The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-08-10
Tho Sioux Account Of the Custer
Slaughter.
ST. pAIY Mimi July

Tho Sioux Account OF the custer
Slaughter.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, July 81.
Brevet Lieut.. Col. J. S. Poland, Captain
OF the Sixth Infantry, commanding the
military station at Standing Rock Agency,
under date Of July "a, reports to Adj't.-
Gen. Ruggles as follows:
SIR: respectfully report the following as
having been derived from seven Sioux In
dams just returned from the hostile camp,
July q, some of whom were engaged in the
battle of June %, with the Seventh Cavalry.
Their account is as follows: The hOstilcs
were celebrating their greatest of religious
festivals, the Sun Dance, when runners
brought news Of the approach of cavalry:
The dance was suspended, and a general
rush followed, mistaken by Custer perhaps
for retreat for horses, equipments and
arms. Maj. Reno first attacked the village
at the south end and across the Little Big
Horn. Their narrative of Reno's operations
comedies with the published account of how
he was quickly confronted and surrounded;
how he dismounted, rallied in the timber,
remounted and cut his way back over the
ford ard up the bluffs with considerable
loss, and the continuation of the fight for
some little time, when runners arrived
from the north end If the village or camp
with the news that the cavalry had attacked
the north end, some three or four miles dis
tant. The Indians about Reno had not be-
fore this the slightest intimation of fighting
at any other point A force large enough to
prevent Reno from assuming the offensive
was left, and the surplus available force
followed to the other end of the camp,
where, finding the Indians successfully
driving Custer before them, instead of
uniting with them, they separated into two
parties and moved around the tanks of his
cavalry. They report that Custer crossed
the river, but only succeeded in reaching the
edge of the Indian camp. After he was
driven to the bluffs, the fight lasted perhaps
an hour. The Indians have no hours of the
day, and the time can only be given approx
imatcly. They report that a small number
of cavalry broke through the line of indians
in their rear, and escaped, but were over
miles and all killed. Il infer from
this that this body of retreating cav
airy was probably led by the missing officers,
and that they tried to escape only after
Custer fell. The last man that was killed
was killed by the two sons OF santee In
dian, Red Top, who was leader in the Min
nesota massacres of 90 and 63.
rs After the battle the sguaws entered the
field to plumber and mutilatc the dead.
General rejoicing was INDUCED in, and a dis
trbution of arms and ammunition hurricdly
made. Then this attack on Reno was vigor-
ously renewed Up to the attack the Indians
HuN AoSl SolH lSh Jul HoW
they say their most serious loss
numbers, but say there were
great many. Sitting Bull was neither killed
nor personally engaged in the fight. He re-
manned in the Council tent directing opera
tions. Crazy Horse, with large band,
and Black Moon were the principal leaders
on the 18th of June. Kill Eagle, Chief of
the Blackfect, was at the hcnd Of some
twenty lodges of this Agency. He was prom
incntly engaged in the battle of June ., and
aftcrward u. braided Sitting Bull for not
tax ny an active personal part in the engage
mcnt.
Kill Eagle has sent me word that he was
forced into the fight; that he desires to re-
turn to the Agency; and that lie will return
to the Agency if he is killed for it. He is
reported to be actually on the way back to
go to his Father and Agent and make con-
fcssion and receive absolution for his defiant
ously fed him for three years. He is truly
q shrcwd chief, who must have discovered
that
He who fights and runs away
May live to light another day."
The Indians were not all engaged at any
one time. Heavy reserves were held to re-
pair losses and renew !tacks successfully,
The fight continued until the third day,
when runners, kept purposely on the look
out, hurried into camp and reported great
body of troops Gen. Terry's command) adj
vancing up the river. The lodges having
been previously prepared for a move, a
retreat in so9therly direction followed,
They marched about fifty miles, went in
to camp and held Il consultation, when it
was determined to send into all the Agencies
reports of their success, and to call upon
them to come out and share the glories that
there were expected to be in the future.
Va inf Of -,
and impudcnt Indians, to urge, by force,
perhaps, an accession to Sitting Bulls de-
mands. There is general gathering in the
hostile camp from each of the Agencies on
the Missouri River, Red Cloud and Spotted
Tail, as also the Northern Chcycnnes and
Arrapahocs.
They report for the especial benefit of
their relatives here that in the three fights
they had with the whites they have captured
over 400 stand of arms, carbincs and rifles,
revolvers not counted; ammunition without
end, and some sugar, coffee, bacon and hard
bread. They claim to have captured from
the whites this summer over 800 horses and
mules. suppose this includes operations
against soldiers, Crow Indians, and Black
Hills miners.
The general outline of this Indian report
concurs with the published reports. The
first attack Of Reno's began well on in the
day, say the Indians, They report about
wv "hi'eo hitCu, "u' w hOt oaJ AoW muHy
Indians were killed.
A report from another source says the
Indians obtained from Clusters command 592
carbines and rcvolvers. have, since writ
ing the above, heard from the returned
hostilcs, which they communicated as a
secret to their particular friends here,
information that large party of Sioux and
Cheycnncs were TO leave Rosebud Mountain,
or hostile camp, for this Agency to intimi-
date and compel the Indians here to join
Sitting Bull. If these refuse, they are Or
dered to "soldier them (bcat them) and
steal their ponies. Very respectfully,
j. s. POLAND,
Captain Sixth Infantry, Brevet Lieutenant
Colonel, Commanding.