The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-08-09
THE INDIAN SLAUGHTER.

The Battle and the Battleaeld-Narrow Is
cupe of Reno's Command from Anpihila-
tion-Forty.oiGht Hours RightinG with
Indians-The Fri6htful FRte Of Custer's
Force Gradually Discovered-No Living
Mon Left-Total Loss 261 Killed in Both
Commands-Future Operations.
Further particulars Of the desperate
encounter which Col. Reno had with the
Sioux Indians on the twenty-afth of
June tell of the sufferings which his COM
mand experienced while it WAS so COM
pleIy hemmed in by the Indians. For
thirty-six homs the troops were without
drop OF water. The appeals Of the
wounded for drink were heartrending,
while the others were almost exhausted,
in many instances their tongues pro-
truding from their mouths, and few
of them able to speak aloud. They
tried to eat crackers, but could not
moisten them. Others attempted to
chew and swallow blades Of grass to So
cure relief, but these chung to their
parched lips and intensified their agony.
It was while thus suffering that they de-
termined at all hazards to gain the water
from which they were cut of, and made
the desperate dash which, while it cost
them a number of lives and many
wounded, secured that which they 30
much needed. It was then early night,
and when firing ceased Col. Reno at
once took steps to relieve bis animals,
which, like the men, were completely
exhausted. He knew well that the In
dams would resume the attack in the
morning.
1t was in this position that Gen. Ter
ry, with Gibbons command, consisting
of five companies Of infantry, four of
cavalry, and the Gatlin battery, found
Reno. Terry had started to ascend the
Big Horn to attack the Indians in rear,
while Custer attacked them from his
point of contact. The march of the two
columns was so planned as to bring Glib
bons' forces within cooperating dis
tance of the anticipated scene Of action
by the evening of the 26th. The morn
ing of the 26th brought the intelligence,
communicated by three badly frightened
Grow scouts, Of the battle Of the pre-
vious day and its results. The story was
not credited. because it was not expect
ed that an attack would be made earlier
than the 9th, and chiefly because no
one could believe that a force such as
Custer commanded could have met with
disaster. Still the report was in no way
disregarded. All day long the toilsome
march was kept up, and every eye bent
upon cloud of smoke resting over the
southern horizon, which was hailed as a
sign that Custer was successful and had
fred the village. It was only when
night was falling that the weary troops
laid down upon their arms. The infant
ry had marched twenty-nine miles. The
march of the next morning revealed at
every step some evidence of the conflict
which had taken place two days before.
At an early hour the head of the
column entered plain half milo
wide, bordering the left bank Of the
Little Big Horn, where had recently
been an immense Indian village, ex-
tending three miles along the stream,
and where were stand-lg funeral lodges
with horses slaughtered around them,
and containing the bodies Of nine
chiefs. The ground was strewn every
where with carcasses Of horses. Their
camp was strewn with robes, gaudily
painted, with finely dressed hides and
interesting and valuable trinkets. The
ground was covered everywhere with
carcasses. Of horses, besides buffalo
robes, packages of dried meat, and wea-
pons and utensils belonging to the In
dians. On this part Of the field was
found the clothing Of Lieuts. Sturgis
and Porter, pierced with bullets, and
blood stained gauntlet belonging to
Capt. Yates. Further on were found
the bodies, among whom were recog-
nized Lieut.. Mcintosh, the Interpreter
from Fort Rice, and Reynolds, the
guide. It was evident also that the In
dams had shown little solicitude for
their wounded, as the ravines were coy-
cred with dead.
While making these gloomy discov.
cries scout came up in breathless haste
with the announcement that Col. Reno,
with remnant OF the Seventh cavalry,
was intrenched on bluff near by wait
ing for relief. The command pushed
rapidly on and soon came in sight Of
group surrounding cavalry guard upon
lofty eminence on tho right bank OF
the river. Gen. Terry forded the
stream, accompanied by q small party,
and rode to the spot. All the way the
slopes were dotted with the bodies OF
men and horses. The general ap-
proached, and the men swarmed out Of
the works and greeted him with hearty
and repeated cheers. Within was found
Reno, with the remains of seven COM
panies of the regiment. In the center
of the inclosure was depression In the
surface, in which the wounded were
sheltered, covered with canvas. Reno's
command had been fighting from Sun
day noon, the twenty fifth, until the
night of the twe1ty-sinth, when Terry's
arrival caused the Indians to retire.
Up to this time Reno and those with
him were in complete ignorance of the