The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-03-31
The Story of the Custer Massacre.

The Story of the Custer Massacre.
RED HORSE, one of the chiefs of the
MinneCoujous Indians, and participant
in the disastrous battle in which Custer
and his men were killed, recently came
into the Cheyenne Agency Oak with
other chiefs and surrendered to Col
Wood, commanding the post In answer
to questions he gave the following ac-
count of the battle of GREASY Grass
Creek" little Big Horn:
On Greasy Grass Creek was the main
camp of the hostiles at that time l was
one of the head council men in that camp.
My lodge was situated in the center of
the camp. The Uncpapas, Yanktonnais
and Santees were camped northeast of
me, on the right, facing the battlefield.
The Minneconjous, Sans-Arcs, Two Ket-
ties and Brules were formed on the left.
To the west were the Ogallalas and
Cheyennes. On the morning of the
attack, myself and several women
were out about a mile from camp,
gathering wild turnips. Suddenly
one of the women called my atten-
ton to cloud of dust rising in
the neighborhood of the camp. l soon
discovered that troops were making an
attack. We ran for the camp, and when
| got there / was sent for at once to come
to the council lodge. / found many of
the council men already there when l
arrived. We had no time to consult one
another as to what action we should take
We gave directions Immediately for
every Indian to get his horse and arms,
for the women and children to mount
the horses and get out of the way, and
for the young men to go and meet the
troops
Among the troops was an officer who
rode horse with four white feet. The
Indians have fought a great many peo-
pie, and very brave ones, too, but they
all say that this man was the bravest
man that they had ever met. l don't
know whether this man was Gen. Custer
or not. Some say he was Custer. | saw
the man in the fight several times, but
did not see his body 1t is said that he
was killed by Santee, who still holds
his horse. This officer wore large
brimmed hat and buckskin coat. He
alone saved his command a number of
times by turning on his horse in the re-
treat, In speaking of him the Indians
call him the man who rode the horse
with four white feet" There were two
men of his description looking very much
alike, both having long yellowish hair.
NoTE-lt is believed that Gen. Clusters
hair was cut comparatively short at the
time of his death.
Some time before this fight we were
camped on the Rosebud, but we moved,
crossed over, and struck tributary of
Greasy Grass Creek, following it down
to its mouth. We then crossed Greasy
Grass Creek and went into camp on the
west bank An Indian started to go to
Red Cloud Agency that day, and when a
few miles from camp he discovered dust
rising. He turned back and reported
that large herd of buffalo was APP
preaching the camp. The day was very
warm, and short time after he re-
ported this the camp was attacked by
troops, who had followed our trail down
the tributary and crossed Greasy Grass
Creek little above where we did, and
above the mouth of this tributary. They
attacked the upper end of the camp,
where the Uncpapas were. The troops
set fire to the lodges. All our warriors
then rallied, and attacked this command
in an overwhelming force, and drove
| them in confusion across the creek
| They forded over place below where
they first crossed. The creek was very
high and swift, and several of the troops
were drowned.
After driving this party back, the In
dians corraled them on the top of high
hill, and held them there until they saw
that the women and children were in
danger of being made prisoners by an.
other party of troops which just then
made its appearance below. The word
passed among the Indians like whirl
wind, and they all started to attack this
new party, leaving the troops on the hill
From this hill to the point where the
troops were seen below it was open
ground all the way, with the exception
of the small tributary | spoke of before
As soon as we had finished the fight we
all went back to massacre the troops on
the hill. After skirmishing around
awhile we saw the walking soldiers com
ing. These new troops making their ap'
pearance was the saving of the others
The attack was made on the camp about
noon. The troops, it appears, were di
vided, one party charging right into the
camp. We drove them across the creek
When we attacked the other party, We
swarmed down on them and drove then
in confusion. No prisoners were taken
All were killed. None were left alive
even for few minutes. These troopers
used very few of their cartridges.
took a gun and a couple of belts of
two dead men. Out of one belt two
cartridges were gone; out of the othe
five. 1t was with captured ammunition
and arms that we fought the other body
of troops If they had all remained to
gether they would have hurt us yer,