The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1877-06-15
Gen. Clusters Band.

The removal of the remains of the off
GERS OF Gen. Clusters band having been de-
termined on by the War Department., and
a portion of the army contingent fund be-
ing set apart to defray the expenses of the
same, Col. NJ. V. Sheridan, of Gen. Sheri-
dams staff, has been detailed to superintend
the exhumation and transfer of the re-
mains, and accordingly left the city yester-
pay for the scene of the massacre, expect
ing that the trip will consume about five
weeks. From Fort Lincoln, Dakota, Col
Sheridan will be accompanied by an officer
and detachment of twenty soldiers of the
Seventh Cavalry, who, being at the time
with Reno's command, assisted in the bu-
rial of their comrades. The trip from Fort
Lincoln to the mouth of Tongue River.
and perhaps to a point on Tongue River
within forty miles of the battle field, will
be made on one of the small steamers now
plying on the Upper Missouri and Yellow
stone.
The officers of the butchered command
were buried in a row, with only few feet
intervening between them. The remains
were wrapped in blankets and pieces of
tent cloth, and with each body the shell of
a discharged cartridge, containing the
name Of the officer, was placed, to make
Identification certain, even after the decay
of the corpse. At the head of each grave
a stake was driven below the surface, and
on each of these stakes the name of the
officer was cut with a pen knife.
Below are the names of the officers who
were killed with the indication Of their
rank: Lieut.-Col. George A. Custer, Bre-
vet Major; First Lieut.. W. w. Cook, Ad-
jutant, Breyet Colonel; First Lieut.. G. E.
Lord, Assistant Surgeon; Capt. Thomas
W. Custer, Brevet Lieut.. Col. Capt. G. W.
Yates, Capt. NJ. W. Keogh, Brevet Lieu
tenant Colonel; First Lieut.. A. E. Smith,
Brevet Captain; First Lieut.. Donald McIn-
tosb, First Lieut., J. E. Porter, First Lieut..
James Calhoun, Second Lieut. Benjamin
Hodgson, Lieut.. j. Sturgis, Second Lieut..
Van w. Reilly, Second Lieut.. ]. J. Crit
tedden, Acting Assistant Surgeon, J. NJ.
DeWolf. At the time time the interment
was made the soldiers were unable to find
OF identify the bodies of Lieuts. Harrington
and Porter.
The remains of Lieut.. Crittenden will
not be molested. This officers father,
Gen. Thomas J. Crittenenden of Kentucky,
has written letter to Gen. Sheridan ex-
pressing the wish that his sons bones may
not be disturbed, and giving his reasons
therefor. The remains of the other thir-
teen will be exhumed, placed in coffins
transported thither for the purpose, and
brought to Fort Lincoln. From Fort Lin
coin the body of Gen. Custer will be shipped
cia Chicago to West Point, New York,
where 1T will be buried on the grounds of
the National Academy. 1t was General
Clusters wish, repeatedly expressed during
bis campaign against the Indians, that he
be buried at West Point if he be killed in
the service. The remains of the other Of
ficers will be taken to Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas, and given sepulchre in the Nation
al Cemetery at that place. Col. Sheridan
thinks that he will be fortunate if he sue
ceeds i'll finding the bones of the officers
who were buried on the battlefield. .-CAi-
cag0 Erchdnoe.