River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-07-20
CUsTER's LAST BATTLE FIELD.
seen by Sioux scouts and others had dis.
covered his command in the ravine.
FORWARD.

seen by Sioux scouts and others had dis
covered his command in the ravine.
FORWARD.
Custer again assembled his officers and
then the command was arranged in fight.
| ing order and the forward movement re.
sumed, the scouts leading and the regi
ment following at walk. Over the di.
vide the trai led down a little creek, a
, branch Of the Little Big Horn. About
six miles from the ravine where the com.
mand was halted at daylight freshly
abandoned Sioux camp was discovered in
which one lodge had been left to shelter
a dead Indian. From this point a park
or level prairie surrounded by hills was
si>iblc over the Little Big Horn, the
site Of
THE INDIAN RENDEZVOUS,
as outlined in our map. The river was
about three miles away. About two
miles beyond it heavy clouds Of dust
were rising. Some IN iught the Indians
were decamping and it is probable Custer
thought the same The subsequent dis.
covery Of large fresh trail leading into
the Sioux camp from the southeast would
indicate, however that this cloud Of dust
may have been caused by the arrival Of
heavy rcinforcements for the Sioux. 1t
is. indeed, certain that all the Indian
forces we're united just before the battle,
but the dust may have been caused by
the Indians assembling for the coming
fight.
RENo's ADVANCE.
Custer sent forward to Major Reno,
who was leading with companies A, G
and NJ to push the scouts rapidly for
ward and to head for the cloud Of dust
A steady gallop Of near three miles
brought Reno to the mouth of the little
creek and natural ford over the Little
big Horn. The scouts warned him that
the Sioux were coming in force, but be
crossed and formed his companies and
moved forward on the prairie about
mile, where he dismounted his men, sent
the horses into the timber on the right
and advanced a shsrt distance on foot.
AFTER sEIRNIsuING
a few minutes, under heavy fire, Reno fell
back to his horses in the timber and, the
Indians beginning to collect in force be.
tween him and the river, remounted.
just then the Indians opened fire from
close range in the timber, and one soldier
fell. The men were again dlsmounted for
skirmishing, but being thought unequal
TO the contest, we're again mounted and
moved from the timber over the open
prairie toward the ford. The Indians
pressed them fercely and soon forced
TUE RETREAT
into a run for the ford. The Sioux on
their ponies dashed along, firing at close
range and meeting little resistance. At
the ford and on the run towards II the
companies engaged suffered nearly all
their loss. Lieutenant Mcintosh, Chlrley
Reynolds, scout, DR.. DcWolf, Bloody
Knife, a scout aud others, were killed
before reaching the river. Lieut.. IIodgson
and many others were killed while ford
ing the river. A number Of men. either
cut off from the retreat or preferring the
shelter Of the timber, remained in the
/ timber and subsequently joined Reno in
safety as described below. Rno's re.
treat ended at the top Of q bluff on the
I right bank OF the river about mile from
/ the ford, where he intrenched himself a
/ we'll as he could. and was joined by Capt.
/ Benteen ~,tt companies u, II and X and
I subsequently ~ Capt. McDougall with
company b ana train OF pack mules,
hese four companies were about two
miles in the rear when Reno fordcd the
river on his advance.
THE MEN LEFT BEHIND.
I George llerncdon, scout, tells that
thirteen eavalrymen, three Of whom
we're wounded, two so badly they could
not use their arms remained with him
in the timber where Reno placed hi,
horses when he advanced his skirmish
line into the Indian village. They re
manned there about three hours and
meantime saw that nearly all the Indians
went from the upper end of the valley
d5wn the river, and from there they
heard heavy firing which lasted about
one hour and the y stn to die away.
+ hen llcrnedor persuaded eleven Of the
soldiers TO x with him and escape. They
met on thclr way to the ford five Indians
who were driven OF by pistol shots and
I the tweiyCtlncluding the three wounded
salli.rS above mcutioncdl waled the
/ river AMI proceeded 10 Reno'S position
|ttplt opposition.
RrNO ATTACHED
Indian SbrmiShcrs bah meantime sur.
I rounded Reno'S position and kept up q
scattering fire from commanding posi-,
tons, but inflicted little II any loss. Tn,
wounded hal been placed in the center
and the dead horses and mules were piled
IN front Of such rife pits as the men could
Dig. Soon after the firing below ceased
The Indians came up the river in greai
force, and Rcno's skirm,shers retired tt
his cutrencAcd position, which he strength
cncd during the succeeding night. The
evening attack lasted about an hour and
covered the Indian chiefs getting their
warriors IN position.
Early next morning the Sioux renewed
the attack and several times charged close
up. These attacks ended about ten
o'clock With a sortie led by Bcntccn,
which dispersed large body gathered in
front Cor another charge. ncsultory
firing was hep, up. however, all day, aud
one notable event was the procuring Of
water from the river az the foot Of the
b'uA, by a volunteer detachment Of sol.
dicrS, one whom was killed and several