The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-07-14
LATER PARTICULARS.

RENo'S PRELIMINARY FIGHT AND THE TERRIBLE
sUFFERINGS CT HIS TROOPS - THIRTY SIX
HOURS SURROUNDED BY INDIANS, AND WITH
OUT WATER, AWAITING CUSTER, WHO NEVER
CAME A BOLD STROKE FOR LIBERTY Sue
CEEDs AND REVEALS TO THEM THEIR BUTCH
Erred COMRADES.
The correspondent of the Chicago
1in,ei telegraphs from Bismarck, under
date of July 6, the following additional
details of this horrible butchery
In a recent dispatch, informed you that
Custer expected to strike the Indians and give
them battle on the oath. AS stated he left the
mouth Of the Rosebud on the 22d, with twelve
companies Of the Seventh Cavalry, striking
the trail where Reno left it, leading in the d.
rection Of the Little Horn, branch OF the
Big Horn. On the evening Of the oath, scouts
reported fresh trails, and on the morn
ing of the 25th discovered an Indian
village twenty miles above the mouth of the
Little Horn, about three miles long and half
mile wide, fifteen miles away. Custer pushed
his command rapidly through. They mad made
q long march, in all seventy-eight miles, in the
twenty-four hours preceding the battle, and
when near the village struck an abandoned
tepee. While the Indiana were moving in hot
haste as IL in retreat, Reno, with seven COM
panies of the Seventh Cavalry, was ordered to
the left to attack the village at its head, while
Custer, with five companies, went to the right
and commenced vigorous attack. Reno felt
OF them with three companies Of cavalry, and
was almost instantly surrounded, and, after an
hour or more Of desperate fighting, during
which he lost Lieuts. Hodgson and Mcintosh,
Dr. DeWolf, and twelve men, with several In
dian scouts killed, and many wounded he cut
his way through the Indians, crossed
the river, and gained bluff 800 feet
in height where he intrenched and
was soon joined by Col. Benton with four COM
panies. In the meantime the Indians resumed
the attack which had abated in vigor for an
hour or 80, making repeated desperate charges
which were repulsed with great slaughter to
the Indians. They gained hie her bluffs, how
ever, than the ono occupied by Reno, and as their
arms were longer range and better than those
OF tue cavalry, they kept up Calling fire until
nightfall. During the night Reno strength
ened his position and was prepared for the
attack, which was received at daylight The
day wore on. Reno had lost in killed and
wounded large portion OF his command. forty
odd having been killed before the bluff was
reached, many of them in hand-to-hand conflict
with the Indians, who outnumbered them ten
to one, and his men had been without water
thirty-six hours. The appeals of the wounded
for water were indeed heartrending while The
others we're almost exhausted, in many in
stances their tongues protruding from their
mouths, and few could speak aloud. They
tried TO eat crackers but could not moisten
them, while the grass blades, which some ate
10 give rene1, chung 10 tneu pafcneu hpS' III
this state OF affairs they determined to gain
water at all hazards, and Col. Benton made
rally with his company and routed the main
portion of the Indians who we're guarding
the approach to the river. 70 which
the soldiers volunteered to go with camp
kettles and canteens for water. The Indian
sharp shooters were nearly opposite the mouth
Of the ravine through which the brave boys APP
preached the river, but the attempt was made
and though one man was killed and seven
wounded, the water was gained and the COM
mand relieved. When the fighting ceased for
the night, Reno caused his animals 10 be like
wise relieved, and further prepared for the