Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-07-10
Ehe Indian Fight.

Ehe Indian Fight.
A correspondent of the n W Yo:k Herald
writirg rom Clusters battlefield oo tie Littlc
Horu, under date Of June % gives an interest
ing account Of the movements Of Col. Reno al
ter be lad separated from Gen. Custer, pre-
paratory to an attack upDu the Sl,uX:
La OBJ dicEce to Cus.er's Or lcrs K 20 had
crosseI he river above the Iudian village. aad
was advancing upon it. Liule resistance was
made TO his crossing, aud but + w Indians
showed in his front as he d~eployed Oh The plain
betwceu the river ard the bluf-:hs valley
stretched down to the village, vi lch was abou;
four niles distant, AMI Reno advanced in col.
umo of companies. The valley was a little over
a nile wi le, aud the companies met with 10
serious resistance Ia their front for a consider.
able distaDt".
The first lnlimation Of great danger Was the
appearance Of mass IS of Ielilus On the bluffs
on the faux Of the left company. A heavy fire
was opcucd from the bluff. and at the same
time the Iui;aus charged 10 front. The fire
from the bluff, was so heavy that Rcoo's men
were forced over towards the river, Reuo or
dered he companies into the IiLbar, ald dis
mouurcd the battalion. They W re t3rlned o.
the edge of the wJ4ds, under a little depres
sion, to fight On fJot. The lndlans charged
across the plain aud made every effort to dis
lodge the white neu from the !iWb-r but were
rcpulsed tine after time. they charged both
on ponies aud on foot, but were driven back
each time with heavy loss. Reno sDon di:cov
cred that the Indians were working around 10
his rear and had catered he timber ahuve him,
aud between him aud tn r serve. The order
was given to mount and charge through the
timber towards the reserve. The lntilans had
already become So strong tha. II was tnuLd I'D
practicable 10 dl,judge them, WhlIcI mounted,
from behiud the bushes aud trees, and The
c.mmand again discounted and charged Oh
foot. The ludlaus we're every momeu getting
thicker bctweeD the comp mics on the river
bottom anG the reserve on the hill.
Col. Reno ordered his men TO mount and cut
their way through. y wild scramble for lie
now brgau. Il was every one tor himself. To-
diaus on every side rose ny aud fred at the fly.
iIg horsemen, aud hundInds mounted on swift
ponies pursued the s,dlcr:, easliy enough com
lug up with the heavy American htrses. 1t
was a faud to hand light, one trooper often
having as many as five ludiaus after him. The
troops used their revolgers at short range, emp
tying au Indian saddle at every shot. Al the
ford, about a mile distant, a strong force Ut ln
diaus was found holding ii; but the troopers
dashed over them, crossed the river aud began
to ascend the high bank opposite. 1t VS. u
mere Indian trail leading up the face Of u bald
hill. The ludiln2 rallied, and taking shelter 10
the bushes about the ford opened L deadly fire
on the soldiers as they tordcd aud ascended the
opposite bank.
% acc uut Of the narr0wncss Of the ford a
great crowd SOU collected about the crossing
ADD became jammed there, and toto this mass OF
men aud horses the Indians fired at short range.
The loss of life here was fearful. Lieut.. Hodg-
SOD fell while calamity cndravoring 70 get his men
across the stream. Hodgson had already cross.
ed the ford himself and was ascending the OPP
poSite bank when his horse was shot and rolled
down the bank with him. DelaciriDg himself
from the fallen animal he graspeG the stlrrups
of passing soldier to help himself vi the
bank, aud had nearly reached the top when a
shot struck him aud he fell back, rolling down
the bank into the water. As 5000 as the sol
diers reached the bill overlooking this ford they
dismuunled and opened fire On the Indians TO
cover the crossing of their comrades.
The reserve, which had been left with the
pack train, Was now reported coming w, and
5000 occupied the bill above the ford. The lu.
dians who bad eros I'D the river 9TH abJvc and
below the ford, charged the hill, but were re-
pulsed, and began to draw of. As soon as the
command was collected Capt. Benton, com
uaDdipg the reserve, ordered Capt. Weir to
push his company along the crest OF the bill on
the right bank Of the river, and see if he could
fad Custer, who had gone in that direction With
the five companies. Capt. Weir pushed out
about a mile, fighting heavily, when the lndiaos
became SO strong 10 bis front and 90 his Hanks,
that be sent word to Capt. Benton that if he
advanced any further be feared he would be
cut of aud surrounded. and Capt. Bentou at
once ordered him back. He returned with
difficulty, but succeeded in brlpgiug If his com-
paDy with a loss OF FIVE men.
The Indians kept up a brisk fire. but it was
evidenttha the masses had gone off somewhere,
and Col. Reno looked for a sudden attack In
$ he other quarter. Two hours went by aud
there Was no news from Custer. All wondered
where he bad gone gone or what he could be
doing. Another hour and then Col. Reno be-
came aux'ous about Custer and his command.
He was about to try and advance up the ridge
to look after Custer, but bad s)many wounded
it took a whole company to carry them. While
he was debating what was best TO be done, aud
10 hear from Custer, h. saw large bodies
OF Indiaus coming up the wiley, and 5000 a
attack began on his position. The men
had dug rife pits as we'll as they could in the
hard ground aud we're very impertectIy shelf.
cred. The Id ans charged on foot and by a
effort attempted to rout the SOL
The fight for a few minutes was desperate 10
he 'xtreme, and almost hand to hand, some of
The Indians, who were evidently unarmed or