The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-12
HOW CUSTER DIED.
Thc Indians' Description OF Clusters Last
battle.
IN. Y, Tribune.l

IN. Y. Tribune.1
Fort ELLIS, Montana, June 23.-One
OF Gen. Miles scouts, an ex-soidler
named Howard, who married neice OF
Sitting Bull, in whose camp ne lived
some time, reached the Tongue Klver
cantonment on the 18th. He had been
sent by Miles to Sitting Bulls present,
or then, camp Nor he may pc moving
now, with instructions to ferret out
that chiefs intentions, and secure posi-
tive facts regarding his force and loca-
ations. In all OF which he succeeded.
Howard talked with the camp follow
-ers Of Sitting Bulls army regarding the
Custer massacre and disclosed some
new facts. This body of hostiles, or q
portion of 1t, was with Sitting Bull In
that bloody affair, and thus the story
Howard relates may be depended upon
as they, not suspecting his mission
among them, and in consideration OF
his residence among and relationship
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 were huddled to.
gether here and there and fought at
great disadvantage; yet they killed q
great many Of their assailants, fighting.
desperately to the last. Sitting Bull
asserted that the battle lasted only
thirty minutes all told, ending with the
death OF Custer and few men and off,
GERS who had rallied around him. This
forlorn hope had gotten off some dis
lance, and could have escaped; but,
unfortunately, Custer changed his mind,
turned, and ordering charge, the de-
voted party rushed upon the Indians
with revolvers, shooting down the
astonished savages right ana
left. Custer killed. five himself,
when his pistol emptied, and the Zoe
pressing about him, he closed with Q
brains with the butt, was shot as his
victim fell to the ground. This doubt
less true story supports the theory
advanced by military men at the time OF
the massacre-the idea Of some desper-
ate final act receiving support from the
position and location OF the group OF
bodies about Custer, viz that, he seeing
his command annihilated, and fearing
to face the consequences or scornlng TO
live when his soldiers lay dead about
htm, had deliberately rushed to certain
dxath.
His body was not recognized at first,
the Indians thinking him scout; but
being soon identified all that remained
o. 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 reported,
but he was barbarously killed with
knives. Lieut.. .Sturgis was knocked
off his horse, shot and knitted, his body
stripped and thrown into the river.
It must be Sturgis's death which
is thus described, as the Indians tell
Of this poor fellow as a young war.
rior who rode with buckskin coat
strapped to his saddle, and it is known
he was so equipped. They also relate
that two soldiers, who threw down theil
guns and surrendered, were turned loose
and advised "to return to their people
and tell them all the whites would fol
low Custer unless they would let the
Sioux alone" The poor fellows left
but the next day, probably crazy from
fright, attempted to return, when they
encountered some Indians who were en-
gagged against Reno, and were killed
Howard recognized many Custer
trophies In the camp, among them
Cookies saddle and accoutrements.