Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-11-17

Interview with Sitting Bull.
The New York Herald correspondent who
interviewed Sitting Bull says:
The Indian said he was 20 chief, and gave q
graphic description of tie Rosebud fight, say.
ing bullets there were like hummng bees, and
soldiers shook like aspen leaves Gen. Custer
is nobly vindicated. Sitting Bull says he died
laughing. Implied charges are made against
Major Reno. The Herald commentiog on tic
narrative says this first description Of Custer
fight on the Rosebud ministers to quito dit.
terent feeling from mere historical curiosity
cite an Indignation that the heroic Custer and
his men should have needlessly perished By the
wholesale savage butchery because he was not
properly supported by Reno. The curious mis-
take made by Sitting Bull both auhenticatcs
the chief portions Of his narrative, and ex.
plains why the massacre of Clusters men was
so complete. Sitting Bulls error grew out Of
his ignorance OF Custer's plan of battle. Gus
ter 8 plan was to attack the Indian camp stimuli
taneously on two sides, and thereby I'LL
it with confusion and terror In point of fact,
Reno attacked first and was driven back, and
Clusters attack followed after an interval
Nothing could be more natural thao that Sit
ting Bull, who knew nothing Of the plan should
have mislnterpreted these successive attacks.
He did not himself see the commanders Of
either, and as time enough had elapsed be
tween the two assaults on his camp for the force
| which had beer employed in the first to be
| marched around to the side whence he received
the second, he supposed this had been done
and that both movements were led by Custer
| himself. He accordingly imagined that Reno's
| command, which had retreated to the heights.
| were an Insignificant handful left there by Gus
| ter for the purpose of observation, and thought
| it safe to withdraw all his warriors from that
side and concentrate them against Custer. On
| the side toward Reno, there were lett only the
squaws, children and old men Of the camp. and
| if these had been attacked, part Of the Sioux
warriors who were overwhelming Custer With
immense superiority of numbers would have
been detached for the defence Of the camp and
tho fate of the battle might have beeu
different. 1t is plain from Sitting Bulls
account that Reno remained pcrched upon his
heights iu mortal dread Of set OF old men,
sauaws and children at the critical time when y
vigorous attack would have divided the war
riors and given Custer and his men chance Tor
| their lives if not for victory. Charity would
| suggest in behalf of Reno that he knew moth
| ing of Clusters engagement. But this excuse
| will not hold if Sitting Bull tells the truth. lie
says that the noise Of the firing was distinctly
heard by collection of sQuaws who were con.
fronting Reno, aud must have been heard by
Reno himself.
If this was SO that officer seems incxcusable.
Even if lie had been confronted by warriors in
stead of souaws and old men, he ought to have
attacked with the utmost dash and Vigor, there
by creating diversion for the reliet OF Custer.
| The plan which Custer had made for battle was
like that which he had always adopted lu his
| Indian fights. He never hesitatci before su.
perior numbers, but always divided his force
aud assailed an Indian camp on two sides at
once, intending to profit by the confusion and
distraction of the foe. Had Reuos attack and
his own been simultaneous 1t would probably
have succeeded as the same tactics had always
done before, and if Sitting Bull had not been
deceived by the lapse Of time between the two
| attacks iuto the belief that both were led by
Custer, he would not have left bis side toward
| Reno so exposed.
A TOUCHING INCIDENT OF MATERNAL LOVE.
Some months ago lady was committed to
| the Western Lunatio Asylum as patient, one
phase Of ber insanity being almost complete 81.
! ence She appeared to know or notice no one.
| A few days ago her little daughter, a prattler
not yet two years old, whioh she had not seen
| since she was bereft of her reason, vas brought
| to see her. The mother had greatly altered in
| appearance, her hair being cut off and the
change 10 her mental health had been reflected
| in hec features, but the child sprang to her at
ouce, and clasping her round the knees buried
her face in her dress, crying, "It's my mamma
my OVID, own mamma !" The mother hard
~ noticed the child, but the little one climbed
nto her lap and commenced stroking her hair
with its little hands. all the time grooming.
| "My Own mamma ~ In a little while the
mother began to notice it, and shortly the ma,
ternal feeliog fully re asserted itself in close
clasps of recognition and affection. Since the
visit the patient has undergone marked lm-
provement.- t.-Staunton indicator.
| OPENING AND CLOSING OF MAILS. Until
further notice the following will ba tho houra
| for the opening and closing Of the mails:
| OPENING
Northern mails $3.50 q. m. and 100 p. N.
| Western 9l5 g. N. and p. IN.
| Southwestern, via Gordonsvillc and Lynch
burg, 700 p. m.
| Hill, Va, $3.50 p. m.
| Manassas Division, 2:30 p. IN.
Southern via Fredericksburg and Richmond,
Va, $50 a. m. and Loo p. m.
| CLOSING.
| Northern and western malls, o:lo y. ILL., WI"
$3.50 p. m.
Southwestern, via Lynchburg and Gordona-
vile, 100 3. m.
Washington and Ohio, Round Hill to Alex
andris, 800 q. m.
Manassas Division, 100 q. m.
Southern mails, via Richmond and Frodor-
licksburg, Va, 5:l6 p m. and o30 p. m.
| I,ypchbur and points South, $3.50 p. NJ.
Sundsy-O1ics open at 900 q. m; closes $50
| 8. m. ,o
m-G General delivery window closes At S:OO y.
m. Doors close at 9:OOp. m.
FISH, OYSTERS, &c.
| WV II SMITH SAM'L. SMITH.
vYIJLI4M r. SMITH s. CO.,