The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-04-04
CUSTER'S BATTLE,
A Hostile Indians Graphic Story OF the
Fight-What Red Horse Saw.-Authcntic
Account of the Indian Losses.

O ~N> AkeN1StS vi
Wood, commanding the Cheyenneagency
post. 1t is no less than the story of Red
Horse, a sub-chief Of the Minneconjoux
Sioux, who assisted at this memorable
tight: The story comes from a source
which the interpreter states may be de-
pended upon as trustworthy. 1t appears
that on the t%wenty-tifth of Febru-
airy 229 Sioux, belonging to the Mime
conioux, Sans Ares and Two Kettles
bands arrived at the Cheyenne agency
from the main hostile camp on Tongue
river and surrendered. giving up their
arms and all their horses-some 800 in
number. The principal men of this
party were Red Horse, Spotted Elk and
White Eagle. The former, upon coming
in ut the agency, told Colonel Wood that
he and his people wanted to behave
themselves in future, and then, upon
close questioning, told what he knew of
the battle wherein Clusters command
was annihilated.
The following is his story 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 councilmen in that
camp. The Uncapapas, Yanktonnais
and Santees were camped northeast of
me, on the right, facing the battlefield.
The Minneconjoux, San Arcs, Two
Kettles and Brules formed the center.
On the left to the west were the Ogallal-
las and Cheyenne. On the morning of
attack myself and several women were
out about a mile from camp gathering
wild turnips. Suddenly one of the
women called my attention to a 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 I got there 1 was sent
for ut once to come to the council lodge.
l found many of the councilmen already
there when | 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 ;ld arms; for women and children
" to mount their horses and get out of the
way, and for young men to go and meet
the troops. Among the latter was an Off
Ger who rode a horse with white feet.
The Indians have fought a great many
tribes of people, and very brave ones,
too, but they all say that this man was
the bravest man they had ever met. I
don't know whether this man was Gener-
al Caster or not. Some say it was. 7
saw the man in the fight several times,
but did not see his body. 1t is said he
was killed by a Santee Indian, who still
holds his horse. This officer wore a
large brimmed hat and a buckskin coat.
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. 1t is
believed that General Clusters hair wa
cut comparatively short at the time of his
death.
Some time before this fight we were
campel on the Rosebud; but we moved,
crossed over and struck a 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 a large herd of buffalo was ap-
preaching camp.
The day was very warm, and a sholt
time after he reported this the camp
was attacked by troops who had follow
ell our trail down the tributary and
crossed Greasy Grass creek a little
above where we did and above the mouth
of this tributary. They attacked the
upper end Of the camp, where the I'm
capapas were. The women and children
fed Immediately down Greasy Grass
creek a little way and crossed over. The
troops set fire to the lodges. All the
warriors then rallied and attacked this
command in an overwhelming force and
drove them in confusion across the creek.
They forced them over a 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 corralled them on the top of a high
hill and held them there until they saw
that the women and children were in
danger of being taken prisoners by au-
other party of troops which just then
made its appearance below. The word
passed among the Indians like q 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 wa open
ground all the way with the exception of
the small tributary I spoke of before.
As soon as we had finished this fight we
all went back to massacre the troops on
the hill. After diminishing around
awhile VIC saw the walking soldiers COM
ing. These new troops making their APP
pearance was the saving of the others.
The attack was made on the camp
about noon The troops, it appears,
were divided, n party charging right
into camp. We drove them across the
creek. When we attacked the other
party we swarmed down on them and
drove them in confusion.
No prisoners were taken. All were
killed. None were left alive, even for q
few minutes. These troopers used very
few of their cartridges. I took a gun and
a couple of belts off two dead men. Out
OF one belt two cartridges were got; out
of the other, five. 1t was with the cap
tured ammunition and arms that we
fought the other body of troops. If they
had all remained together they would
have hurt us very bad. The party we
killed made five different stands. Once
we charged right in until We scattered
the whole OF them, fighting among them
hand to hand. One band of soldiers
were right in the rear of us. When they
charged We fell back and stood for one
moment facing each other. Then the
Indians got courage and started for
them in a solid body. We went but a
little distance when we spread ont and
cncircled them. All the time 1 could see
their officers riding in front and hear
them, shouting to their men. 1t was in
this charge that most of the Indians
were killed.
We lost 1876 killed and 160 wounded.
We finished up this party right there in
the ravine.
General Sheridan is Of opinion that