The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-09-08
The Custer Massacre.


ST. PAUL, September THE Pioneer
Pr, IS and Tribune will tomorrow pub
lish al interview with An old trspper
named Rigley, who has been n long time
in the Yellowstone country, and claims
to have witnessed the Custer massacre,
being q prisoner in Sitting Bulls camp,
and seeing every move Of the troops.
He Vas csptured last March, and
has been Kept in the camp OF the
Indians ever since, until the Custer mas
sacre. He was treated kindly. He says
Sitting Bull organized not 10 fight the
whites. but TO drive the miners from the
hills. Previous 10 Clusters attack mount
ed couriers from Sitting Bulls camp had
for 8 days watched his forces, and Its
division into small detschments being
noted with manifestations Of extreme ie'
light, smbuscades were Immediately pre-.
pared and while the Indians stood ready
for the attack many Of them clambered
on the side Of the hill overlooking Custer s
line OF march. The Indian camp was
divided by bluff point, of which half
was towards the Rosebud and in the
direction Of the one available ford.
Custer followed their trail down 10 the
waters edge. There were but twenty
five teepees visible to Custer, but there
were seventy.fve double tsepees behind
the bluff not visible. Custer
attacked the smaller village and was
Immediately met by !, 500 or 2,OOe In
dians in regular order OF battle. Every
movement was made with military
precision. Rlgley says he stood OF the
side OF the hill where he had complete
view of the battle, which was not over
one mile and one.hslf distant. Custer
began the fight in the ravine near the
iord, and fully one-hslf of his command
seemed ~ be unhorsed st the first hre;
then the soldiers retrested towards
him in the rear, and we're shot down
on the way with astonishing rapidity,
the commanding officer falling from his
horse in the middle of the engagement
which commenced at III o'clock and did
not last more than 45 minutes. Alter
the massacre Of Clusters force the Indians
returned 10 camp with SIX soldiers
as prisoners, and delerious with Joy over
their success. These siN men were tied
to stakes at the wood.plle IN the village
and were burned To death. While the
flames we're torturing them TO death, the
Indian bows hred hot arrows In their
flesh until they died. Sitting Bull
was met after the fight, ana he eIultingly,
remarked he had killed many soldiers
and one damned general, but didn't know
who he was. The squaws armed them
selves with knives and visited the battle
field and robbed and nutllsted the
dead bodies of the soldiers. While these
soldiers were being burned the Indians
turned their attention to the force, evl.
IDENTIFY Renos, attacking the
lower end of the village Rlgley
SAYS Clusters command las been
slaughtered before shot WAS fired by
Reuo's forces attacking the lower end OF
the camp. Two Indians returned IN the
evening and said the men had fought
like the devil, but Rlgley says they did mt
MAKE a statement Of their los. They SAID
the soldiers had been driven back twice
and then they piled up stones and
the attack was unsuccessful. The prison.
ers were kept burning over Nm hour but
Rigley was not permitted TO speak to
them. and so was unable 10 state who
they we're. One WAS noticeable from his
small size and gray eyes and whlskers
Reno killed more Indians than Custer,
who fell in the midst Of the fight, and
the two captains believed that Gates aud
Keogh were the last to die The nigh,
after the massacre the Indians were Wild
with JOY, many drunk from the whisky
stolen from the whitss, and the squsws
performed the duty Of guards for the
prisoners. The guards becoming drowsy
Rigley and two companions escaped,
securing ponies and began long journey
homeward. The party st Egane laid in
the woods four days TO avoid the Indians.
On the way the horses stumbled, breaking
Rigley's arm, but the party hnall y reach
el Ft Abercronbie and thence Kgley
came here. lie describes Sitting Bull NJ
II half breed, large size, vey intelligent,
and with n peculiar gait.