Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-07-25
THE INDIAN WAR.
GENR'L. CUSTER'S LAST Mo-
4. yfNis MENTs. 'G .gI9
How He was Killed-Interest-
ing Account Of His Charge
Mutilating the Remains
of the Dead-A Hap.
Al by Indian.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF CUsTERR's
CHARGE.

| VII EhASNHSs
A letter dated mouth of the Little
Horn, June 90" giving new version
of Clusters fight with the Sioux, has
just been received from Lieutenant
John Garland, of Company b, Sixth
Infantry, attached to General Glib
bon's command. 1t says:
"At mouth of the Rosebud, on the
22d of June, we struck a large Indian
trail leading up the Rosebud Valley.
General Custer from there took COM
mand of the twelve companies of
cavalry and pushed on after the Sioux
He followed them to the foot of the
mountains, and found by scouting in
the valley that they were encamped
on branch of the Little Horn. This
was on the night of the oath. On the
18th he took five companies and fol-
lowed the stream down, on one side,
while Major Reno, with seven Uompa-
MES. went down on the otner side.-
Major Reno was to attack the enemy
in the,rear while Custer fought them
in front. This would have worked
all right, as Reno had got in their
rear, but General Custer, marching
down on the other side, saw what he
supposed was the front of the camp,
and made q charge on them, the In
dians giving way and letting him
right into the gap. The brave man
rode on with his three hundred men,
and would have killed the whole two
thousand Indians, believe, had there
been no enemy behind him but in
stead of charging the front, he was
right in the centre Of between three
and four thousand Sioux. Those that
were behind him kept concealed until
he was right In their midst, and then,
when IL was too late, he made q bold
dash trying to cut through them, but
the enemy were too many. He fell
about the first one, and the horses be-
coming Interchangeable, the poor SOL
oilers were cut down in less time than
it takes to toll it. ..FF
"The Sioux then turned with all
their fury upon Major Reno, He
charged them with one company and
returned with only eleven men, lie
then retreated o short distance, placing
his men on a bluff. He kept them off
until the night of the 9th, his men
going without water forty-eight hours.
He was relieved by Generals Terry
and Gibbons, who saw the smoke from
whore they were at the Little Horn,
and thinking it a signal OF the Sioux,
marched that way just in time to save
the last handful of the Seventh Cav
airy.
ut makes one heartsiek TO look over
the battle ground and see the poor
fellows, some OF them with their en-
trails cut out, others with their eyes
dug out and heart laid across their
face, They even stopped to cut their
pockets to get their money and watch
es. The most fearful sight was Col.
Cook. He was a splendid looking
man. with long, dark whiskers. They
dug his face all out so as to get his fine
beard, ID Is supposed. They did not
disliguTe General Custer In any way,
but his brother, Tom Custer, was
opened and his heart taken out. lanl'
General Custer, Captain Tom Gus
ter and Boston Custer, brother rs of the
General, First Lieutenant Calhoun,
brOther-in-law Of the General, and A.
II. Reed, tho Generals nephew, fell
within in ten feet OF each other.
"NO blame can be attached to any
one for the fearful slaughter. III Gus
ter had had the whole regiment 1t
would only have been worse, as the
Sioux were too many, There is one
poor Crow Indian on the boat who has
five shots through him, yet he Is hap
Ply because he has nine scalps at his
side. ... ....
"These Sioux were all from the
same agency, as We found camp equip
ments that had never been used also
blankets that were new and branded
United States Indian Department.
AN EX- CONFEDERATE GENERAL CALL
ED ON TO AvENdE CUSTER.
General A. f. McReynold's who
commanded a Michigan Division du-
ring the late war, in letter addressed
70 Major General Thomas l.. Rosser,
OF the late Confederate amy, in
qulred /: ..s.. ..sfl ..''yr
would IL not be a grand opportu.
nifty for you to rally around YOU A
mounted force of Mir nesota men ao-
customed to the horse and the rifle,
which you could readily do, and ten,
der your servlees 10 the Government
to avenge the death of the brave boys
of the Seventh Cavalry who fell So no.
bly, on the field Of duty 20 NFNli 81
In his letter replying TO the above,
Gen. ROsseT uses these words
III should like to be commissioned
by my country 10 avenge the death of
nay gallant friend and old enemy, but
TO do so should like to 60 back TO old
Virginia and get my old division,
who once 80 tlercely fought him, and
who, like myself, have learned TO re-