The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1877-08-10
HOW CUSTER DIED.
howara's Visit t, Sitting Bull and What the
Indians Told Him.

Howard's talk with the camp followers
regarding the Custe massacre, disclosed
some new facts. This body of hostiles, or a
portion of it, 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 relationship with him, talked to him
as one of themselves. They say many of
Custer's men were killed by mounted In
dians, who ran over them and killed them
with their knives. The poor fellows were
huddled here and there together and fought
under great disadvantage, yet they killed u
great many Of their assailants. fighting
desperately to the last Sitting Bull says
thu battle lasted but 80 minutes, ending
with the death of Custer and few men
and the officers who had rallied around
him. This forlorn hope had gotten off
| some distance, and could have escaped,
but, unfortunately, Custer changed his
mind, turned. and ordered charge, and
| the devoted party rnshed upon the In
dians with revolvers, shooting down the
astcnished savages right and left. Custer
killed five himself, when his pistol emptied
and then prcssngupon him, he closed with
a graphing savage, and beating out his
brains with the butt, WAS shot as his VIC
tim fell to the ground. The doubtless
true story supports the theory advanced
by military men at the time Of the massa-
cre-the idea of some desperate final act
receiving support from the positica and To-
cation of the group of bodies about Gus
ter, viz:-that he, seeing his command an
initiated, and fearing to face the conse-
quences, or scorning to live when his SOL
ders lay about him dead. deliberately
rushed to certain death.
His body was not recognized at first, the
Indians thinking him a scout; but being
soon identified, all that remained of the fa-
nous General was propped up against the
corpses of two soldiers, and left to receive
the advancing, but too late troops. Poor
Tom Clusters heart was not cut out, as pre-
viously reported, but he was barbaronsly
killed with knives. Lieut. Sturgess was
knocked off his horse, shot and knitted, his
body stripped and thrown in the river. II
must be Sturgess' death which is thus de
scribed, as the Indians tell of this poor
fellow as young warrior who rode with
buckskin coat strapped to his saddle, and
it is known he was so equipped. They re-
late that two soldiers who threw down
their arms aud surrendered, were set free
ami advised to return TO their people and
toll 1Ii-m all the whites would follow Cas-
t.runiess they let the Sioux alone, The
p"o- fellows left. but the next day, proha-
bly, cfazed by fright, attempted t" return,
when they encountered some Indians who
had been engaged against Reno, and were
killed. Howard recognized many Custer
trophies in the camp, among them Cooks
saddle and accoutrements. He thinks this
camp of hostiles must have been So serely
dealt with, that Sitting Bull must be s.
cured or kilfeu or else si.a &s--~---.a saccess-
es and surrenders will GO almost for
naueht am convinced that Gen Miles
shares this opinion. at least partially, and
that he is right in opposing ang cessation
of active and defensive operations, until
the SUI gested results be attained. 1t must
not be imagined that he is bloodthdasty in
his plans or ideas in this business-eR the
contrary, he recognizes the fact that even
the Sioux has rights the government masS
respect Int at the same time he feels
with all intelligent observers that its arm
must now thoroughly assert itself before
the field can be abandoned. Any other
course can but result in loss of all that has
been gained, and an endless repetition OF
campaigns against the Indians.-N. 7.
Tribune.