The Worthington advance., 1876-07-20
THE STORY TOLD.
A Connected Account of Clusters Disaster and
Death

A Connected Account of Clusters Disaster and
Death.
From tho st. Paul Dispatch.
GEN. TERRY ORDERS.
From tho information at hand it ap.
pears that on the 22d ult. 1t. Col. Gus
ter started at moan from the mouth of
the Rosebud river, tributary Of the
Yellowstone, under orders from Gen.
Terry, which required him to proceed up
the Rosebud in pursuit of the Indians
whose trail had been discovered a few
days previous by Major Reno. Gen.
Terry declined to give precise instruc'
tions for the movement, not wishing to
hamper Clusters action when near the
enemy and placing full confidence in his
zeal, energy and ability. The General
commanding (Terry) expressed, howe yer
his views Of what Clusters action should
be and desired him to conform to them
unless he should see sufficient reason for
departing from them. These were, that
Custer should proceed up the Rosebud
until he ascertained definitely the direc-
tion Of the tail above spoken Of. Should
it be. found, as appeared almost
certain, to lead towards the Little
Big Horn, the General thought
Custer should still proceed
southwark as far, perhaps, as the head.
quarters Of the Tongue river, which are
directly southwark, twenty-five miles,
from the head Of the Rosebud and about
the same distance southeast from the 10.
cality on the Little Big Horn where Gus.
ter found and attacked the Indians. This
route would have taken Custer lin a di.
rect linc) about one hundred miles south.
ward from the mouth Of the Rosebud.
From the headwaters Of the Tongue river
the General. advised that Custer should
turn, westerly or northwesterly, towards
the Little Big Horn, feeling constantly
to his left so as to pre1ent the
escape of the Indians to the south or
southeast by passing around to Clusters
left. Custer was informed by the Gen.
eral that the column Of Col. Gibbon was
then in motion and would move up the
Big Horn to the parks at the mouth Of
the Little Big Horn, whence its move,
mcnts would he controlled by circum.
stances. The hope was expressed that
the Indians upon the Little Big Horn
might be so nearly enclosed by the two
columns that their escape would be inl-
possible. Custer was desired, on his way
up the Rosebud to thoroughly examine
the upper part Of eftTullock's (Tinlock 81
creek, stream rising on the
divide between the Big Horn and Rose.
bud and emptying near the mouth Of the
Big uorn,) and to send scout to Gibbon
informing him Of the result of this ex.
animation. Custer was further desired
to report to Gen. Terry on the the sup
ply steamer at the mouth Of the Little
Big Horn not later than the expiration
OF the time for which his command was
rationed, or July LIST.
cusrER's FORCE.
The command consisted Of the Seventh
Cavalry, about seven hundred and twenty
strong and q detachment Of scouts and
guides, increasing tho whole number Of
fighting men to near eight hundred.
cusrER's MOVEMENTS.
About twenty miles up the Rosebud,
at about nine o'clock on the morning of
the 23d, Custer struck large lodge. pole
trail, about ten days old, the same which
Reno had before discovered in the Tongue
river. valley. This lodge.pole trail indi.
Gated the recent NOV ement of an Indian
village. 1t led up the Rosebud and Gus
ter's command camped on it At night, Al
miles up the Rosebud or about east from
shc sources of Tinlock's creek, which it
appears he did not stop to examine.
ABANDONED INDIAN CAMP.
The morning Of the 24th, after pro.
ceeding six miles farther, the scouts re-.
ported the trail growing frcshcr, some
ten miles ahead, and there was a consul.
tation by Custer witt, his officers. At
four in the afternoon, having rode that
day IS miles and being now about ninety.
two miles from tho mouth OF the Rose.
bud, and At the forks of that river, about
thirty miles north from the sources Of the
Tongue river and about thirty miles cast.
ward from the Little Big Horn, the
command was rested on tho site Of IN
Indian village which had evidently been
moved away but a few days before.
:. ~, A NIGHT MARCH. =: :
J. At eleven clock On the night Of the
24th, the command was again mounted
and moved, the scouts leading, up 4 creek
emptyiBg into the Rosebud. About dav
light there was halt for res: and coffee
Soon after the scouts brought word that
they had seen IN indian villagc from the
top Of the divide. sThe command WAS
then moved up near to the head of tho
creAk ahoy,k <hrao vn;1no frnun %h> A.~ >r