The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-07-13

A special correspondent of the Helena
(MOntana) Herald, writes from Saltwater,
Montana, on July 2: Muggins Taylor, scout
for General Gibbon, got here last night, di.
rect from Little Horn River. General Gus.
ter found the Indian camp, OF about two
thousand lodges, on the Little Horn, and
Immediately attacked the camp. Custer too k
five companies and charged the thickest
portion of the camp. Nothing is known
of the operations of the detachment, only
as they trace it by the dead. Major Reno
commanded the other seven companies, and
attacked the lower portion of the camp.
The Indians poured in murderous fire from
all directions, besides the greater portion
fought ON horseback. Custer, his two
brothers, nephew, and brother.in-law were
| all killed, and not one Of his detachment
escaped. Two hundred and seven men were
buried in one place, and the killed
are estimated at three hundred, with only
thirty-one wounded. The Indians sur.
rounded Reno's command, and held him one
day in the hills, cut off from water, until
| Gibbons command came in sight, when
they broke camp in the night and left. The
Seventh fought like tigers, and were over
come by mere brute force. The Indian loss
| can not be estimated, as they bore off and
of the Seventh Cavalry and Gibbons com.
mand are returning to the mouth of Little
| Horn, where steamboat lies. The Indians
got ali the arms OF the killed soldiers.
There were seventeen commissioned
officers killed. The whole Custer family
died at the head of their columns. The
exact loss is not known, as both the Adju-
tants and the Sergeant-Msjor were killed.
The Indian camp was from three to four
miles long, and was twenty miles up the
Little Horn, from its mouth. The Indians
actually pulled men of their horses In some
instances. give this as Taylor told me, as
he was over the field after the battle. The
above is confirmed by other letters, which
say that Custer has met with q fearful
disaster.
WHAT SHERMAN AND SHERIDAN SAY.
Regarding the reported killing of General
Custer, and the massacre OF his forces,
Gen. Sherman said, al don't believe IL, and
don't want to believe it, IL 1 can help
it." General Sheridan said, he would
like very much to disbeleve IL, but
his fears that il Is true were stronger
than his hopes. that IL is not He said
he last heard from the expedition from Gen.
Terry, about the Goth or 2lst of June. Terry
was then north Of Rosebud, and was then
lining q campaign against the savages, fire.
quent signs OF whose near presence were
discovered. IL was his intention to have
hundred men up the stream, and to effect
junction with Gibbons command on
the south side of Yellowstone, at
its junction with the Big Horn.
This is in the southern part of Mon.
tana. II was then Terry's purpose TO be
himself at this junction, when Clusters and
Gibbons forces were joined. II Gibbon
reached the junction Of the Big Horn and
Yellowstone first, he was to march up the
former and meet Custer, who was directed
TO march down. General Sheridan says:
"From what has been reported, infer
that General Custer met the savages in
force on his way toward the juno
ton, and made daring efort-he was al.
ways brave and daring-to cut his way
through the enemy, who filed the stretch
Of country separating the two forces. I do
not like 10 believe the news IL as terrible as
IL Is reported and yet there Is no reason why
the dispatches should not come direct from
Ellis, the nearest post 10 the scene of the
fight. The lines, / understand, were recently
placed in good working order"