Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1877-07-21
HOW CUSTER DIED.
The Lai,anS' Description Of Cus'cr's Last
Emiie.
IN. Y. Tribune

j
FoRr ELLIS, Montana, June 23.-One Of
Cen Miles scouts, an eX->oldier named
Howard, who married nclcc of Sitting Bull,
in whose camp he lived some time, reached
the Tongue River cantonment on the l7th.
lie had been sent 10y Miles to Sitting Bulls
present or then, camp Itor he may be moving
now), with instructions to ferret ont that che; :
intentions, and secure positive facts regarding
his force aud locations, in all Of which he
succeeded.
Howard talked with the camp followers Of
Sitting Eulls army regarding the Custer
massacre and disclosed some new facts This
body of ho>,lles, or a portion Of it, was with
Siulng Bull in that bloody affair, and thus tie
story Howard relates may be depended upon
as they, not suspectng his mission among
Them. and in consideration OF his residence
among and relationship with them, talked To
him as one OF themselves They state that
many Of Clusters men Were killed by mounted
Indians. who ran over them and killed them
with their knives.
The poor fellows We're hudlled together
here and there and fought AT great disad-
vantage: We, they killed a great many of their
a->ailnnis, fighting desperately to the last.
Sitting Bull asserted that the battle lasted
only thirty minutes all told, ending with the
deaih of Custer and few men and officers
who hrd rallied around him. This fororn
hope had gotten Oft some distance, and could
have escaped; but. unfortunately, Custer
changed his mind, turued. and ordering Z
charge, the devoted party rushed upon the
Indians with revolvers, shooting down the
a,tonshed sava:es right aud left. Custer
killed five himself when his pistol emptcd,
and the foe pressing about him, he closed
with a graphing savage, and beating ont his
brains with the butt, was shot as his victim
| fell 10 the ground This doubtless true s.ory
, supports the theory advanced by military men
/ AT the time Of the massacrc-thc idea OF some
/ desperate final ac, receiving support from the
! position and location of the group of bodies
/ about Custer VIZ that. he seeing his com
mand annhilated, and tearing to face the
/ consequences or scorning TO live when his
/ .icIs lay dead about him, had deliberately
rushed to certain death.
His body was not recognized at first, the
Indians thinking him scout; but beng soon
identified all that remained of the famous
General was propped up against the corpse Of
, Two soldiers, and so left TO receive the
advancing but too late troops. Poor Tom
, Clusters heart was not cut out, as previously
| reportei. but he was barbarously killed with
knlve> Lieut. Siurgis was knocked oil his
ho,sc. shot and knitted, his body stripped and
thrown irto the river. Ii must be Sturgis :
death which Is thus described, as the Indians
tell of this poor fellow as "a young warrior
who rode with buckskin coat strapped TO
his saddle. and 1t is known he was so equip
| ped They also relate that two soldiers who
| threw down their gun, and surrendered,
| were turned loose and advised 20 return to
their people and tell them all the whites
would follow Custer unless they would let h"
Sioux alone The poor fellows left. but the
next day. probably crazy from fright. attempt
g. to return. whsn they encountered some
Indians who were engaged against Reno, and
were killed. Howard recognized many
Custer trophies in the camp, among them
Cookies saddle and arcoutrements.