centennial Jubilee had not yet sub
sided when the country was startled
by the announcement by despatch of
the 9Th inst, that Gen. Custer, with
a portion of his command, had been
annihilated in battle with Indians,
in Southern Montana, on Sunday,
June 25th. The despatch reads:
The battle was fought on the 25th,
thirty or forty miles below the Little
Horn. Custer attacked the Indian
village of from $500 to 1900 war
riors on one side, and Col. Reno was
to attack on the other. Three COM
pauies were placed on hill as re-
serve. Gen. Custer and fifteen Off
GERS and ever NAL belonging to the
five companies were killed. Col.
Reno retreated under protection of
the reserve. The whole humber kill
ed was 315. Gen. Gibbon joined
Reno. The Indians left the battle
ground, which looked like a slaugh
tsr-peu, as it really was, being in a
harrow ravine. The dead were much
mutilated.
Since the first despatch relative to
the disaster to our arms, others have
been received. All confirm the first
one. No one has been found who
escaped from that part of Clusters
commaud. that he led in person
against the Indians. The conjecture
is that every man of it was killed.
That portion of his command that he
assigned to the commandership OF
Col. Reno, barely escaped the same
fate. Gen. Terry, with Gibbons S
command, saved Reno's division from
the fate of Custer, as may be learned
by the following depatch:
At Boou, JUNE %. Gen. Custer, at
the head of twelve veteran compa-
MES, left his camp at the mouth OF
the Rosebud river to follow the
Sioux, whom he believed were III
force. On the 2Sth Gen. Terry, with
Gibbons command, wearied with
making forced marches, were met
by Grow scouts, who reported the
massacre of Clusters command Next
morning at an early hour the head of
the column entered a pain, half a
mile wide and bordering on the left
bank of the Little Big Horn River,
where had recently been large Iu-
dian village, extending three miles
along the stream, and where still
standing several lodges with horses
slaughtered around them, and con-
tanning the bodies of nine chiefs. The
ground was strewn everywhere with
carcases of horses and cavalry equip
menfs, besides buffalo robes, pack
ages of dried meats, and weapons and
utensils belonging TO the Indians On
a bluff near by waiting for relief was
found fhe remnant OF fine Seventh cav
under Colonel Reno, who greeted
Terry with hearty cheers They had
been fighting from Sunday noon, fine
25th, until the night of fhe 26fh, when
General Terry's command scared fhe
Indians off. They were not aware of
Custer,s defeat
While preparations were being made
for the removal Of the wounded par
ty was sent on custer's trail to look for
traces of his command. They found
awaiting them sight to appal the
stoutest heart at point about three
miles down the right bank of the stream.
Custer evidently attempted to ford and
attack the village from the ford. The
trail was found to lead back, up to
the bluffs and 10 the northward, as if
fhe troops had deem repulsed and COM
PEELED to retreat, and at the fine bad
been cut off from regaIning the forces
under Reno. The bluffs along the right
bank come sharply down TO the wafer,
and are interspersed by ravines, lying
as they had fought line behind line
showing what defensive positions had
been successively taken up and held
fill none were left to fight there, bud-
died in a narrow compass horses and
men were piled promise uously. Atfhe
highest point of the ridge lay Custer. sur
rounded by chosen band. Here were
his two brothers and his nephew, Mr..
Reed, Colonels Yates and Cook and
Captain Smith, all lying in circle of a
few yards. their horses beside them.
The last body found was that of Kel-
iogg correspondent Of the Bismarck
Tribune and New York Herald. Two
hundred and sixty-one bodies have
been buried so far.
The Indians for more thar twenty
four hours allowed the garrison no resi-
and inflicted some loss. But for the
finely arrival or relief fhe command
would have been cut off TO a mau
The numder saved with Reno was 329
including 81 wounded.
The loss among the Indians wa.
probably considerable, as bodies have
been found IN every direction, ant
they left behind only a email portion o