The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-06-07
THE CUSTER MASSACRE.

An Indians Description of the Battle witt,
Custer on the Big Horn. and It's Tragic
Ending.
tCamp Robinson (Neb.) Cor. Chicago Times.l
You correspondent has obtained some
very valuable information in regard to.
the custer massacre from Crazy Horse.
through Horned Horse as his spokes-
man, which is authentic and confirmed
by other principal chiefs. interviewed
these chiefs, Lieut.. Clark arranging for
the meeting and VIM. Hunter acting as
interpreter, a man perfectly reliable and
thoroughly conversant with the Indian
language. This is the Indian version.
and the first published. The attack was
made on the village by strong force at
II O'Clock In the morning at the upper
end of the village. This was the force
| commanded by Maj. Reno, and verv
| shortly afterward the lower end of the
village was attacked by another strong
force, that commanded by Custer. The
village was divided into seven different
bands of Indians, each commanded bv a
separate chief, and extended in nearly q
straight line. The bands were in the
order mentioned below, commencing
from the lower end, where Custer made
his attack: First, the Uncapapas. IN
der Sitting Bull second, the Ogallalas.
under Crazy Horse third, the Mime
conlous, under Fast Bull: fourth. the
Sansarcs, under Red Bear; fifth. the
Cheyennes, under Ice Bear, their two
principal chiefs being absent; sixth, the
Santees and Yanktonais, under Red
Point, OF the Santees seventh. the,
Black feet, under Scabby Head. The
village consisted of 1900 lodges, and at
least 400 wickayups, a lodge made of
small poles and willows for temporary
shelter. Each of the wickayups con-
tanned four young bucks, and the esti-
mate made by Crazy Horse is that each
lodge had from three to four warriors.
Estimating at three made fighting
force Of 1000 Indians. This is the low
est estimate that can be made, for there
were good many Indians without shell
ter, hangers-On, who fought when called
upon, and the usual number was much
above 1000. The attack was q surprise
and totally unlocked for. When Custer
made his charge the women, papooses.
children, and in fact all that were not
lighters made a stampede in q nOrtherlv
direction. Custer, seeing SO numerous.
a body, mistook them for the main
body Of Indians retreating and abandon
ing their village, and Immediately gave
pursuit. The warriors in the village.
seeing this, divided their forces into two
parts, one intercepting Custer between
their non-combatants and him. and the
other getting in his rear. Outnumber-
ing him as they did, they had him at.
their mercy, and the dreadful massacre
ensued. Horned Horse Says the smoke.
and dust were SO great that foe could not
be distinguished from friend. The
horses were wild with fright and uncon-
trollable. The Indians were knocking
each other from their steeds, and it is an
absolute fact that the young bucks in
their excitement and fury killed each
other, several dead Indians being found
killed by arrows. Horned Horse repre-
sented this hell of fire and smoke and
death by interturning his fingers and
saying: "Just like this, Indians and
white men," These chiefs say they suf-
fered loss Of fifty-eight killed, and
over sixty wounded. From their way of
expressing it, I should Judge that about
80 per cent. of their wounded died.