New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-27
THE WAR PATH.
General nIerrit,9s Hlovements-General
Crooks Command Getting Ready for
Active WORE.

(reEefII -IerIItts = .IO'eHeute-SStHcEAl
Crooks Command Getting Ready for
Active WORE.
New YORK, J1ly GA special 20 the
| Tr.i.s7.e from Fort Fettermar, says: Gen
| euaI Merits column, of the Fifth Cavalry.
Leaves here .O-morrow, to JON General
Crook Ii consists of ten companies OF
| cavalry, and Abop: 100 recruits OF infantry
companies, now with General Crock. i.
will reach -he man command about the
second of August. General Crook viii then
| have twenty i've companies Of cavalry, ten
| companies of infantry, and 200 Snake In
| diane. With this force active operations
| will be Immediately begun against Sitting
| Bulls forces.
The command will even then be much
| smaller in rum Der than the Indians against
whom it will contend. Any cooperation
| from General Terry's troops will hardly be
practicable before another engagement is
| had. as the Indians are encamped very near
General Crook and evidently preparing Tor
| a struggle.
The building Of outposts at the mouth Of
the Tongue and Big Horn rivers Will begin
at once under protection Of General Terry s
forces.
I. is probable The campaign against the
Indians will be conducted entirely by Gen
eTal Crook. under the direction Of General
Sheridan.
TEe V0sy SSIT1EGE-IN0 SFO" 1DQl6u -
statement.
Tie Eerc?d hss a communication from
Bismarck, Dakota Territory. dated July II,
from an officer Iign in command OF cLe
forces operating agalns: the Indians. says
the Crow Indian. Curley, is believed 70 be
the only survivor OF the $50 men who wsE-
into action with Custer. He is very clear
in h:s knowledge CT the fight, and has made
a statement. He went down with two other
Crows and went into action with Custer.
The General. he says, kept down the river
on the north bank, four miles after Reno
had crossed to the south side above. Gus
ters object was TO cut off the Indians. He
though Reno would drive them down the
valley and at the same time attack the vii
lage on two Sides he believing Reno would
take il at the upper end, while he lCuster)
would 60 in at the lower end.
Custer had to 60 further down the river
and further away from Reno than re
wished, on account cf a steep bank along
the north side, but at last he found a ford
and dashed for il. The Indians met him
and poured in a heavy fire from across the
narrow river. Custer dismounted to fight
On foot, but could not get his skirmishers
over the stream. In the meantime hun
dreds Of Indians on foot and on ponies
poured over tie river, which was only
about three feet deep, and filed the ravines
3
fell back to some high ground beyond him,
and seized the ravlnes in his immediate
vicinity.
The Indians completely surrounded Gus
ter and poured in terrible fire on ali sides
They charged Custer on foot in vast nuIn
bers, but were again and again driven back.
The fight began about two O'Clock, and
lasted, Curley says, until the sun went over
the hills. The men fought desperately, and
A. xha:r hx.1<
hausted they went to their saddle bags, got
more, and contin ued to fight. Curley says
more Indians were killed than Custer had
men. He also SAYS the big chief, Custer,
lived until nearly all his men had been
killed or wounded, and went about enccur-
aging his soldiers 20 fight on. He got shot
in the left side, and sat down with nis pistol
in his hand; another shot struck Custer in
the breast. and he fell over.
rode a white horse, believed to be Lieu
tenant Cook, adjutant OF the Seventh, as
Lieutenants Cook and Calhoun were the
only officers who rode white horses, anL
Lieutenant Calhoun was found dead On the
skirmish line, near the ford, and probably
fell early in the action. Curley says, when
he saw Custer was hopelessly surrounded.
he watched his opportunity, got Sioux
blanket, put it on, and worked his way up
the ravine, and when the Sioux charged, he
got among them, and they did not know
him from one of their own men.
There were some mounted Sioux. and
seeing one fall, Curley ran to him, mounted
his pony and galloped down as if going
toward the white man, bat went up ravine
and got away. He says as he rode of he
saw, when nearly mile from the battle
field, dozen or more soldiers in Q ravine
fighting, with Sioux all around them. He
thinks all we're killed, as they were out
numbered five to ore and apparently Gls.