The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-15
CU57ER'S REMAINS.
Details Of the Expedition to
Collect His Bones
MILITARY RED TAPE.
Cautious and Tedious March to the
VALLEY of Death"
SIC X MING SCENES.
SICKENING SCENES
Bodies Partially Covered Bleach
ing III the Sun.
[pY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
MOUTH OF THE LITTLE BIO HORN RIVER,
Ial. Aia Quiz a Iill.. I


psrsment in Washington, in Chicago or from Generals
Terry and Miles, commandans Of this depar,m TO
yeur correspondent. he hero learned that Colonel
Sheridan for reasons probably satisfactory to
himself il not to others, decided ,ha.
reporter would be allowed to accompany the
disntoring expedition TO the /Cdstor deld. This
unusual, apparently unnecessary. and certainly
ungoncrous rcatmen; of tho HERALD, whose CORE.
spoDdont with Custer killed side by side with
gallant General, rated its proper value and
treated accordingly. The correspondent OF the HERALD
was not TO be foied by any such unauthorized order
Hence, though spruce, well dressed gentlemen, with
business credentials not tolerated. rough, griz-
zlcd laborcrs and mountain employed and
hence this authentic report from eye Col
onc NJ. Sheridan with certain military and other
friends; Troop j. of the Seventh cavalry, Captain
NowlaI commanding; G. j. Burronette and G. Hern-
don White and Curey, who with Custer Half
Yellow face, who was with Reno, and several Crow
indian scouts. with train OF OK wagons left at
OF the LIST for the Custer field They travelled
twelve miles up the west side OF the river and campcd
STARTING FOR cUsrER's
Early the next morning Barronette with most of
the scouts pressed rapidly up Ave miles to the
old village site, then miles 1t, immense
quantities OF lodge poles camp kettle pals, pots and
other camp equipage--much OF which was broken and
and into Reno's Valley; thence they filed
miles above, returning again along the line Of tho
Indians retreat to Custers Valley and his elevated
but silent resting place. Meanwhile the main party
had marched to The centre OF the village site,
some SIX miles long, and canped at ten A. NJ. Thence
In squads they passed over Custcrs Valley, tho
west side OF the stream aud the deep, rapid ford
and line of retreat and all united Custcr's grave
the extreme end and highest point Of broken, tree
less ridge.
uNEARrHiNG THE REMAINS.
Gradually riding the ono and one half miles from
this and then some feet down the slope were
found, partially unearthed all that remains OF the
gallant Custer Beside and below MIN lay his brother,
Captain Thomas Custer and other officers and friends,
surrounded by the partially exposed ana bleaching
bones Of the soldiers and their horses, fragments of
clothing and shoes and shod hoofs Of horses.
The true duty OF correspondent being
to furnish only necessary, at least
proper information, and not a needless recital
of horrors, much is omitted that might ruthiuly be
written Although the remains OF General Custer
and most OF his friends there as elsewhere had evi.
IDENTIFY been d,sGgured by the coyotes savagcs and
probably both, aud many, If not tho OF the
skulls there and throughout all tho folds were
smashed TO fragments, mangled or missing still what
was decided to DO and probably the main por-
lions OF the bones OF General Custer and his two
brothers secured. Neither Reed ths officers
who fell with him ana Reno were found.
VALLEY DEATH.
Tho remains were carefully and sorrowfully
gathered wrapped and then packed with grass cut
from Custcr's Valley, placed in ten rough boxes
unlike rough collins and brought away. The remains
OF Lieutenant Porter ana somo Of his have been
found. Though the bodies OF Lieutenant Mcintosh
and DR.. Dc Wolf discovered and buried last
Lieutenant Hodgsons could now be found.
MARKING GRAVES
BY request OF ms esteemed father the gallant Lieu
tenant Crttcnden sleeps where he fell with his boys
about him, awaiting Gabrics rcveillc but for the
guidance OF his friends his name, rank, &C..
rudely carved upon q head post Another board
shows where Captain keogh fell, and where his men
sleep. There also rude Inscription at the OF
each OF tho Others bat most of the SOL
diers, either sinsly or in groups, have a
stake driven where they rest. They arc not
III graves, but lie with sprnk,ing OF earth up zach
In groups they fell last year. More earth was
heapcd upon them Some found this year that
were last, but trace OF then covered can
be found VINO especially Custer first Tough, rs
he certainly did, OF the ford In the village
THE DEAD HERALD CORRESPONDENT.
The HERALp's lamcntcd correspondent Kellogg, was
found and dccenily covered
THE SCOUT CHARLEY REYNOLDS.
Barrorette and the writer in search OF the re-
mans OF the gallant scout Charley Reynolds after the
main body OF the expedition had left the Ged OF death
We aided by u rough, but accurate map made
by Major Rcno's scout, Gruaid WHO saw Charley fail
All that we could lind Tow small bones
which were but partly covered with earth, the
bones or his horse fragments OF his hat clothing
d few tufts OF his auburn hair which ciun. 10 the
earth after wolf Rhoul had removed the SKULL The
hair small and pieces Of clothing gathered
up INTO a handkerchief Tor burial elsewhere. Charley
was once the most accom- pshod scout ard The finest
shot the plains
REVIEWING SCENE
A visit battle field Is very agreeable, but
owing the peculiartics OF the soil and climate in
this valley there bat little that WAS borriiying
really much less OF the kind upon many battle
fields oi tho rebellion, and The remains let upon
the dcld commcadable shape 10: removal
doubtless TO grave Of honor
OF course where remains were par.ly uncovered,
an UNDERSTANDABLE odor There were the scatter
Ing mounds of earth which renovated by the
careful soldiers, and the struggling stakes and hcad
boards beyond this nothing 10 denote Tie site OF
OF he most terrible siaughtcrs Of time. The OK
train and the row Of uHanished collins stood on the
side Of the hill, looking, indeed, ike u funeral
cor,6gc The massacre Of many soldiers in
the ravne certainly not done In alter tho
death OF Custer, has historically recorded,
but they doubtless OF from Custer his valley
hght, or retreat, and crossing the stream ,hon low,
below The proper ford IN the attempt to scale The tow
crng bui assist Custer IN HIS death struggle tHcy
were cptrappcd In one OF those Deep barrow and
utterly impossible washout coGas aud slaughtered like
flock Of sheep without possibility OF resistance,
advance or retreat believe IN my shall
try show that a hidden network OF coulas played
worry prominent perhaps decisva part In all the Ia
mcntablc transactions OF that cvenuul day.
uoyoRiNG DSAD.