The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-08-10

James ManniOn, of that city, from
his son James, who was an eye-wit-
ness OF many of the terrible scenes Of
the Custer massacre. 1t is 8 graphic
account, and details many thrilling
incidents that are for the first time
given to the public:
MOUTH OF POWDER River,
BIG HORS ASB YRLLOwsTOSE :
EXPEDITION, July J.
DEAR FATHER: We left this csmp
on the 10th of last month, and started
for the Big Horn River, one hundred
and nifty miles north of here. We
were four days on the march thither,
where we Joined Terry and Custer,
and marched north on this bank of
the Big Horn Striking the Little Big
Horn. We followed 3 well-marked
trail along its banks, and on Saturday
morning, June 2, we came in sight
Of an Indian village with about /, 800
tents, and q fighting forcs OF 5000
warriors Major Reno, in whose
command am, commanded the left
flank and Custer the right, and the
fight commenced by RenO's charging
into the Indian village, fighting on
foot, having tied the horses in q grove
q short way Off While the fight was
going on Gen. Custer reached the
other side OF the village, which was
four miles long, end attacked it.
Custer and his five companies took
position on ridge in the center Of the
Indian camp, cut off from access to
water, and there fought desperately
all day long, conspicuous mark for
the savage marksmen all around
them.
CUSTER's DEATH STRUGGLE.
At last, when half his command
had been killed he called on those
that remained to follow him, and
dashed boldly through the red devils.
1t was running the gauntlet OF at least
1900 rifles for the whole distance.
His men did not all follow him, and
when he got through he found him
self alone with single Crow Indian,
one of his scouts. He would not
leave his men to perish alone, and
turned to go back, but the Crow,
recognizing that such q move would
be fatal, grabbed his horse and im-
plored him not to go back again.
Custer only laughed, and putting
the reins of his morse between his
teeth, with revolver in each hand,
he gave q wild cheer, and dashed back
the hell of smoke and flying
bullets. AS il by a miracle, he reach
ed the remnant of his command,
which was now reduced to 40 men.
Calling on these survivors again to
follow, which the example and sue
cess OF his former charge disposed
them to do, he led them from their
place of peril over the path OF his
solitary charge.
That was the last seen OF them un-
til the battle was over, when the
whole party, with Custer in their
midst, were found stark and dead
within u circular rampant formed
by their horses bodies. They had
at ths last moment made
up their minds to sell their lives dear
ly, shot their horses, and then raising
them as breastworks, fought on with
the vigor of despair, i
UNTIL THE LAST MAN WAS DEAD.
What they suffered and what they
did in that fatal circle will even re-
main locked in mstery. OF all Gus
ter's men, only the Crow scout above |
mentioned and sergeant of of Com !
pany escaped.
From the descriptions in the papers
you cannot Imagine the horror of the |
scene after the battle. went over it !
with the artist, as the dead lay in |
heaps where they fell, and / shall |
ever remember it. General Custer |
was found with all his clothes upon |
him, but his two brothers were hOrri- !
bly, mutilated. When the fight was
in progress, the Indian squaws would |
rush in upon the wounded soldiers |
and beat out their brains with clubs. |
A DEAns v SOLD LIFE
IemarKable story Is told Of the
fearful scene at the death Of Charles
Clusters chief scout, and
the best shot on the Missouri River.
He was shot off the back of mis- horse,
and in falling caught the horse and
killed him, and making breastwork
Of the beasts body, he com menced a
terrible slaughter of the Indians. He
lay behind his horse, dying and still |
shooting, and every shot he fired his !
deadly aim sent savage to the devil. |
When he was taken off the field after |
The fight % dead Indians were found |
around him.
HELP ARRIVED.
At the time Of the fight, I was sent !
With q soldier on 3 message to the |
mouth Of the river where the boat |
was to call for General Gibbons COM
nand, and he and General Terry
came Just in time, one on each side /
1f the river. When l reached the |
mouth there was no way OF COM
with Gibbon on the other
bank, except by swimming, and no
)ne cared to trust the rapid and |
current. peeled of and /
iashed In, reaching the other bank
much trouble, my experience
n the broad and swift and deep De-
.roit, where often swan in boyhood,
the Big Horn appear a mere
ereek. AS breasted the waves and /
heard the cheers of the men on either
bank urging me OD, l. thought of the
hours spent in the water at Detroit,
and
IF THEY STILL ARRESTED i
BOYS
or learning to swim there. 1t was
,nly by many q breack of the city or-
finances Of Detroit that / acquired
he skill which enabled me to reach
iibbon that terrible day, and bring
aim to the rescue of the struggling /
Reno. He and Terry, marching up
sither bank of the river, did not reach
he scene of the battle moment too
loon. After fighting from O'Clock
until Sunday, the Indians
DOLLY packed up tents and decamDed,
eavlng the ground in the hands OF /
he dead aud wounded and defeated. |
We are expecting an attack daily /
rom them, and as have got one of the
best Indian ponies on the river, i can /
EASILY get away with some of them.