Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-07-13

hnddled In narrow compass, horses
and men piled together.
CUSTER AND HIS FoRhoRN HOPE.
AT the highest point Of the ridge lay
Custer surrounded by chosen band
Here were his two brothers and his
nephew, Mr.. Reed, Coils Yates and
Cook and Capt. Smith all lying in
circle of a few yards, their horses
beside them, Here, behind Yates COM
pany, the last stand had been made,
and here, one after another, these last
survivors of Clusters five companies.
had met their death.
ASSIMILATION OF THE COMMAND.
The companies had successfully thrown
themselves across the path Of the
advancing enemy and had been an
initiated. Not a man has escaped to
tell the tale, but it was inscribed on
the surface OF the barren hills in
language more eloquent than words.
Two hundred and. sixty one bodies have
been buried from. Clusters and Reno's
commands. The last one found was
that Of Mr.. Kellogg, correspondent OF
the Bismarck Pribaae, and also, !
believe, the New York Herald.
I BODIES RECOGNIZED.
The following are the names of the
officers whose remains are recognized :
General Custer, Colonel Keagh, Coionel
| Yates, Colonel Custer, Colonel Cooke
Capt. Smith, Lieut.. Mcintosh, Lieut..
Calhoun, Lieut.. lIodgeson and Lieut..
Reilly. All of these belonged to the
Seventh cavalry. Lieut. Crlttendon, OF
the Twentieth infantry, was serving
| temporarily with the regiment. Lieu
tenants Porter, StrIgis and Harrington
and Assistant Surgeon Lord are report
ed among the missing, as their remains
we're II OF ,ecogl,iz, d, but there is small
ground to hope that any Of them sur
vived, as it is obvious that the troops
were completely surrounded BY a free
! 81 ten times their number.
RBNo's OPEN .rloNs.
The history Of Reno's operations con~
prises all that is now known of the san-
culinary affair. 1t seems that Custer,
with eight companies reached the river
in the forenoon of the 18th, having
marched continuously nearly all the
previous day and night. Seeing the
upper or southern extremity of the vii
lage, and probably under estimating its
extent, he ordered Reno to ford the RVS
er and charge the village, with three
companies, while he with five compa-
MES moved down behind the right bank
and behind the blag. ard made SINH
Lar attack at the other end. Reno made
his charge, bat finding shat he was deals
ing with torce many times his number
dismounted hismen and sought shelter
in the timber which fsinged the river
bank. The position appearing to him
untenable, he remounted and cut bis way
to the river ford under a n&urderous fire
and gained the bluff, where he was sub
sequcntly found. Here he was AFTER
wards Joined by Colonel Benteen, with
three companies, which had just reach
ed the field, and by Captain AIcDougal,
with bis company and the pack mules.
The position was Immediately after
wards completely invested by Indians,
who for more than twenty four hours,
allowed the garrison no rest, aad iniict'
ed severe loss. But for the timely ARR
, val of relief the command would have
been cut off to a man. The number
saved with Reno was 329, including 5 |
wounded.
| LOSS OF TIE INDIANS.
/ The loss among the Indians was
probably considerable, as bodies have
been found in every direction, and they
left behind only small portion of their
dead. We remained nearly two days
on the scene OF this dister to bury dead
and prepare for TRANSPORTING wounded
to place of SAFETY The neighborine
country was still full of scattering bands
OF Indians watching our movement, and
doubtless prepared to, take advantage
of any want of vigilance to add to the
number of their victims.
REMOVAL OF WOUNDED.
A species of rude horse litter was con
structed OF poles and strips Of hide, and
on these the diabled were carried TWEEN
ty miles to the forks Of the Big Horn,
where they were placed on board a
steamer, last night they were brought
| down to the junction with the Yellow
stone To morrow the steamer will
convey the poor fellows to Fort Lincoln.
mug DrCp,p1ry ON rooCrc
! In closing my hasty narrative of this
affair, in certain respects the most re
markable of modern history, purpose
! ly refrain from comment. The naked
facts, so far as they are known, must
guide your readers to conclusion as to
the cause of the calamity. Information
derived from many sources, including OF
course observation Of officers engaged
in the battle, lead 10 the conclusion that
$500 to 5000 1Hdlaas composed the
| fighting force arrayed against Custer
and his 900 Still these were odds
which any officer of the Seventh caval-
Try would have unhesitatingly accepted
for his regiment under any ordinary cir
cunstances OF Indian warfare.
The force under Gen Terry's inmee
Fdiate command was designed lot only
to cut off the retreat of the Indians, but
/ to afford support to Custer if needed
I Its march was made in accurate accor
dance with toe plan communicated to
each of the subordinate leaders before
the movement commenced. It reached
a point where the battle was expected
at the tine proposed, and had no, the.
action been precipitated, for reasons
which are yet unknown, force would
have been present on the field sufficient
to retrieve any repulse Of the attacking
cohmH.
RETREAT OF THE IkpIAas.