The New York herald., 1876-07-11

fought this battle or in commendation Of the gallant
Bentcen, who pushed his reserve forward at the
companies from the fate that Custer met with, and
who, when the wounded were crying pitcousy for
water, led his men In rally, which cleared the
ravlnes OF Indians and enabled squad to reach the
river and gain for them relief
AN OLD HERALD CORRESPONDENT.
Fred Girard, an old correspondent of the HERALD,
who in the days Of his youth was devil in st.
Louis newspaper Office. was cut of at the ford, and
lay all night In the thicket with the Indians passing
sometimes within ten feet Of him. 1t seemed GER
tain he could not escape. Every moment he ex-
pected to be his last. Derndo was with him. They
remained quietly until troop OF men came, one Of
DRESSED LIKE TON CUSTER.
He had full suit OF buckskin broad brimmed hat
and flowing necktie--probaby Toms suit-and
being sure 1t was him Derindo called out:-
.For Gods sake Tom don't leave us here"
They were answered in Sioux and with a volley.
Girard shifted his person. Derind0 escaped to the
river, and, dropping into 1t, found q new hiding
place and reached camp in an hour or two after
Girard. During the night following Derindo was
pursued into the thickets. but lot OF beavers at
work there jumped into the river about this time,
and their splashing diverted attention from
give very intelligent account Of the battle agree
ing fully with the stories already telegraphed you.
OF course, the news of this battle and its result
caused great depression among those not engaged
as well as among the survivors.
GRIEF OF CROW SCOUT.
Curley the Crow scout, would not trust himself to
speak for three days after the ngh except when he
told his story at the steamboat but would sit around
detected and apparently in deep thought, humming
Grow tune and throwing up his right hand, dis
played two fingers and said:-
1--WE got two ponies; heap Sioux; much heap
Sioux; white man all dead; we got two ponies"
Humming moment he again sad:-
s.white man all dead; we got two ponies"
1t was then he told the story related in my former
dispatches. Colonel Smith informs me the map Of
the battle field drawn by Curley at the steamboat
is absolutely correct No engineer could improve it
in any Of its details.
THE STEAMER AND HER CAPTAIN.
Among the characters Of the campaign Grant
Marsh, Of the steamer Far West, deserves mention.
The boys delight to tell stories Of him. One OF them
who accompanied him up the Yellowstone on the
occasion OF stanley's expedition says the Captain
actually walked his boat half mile over dry land to
reach point Indicated by Stanley
To the Captains energy and intelligence much is
DUE He pushed his boat hfty-four miles up an un-
explored river to the mouth Of the Little Horn.
taking position where his good sense dictated and
where 1t afterward proved the most aid could be
rendered.
who were brought in nom the battle field, fifteen
miles distant, reached the boat at two O'Clock on O
night 80 dark that fires were built, under General
Terrys direction, to light those carrying the litte
down the hiilsides; and within sixty hours aftet
leaving that point the wounded were comfortably
placed in hospital IL Fort Abe Lincoln, 900 miles DIS
tant. Had the Captain remained at the mouth Of
the Big Horn General Terry would have been
dry prairie. Though the pilot house barricaded
with boiler iron and the deck with wood, while an
escort Of company accompanied it, 1t is believed
but for Colonel Bentcen's gallantry Sitting Bulls
desire, long indulged,
TO CAPTURE STEAMBOAT,
would have been gratined. His promptness and
his gaantry on the field not only saved Reno's COM
mand, but saved the Far West from destruction.
cUsTER's ATTACK.
Whether Custer did right or wrong in attacking as
he did your correspondent does not pretend to say
An officer informs me General Terry did not expect
desire General Custer to attack the Indians until
he should reach the Little Horn and gain position
from which he could support him. Custer attacked
forty-eght hours In advance of the time Terry was
to reach that point. An officer informs your
correspondent when Custer came in sight Of the
1880 lodges village of upward Of 1000 Indians he
swung his hat and said--
cUsTER's JOY.
"Hurrah Custer's luck The biggest Indian
village on the American conunentp'
Hating here only for coffee, he pushed forward at
q rapid gait; took five companies for his personal
command; gave Reno three and left four in reserve
under Benteen and sailed In. DR.. Porter believes
the result would have been the same had Custer
charged with his full regiment only the massacre
would have been more terrible.
THE BODIES OF THE DEAD.
FORT LINCOLN, D. T., July 0, 1870
The bodies OF Custer and his gallant comrades
were buried on the field at Little Big Horn and