The New York herald., 1877-11-16
'No
"why ="
WHY he FOUGHT.

WHY HE FOUGHT.
II never laugh, my people to trust Americans
have told thcm tho truh-that tho Americans aro
great liars l have never dealt With the Americans
Why should II Tho land belonged TO my people.
say never dealt with thcm-I mean ncvcr treated
With thcm In way 70 surrender my peoples rights
l traded with them, but always gave full value for
what got never asked the United States govern
mont 10 make mo presents OF blankets cloth or
them to send mo honest trader that could trade
with, and proposed to give him buffalo robos and elk
skins and other hides In exchange for what VIC
wanted. 1 told cvery trader who came to camps
that l did not want any favors IRON hIm-that
wanted to tradc with him fairly and equally, giving
him full value tor what got-but tho traders wanted
me TO ,radc with them such terms They
wanted to give iittlc and get much They told mo
that II did not accept what they would give me in
trade ,hoy would got tho government TO light mo-
told them did not want to fight"
"But you fought"
At last, yes; but not until after had tried hard to
prevent nght At nrst my young men, when thcy
began TO talk bad, stole five American horses took
tho Americans. It did good BY and by wc bad
TO GghL"
THE GREAT CUSTER BATTLE EXPLAINED.
II was at this juncture that began to question tho
great savage before in regard the most disss-
trous most Mysterious indian battle OF the century,
Custer's encounter with the Sioux the Big Horn
tho Thcrmopya or tho Plains Sitting Bull. tho chief
genius Of his bands has boon supposed to have CON-
manded the Sioux forces whom Custer fell
That the reader may understand Sitting Bulls state
shat iiusirious battle ground which is herewith pre-
sen,ed and read ,he following preliminary sketch
II should be understood moreover, that inasmuch As
every white man with Custer perished, and no other
white man, savo ono or two scouts, had conferred
carefully with Sitting Bull sny OF bis chiefs since
tha. awful day. tho nrs authentic story OF the
conflict which possibly have appeared out or tho
lips OF survivor II has tho moro historical valuc
Reno's foes
CUSTER on the I'D OF June, started up the Rosebud
with the following order from General Terry n bis
pocket
IAeutennns Colonel CUsrys, seventh Cavsiry:-
cotonEL-The Brieadicr General comina landing directs
that regiment be made ready Tor tho
march proceed ,e Rosebud In pursuit. Of ,hs In
dlans whose :r1 discovered BY Mar Reno ao~ days
IL Is Of eolse. Impossible 70 give any definite In
sructions in regard 20 hs movement and voro IL not Inn
possible TO do the Department places too
much confidence In Eoni energy ability wish 10
impose precise orders which might hamper your
sction When nearly IN with the enemy He will
however Indicate you his whs. Jour
should be, and he desires ths, you should conform 20
thcm snIess shall sufficient Tor departing
from them. Ho shinks that ron should proceed mp tho
Rosebud nnui ascertain definitely the direction in
which the trail above spoken Of leads Should IL be found
surn toward tho Little Biz Horn. no shinks that you
should ai proceed southward. perhaps. as far
che head waters sf tho Tongue, and then turn
toward shs Little Biz Horn feoiiHg constantly however
70 vouf ie 80 40 10 precnde 'hs possibility the escape
tno indians 70 tho south or southeast BY passing around
your left hank Tho column OF Colonel Gibbon 10 nov In
motion for tho mouth Of she Big Horn. As soon %
reaches that point viii the Yellowstone and
At least ss far ss tho parks Of tho Big Little Sig
Horn Or course its future bs controlled
~ circumstances rhoy arise; II Is hooed tho
Indians, upon she Little Big Horn, may nearly
closed by s~o columns shat sheir escape will be Impossible
The Department Comm desires that yonr
the Rosebud ron shonid thoroughly examine the
part Of Tuochs Creek and that ron should endoavor
send scout through 70 Colonel Gibbons column with In
formation Of tho result Of your examination. Tho lower
par Of this creek will bo examined by detachment from
Colonel Gibbons eommsnd The supply steamer VIII bs