, 1876-07-15

they kept up q CALLING fire until
inightfall. During the night Reno
strengthened his position, and was
prepared for the attack which was
renewed at daylight. The Gay wore
on. Reno had lost in killed and
wounded a large portion of his COM
mand, forty odd having been killed
before the hluff 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 were almost exhausted. In
many instances their tongues protruded
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 to give relief
clung to their parched lips. In this
state of affairs. they determined to gain
water at all hazards. and Col Benton
made a rally with his company and
routed the main portion of the Indians
who were guarding the approach to the
river, to which the soldiers ventured
to go with camp kettles and canteens
for water. The Indian sharpshooters
were nearly opposite the mouth of the
ravine through which the brave boys
approached the river, but the attempt
was made; and though one man was
killed and seven wounded, the water
was gnined and tie command relieved,
when the fighting ceased for the night.
Reno caused his animals to be likewise
relieved, and further prepared for the
attack, which he knew " uld be re-
sumed on the next morning. Officers
and men kept in good heart. but all
wondered what had become of Custer.
There had been IS hours fighting, but
no word from their respected COM
mander. Twenty-four hours more
fighting and suspense ensued. when the
Indians abandoned their village in great
confusion. Then Reno knew that
succor was near. Gen. Terry. with
GIBBONS command and his own in
fan.ry. had arrived. and as the com.
rades in arms met, strong men wept on
the pecka of each other. After con-
gratula,ions to the gallant commander
on bis successful defense, inquiries
were made for Custer, but none could
tell where he was. Soon an officer
came rushing into camp and related
that he had found Custer dead and
stripped naked. but not mutilated; aud
near him his two brothers, Colone's
Tom and Boston Custer. his brother-in>
law, Col. Calhoun, and nephew, Col.
Yates. Col. Keogh. Capt. Smith, Lieut..
Crittenden, son of Gen. Crittenden,
Lieut.. Sturgis. son of Gen. Sturgis,
Col. Cook, Lieut.. Porter, Lieut.. Har :
rington. DR.. Lord. Mark Kellogg. the
Bismarck Tribune reporter the only
correspondent with the expedition and
100 men and scouts. Custer went into
the hattie with five companies, C, L, I,
F end Z. of the 7th Cavalry. with the
staff aud non commissioned staff of his
regiment and number Of scouts, and
only one Crow scout remains TO tell the
tale. Custer was surrounded on every
side by the Indians. and his men
and horses lie as they fought in the
skirmish line, or line of battle. Custer
was among the last to fall. but when his
cheering voice was no longer heard,
the Indians made comparatively easy
work of the remainder. The bodies Of
all save the Tribune correspondent alone
we're stripped. and most of them hor-
ribly mutilated. Custer was not mu
tilated. He was shot through the body
and through the head. Kellogg lay in
the field as he fell, undisturbed. Per-
haps the Indians. who had learned to
fear and respect Custer, had also real
lied the power of the lead pencil, and
had come to respect those who weld it..
The troops cared for the wounded and
buried the dead. and returned to their
base for supplies and instructions from
the General of the army.
SIOUX CRY. July 12.-Agency Indians
along the upper Missouri. who have an
account of Clusters fight through some
hostile Indians who took part in it, say
Custer shot three Indians with his pis-
tol and killed three others with his
sabre, when he fell, shot through the
head by Rain-in- the Face, chief whom
Custer bad forcibly arrested some time
ago for murder. The Indians lost sew
enty killed. among them many noted
chiefs. The fight was hand to hand.
The Indians say they did not fear the
pistols as much as they did the sabres.