The New York herald., 1876-09-21
Was il Rashness Of the Dead or
Prudence Of the Living :?
Seven Companies Inactive While Custer
Was Slaughtered.
THE DEAD HERO'S LONGING EYES.
The Casualties in Crooks Late
Fight.
loRr LINCOLN, d. 7 Sept. 90, 1876,
XIu kisM AuGk SsAni DO lklH

loRr LINCOLN D. 7 Sept 20 1891
VIA BISMARCK. Sept 20. 1876 !
The column which left tho Yellowstone on the 10Th
f September, unccr the command of Major Reno,
cached VOLTS Point on the Missouri River the af
noon Of the 18Th without cncounterng any signs that
would indicate The presence OF Indian sud-
den expedition to wolrs Point caused by a report
that Long Dog with l5O followers had crossed the
Missouri and that tho river bank for mile was
covered with Indians. On examination it turned out
that Long Doy and his followers had crossed the river
and cndeavored procure ammunition from
the agent, Major Mitchell who held a long
conference with the chief, trying to persuade
HIM surrender This he declined do, stating that
Sitting Bull was on his way to For, Peck. and would
roupcl the agent to issue ammunition TO IS warriors
Long Dogs party stated that at time they were
surrounded by the soldiers, and had TO abandon their
Iepees and other property in order TO escape. They
under the impression that the soldiers in
pursuit OF them, although column had suspicion
OF their presence. ON finding they could obtain
ammunition at the agency they continued their march,
and supposed 10 have sonc into tho Canadian
comin,ons Pursuit impossible rs the Missouri at
Vol Point is not fordable.
CAMPAIGN.
On the morning OF the 18th General Terry arrived
board the steamer John II. Chambers and learning
The state OF AFFAIRS answered officially hat the
campaign at an end. Next morning the return
march began On General Terry's arrival at Bulord he
received irom General Sheridan very complimentary
despatch. approving his course during the campaign
\oky hat no is over n d me shO De
lo, In clearing up the causes which led to the great
dis ister that will be remembered in history.
No conldcbcc be placed the official report OF the
Dit,e Of the 18th OF June is full OF Inaccuracies
aud has been read with something approaching aston.
ishment by the who took part the fright II
the pubic want TO know the whole truth about
IuE MASSACRE
there must be O ul and searching Investigation
where witnesses will have to answer their oath.
II such should DO held startling rcvea-
lions may be looked Tor. The story OF Custcr's light
death is still unwr,,en. Your correspondent has
CLEANED some impo facts which must compel fur.
ther Investigations, bat the officers OF the regiment
Will give Information unless they are compelled 10
a. sc. From the day the HERALD correspondents
arrived IN the camp of the Seventh cavalry he scdu-
ousy sought such Information would enable him to
place this prav- question light and Tx IN
manner that should have no room tor cav or evasion
the 25th of June The task not easy one.
II was besct with dicu es that could not be met and
overcome in the ordinary way.
REricENcE
Men there who could tell the whole truth, but
they soldiers their duty he silent; they
obliged to speak the official language; they
loyal TO their regiment; there secret and they
felt tn 'mselvvs bound in honor to be silent II
nlso ,Lcir interest Was it not known that the men
VINO had IN Lie been the enemies of The dead Custer
were more than ever his enemies now that he was
deady HoA then, could u mere subaern darc to cx-
press an opinious He speak Official language or
be must prepare to be jumped, that is, pounccd upon
It some unwary moment and treated with the full
igor OF military law driven from mis- profession
md made beggar upon the world after years OF
nertorous service What wonder that men
Who know the whole truth refused to speak Iheir own
thoughts AMI merely echoed the official language. But
little by little the truth came out; words spoken
every unguarded moment aud dropped tho heat of
argument, simple questions answered by officers and
men, and the whole joined together aad connected has
produced the CONVICTION that there was blundcrng
of soldierly sympathy failure the part of
lncn do their duty or luSewarmuess IN supporting
General Cus,er-that might be called by ugly name
The whole truth OF the Custer massacre will
unless the American public demand a full and search
Ing investigation, when every man who was in the
asht the 18th OF June at the Little b. Horn will be
compelled to tell what he knows There Is buried
with the dead terrible secret bu, the witnesses still
live and the government learn the whole truth n
the government wants to know IT. Then be settled
forever the question whether the massacre oI the
Little Big Horn must be charged to rsshrcss Of the
desd prudence OF the living The issue is lar
and be evadcd. Either Custer or tho men
w ho fved hi ust bo adj slbl for a
Ives lost the Little Big Horn, ana now, while
the witnesses ahve, is the time to settle the
question forever
cusrER's JUSTIFIED.
That Custer was justified in making the attack on the
village will hardly be questioned by any officer who
has had any experience OF Indian gntnr On that point
tho opinion of officers OF the Seventh cavalry unan-
mous Even to-day they believe that had the Coz mcu
who rode after Clusters flag come into contact, as
body, with the Indians, success would not have been
doubtful Tor a moment Tho question, therefore,
hinges the description OF tho troops in tho actual
Gght and this naturally involves the consideration OF
how far Custcr's plans carried by his subor
dinais officers anu what amount OF operation he
ceivcd Mt their hands There is the story OF
THE pour BOTTOM,
about which gwen even by those
who happened TO be engaged IN H. An investigation
would throw some curious light Oh the actions OF
Lrounent actors, and bring out IN bold relief names
That have scarcely been mentioned IN connection vh
tho light the route one may choose TO view II.
According tho Official report the three companies In
the bottom under MAYOR Reno we're overwhelmed ty
mass OF Indians aud compelled take to the woods.
prominent actor ~ tue night assured me that whcn
The skirnisn line retired tie woods there were uot y
indians actually engaged Win cuos command ~ -
extremely doubtful whether moro than one man nad
been struck by hostile bullet when the skrinsh iinc
retired to the woods Nearly all the men Killed
While getting their horses The TO the ior'l
There great deal OF confusion and the ride 10 The
lord something like stampede, with Reno at the
bead Opions divided also as to whether the po-
>.on lno point OF The bottom was tenable