The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-22
A BRILLIANT ATTACK
Reno Precipitately Retreats Before
Two Hundred Reds.
A ZERO IN THE FIGHT.
The Whole Strength of the Village Allowed 10
Crush The BaltalOns Engaged.



To THE EDITOR THE HERALD:-
/ have read gooa deal OF late in tue HERALD and
other papers the battle OF the Little Big Horn
much OF which Is incorrect and calculated to mslead
the public. I was present with Reno during the
whole OF his connection with the battle. and am per-
sonally cognzant of what occurred both before aud
alter the engagement OF course | did not see all
that took places but great deal and Will relate
1t just as witnessed IT,
A COUNCIL OF WAR.
was with General Gibbor Is command NJ the m uth
OF the Rosebud when General Terry una General
Custer Joined GIbbon. General Terry told me could
go WIN General Custer his march up the Rosebud
He told me at General Gibbons tent TO go with
Custer, and afterwards saw Terry the steamer
Far West, while she lay at the mouth of the Rose
bud. ana he asked me about the country
along the upper part OF Rosebud aud Tullock s
Fork. was standing the forward deck OF
the boat when was called into tho cabin, where l
found Generals Terry Gibbon, Custer and Brisbin
around table apparently holding council oil war.
Terry showed me map and asked me for Information
ABOUT the country on Tullock's Fork and the Lttlo
Big Horn understood IRON the conversation had
by Terry with Gibbon ana Custer that he was trying
to lind out whore the columns OF Custer and Gibbon
could best form Junction, somewhere In the neigh
borhood OF the mouth the Little BIG Horn Custer
march up tho Rosebud aud Gibbon up the Big Horn.
had been over tho ground aud told the General all l
knew about it. Custer seemed much pleaaed with
tho Information gave Terry and SAID was just
he ed and that he would like me 10 20 with
him. went out on the deck again, and soon after
ward General Gibbon came out and spoke me. He
said could consider myself as employed to 70 with
General Custer. / sskea him what compensatory Il
would receive aud what l would be expected TO do,
and he replied would act scout and when Guster's
command got to the head OF Tulock Greek would
down the Tuiock with dispatches to his tiio.
bon's) command. There conversation about
what compensation would receive, but above was
all that occurred OF Importance THIS the 2lst
OF June, aud aitcr General Giboon left
General Brisbln of tho cabin | asked him
where his cavalry would probably be in tho few
days, SO could lind him aud he replied about the
mouth oil Little Big Horn.
STARTING ROSEBUD.
reported TO General Custor noon the 21st of
June ana was sent TO Lieutenant Vasnum, who had
charge of some SCOUTS. ! saw with varnum Mich
Boyer the hafbreed and guide. We started out
the I'D about noon and travelled up the Rosebud.
Boyer and Bloody knife, Rec scout had the and
Custer travelled with them Lieutenant yarnum with
mis- scouts followed Custer in advance Of column
We marched about twelve miles and went into camp
ut five +. NJ
INDIAN TRAIL
General Custer ordered rcveillc 10 be sounded ut
four aud the command TO be ready to march at lye
O'Clock next morning TINS was the morning OF the
23d, and We marched promptly at five A. NJ. Our
coursc led up the tour five miles, when we
struck Indian trail which Reno mad followed few
days before. We followed the trail until five r. a..
when we encamped for tho night ana IN tho evening
Custer The Grow scouts wcre with US on In
advance to see that they could find out
p On the morning OF the oath we broke camp at five
O'Clock nd cor
Soon after starting Custer, who In advanoe with
Boyer, called me to him told me 10 set ready
saying he thought he would send mo and Chari,o
Reynolds to the head OF TLliock's Fork to take
look. / told the General II was not time yet as
then travelling IN the direction
OF the head OF the Tullock, and | could
on1y follow his trail | called Boyer VINO was utuo
ahead, back and asked him II was not IN my
statelcnt TO tho General and he said Eyes; further
up ROSEBUD we would como opposite a gap and
tncn could cut ana the luiivck IN
about fifteen miles, ride" custer said, '.All right
could walt"
e. We had not proceed "a lar whcn the Crows came IN
on the ruo anureportod the trail was getting fresn
tracks They brought In with them the scalp OF a
white man when they had picked up tho trail,
aud which was identified us coming IRON head OF
man named stokcr, Company II, Second cavalry,
who nsd oeen killed few days Deioro at the mouth
VI inc Rosebud.
Custer receiving The above Intelligence hal lied his
command. dis'noun'cd the men ana had the officers
sOunued Ho bed council MS officers.
was not near enough 10 near what pssseu.
Alter hating about hall an hour we mounted and
moved siowy along 'he traii ana soon came TO me
mouth OF Muddy Creek up which about three miles
tue second cavalry had It's nght Win Lame Dscrs
band last spring,
A SPLIT SCENT.
As We passed Muddy Greek noticed that some
Iouges hau ieL The trail nd gone
that way followed tncn "A SNORT distance and Iben
over To Custer told the loagcs
iIau gone up tho Muddy. lie hated the ~ inand at
once aud sem Lieu tenant Vafnuin to dnd out wnere
"A a IN lllH lnxta .ft.
want ~ ose aay OF the lodges, aud any OF them
tie man trail lac wanted to know 1t.
f. Whale Vainam was gone we Matted and the
cooked dinner. lie was absent ABOUT TWO bburs, ana
winch he cauhe back told custer thai the Muddy trail
swung over on the Rosebud and joined he traii
again. We then started on Inc large trul winch iresn
. eued every moincnL We passed over pac so where a
number oil camps had been quite close together,
ing that sthc hdiaDs were travelling very slow y, and
. only moving Tor grass.
AIMING TO GEr THE WHOLE VILLAGE.
Toward evening the traiI became ircsh that Gus
ter Ordefeu fSnkcfs 10 De Kept well und sharp
JVkout had Tor lodges leaving 10 the rght the ei
He said he wanted 10 get the xnov village, ana noli-
ing must issvc The main trail without hls hnownsiL
ABOUT duck We halted aud went mo camp on the
traIl IL was then very fresh aud the General sent
Narnum, Boyer aud some scouts sncad TO cx-
anime he trail and adJsccnt country. The
gwen oracrs to graze tuc aninas get supper ana DC
ready ~ start eieven r. NJ. Every oody untn
tcu 4. D.. when NC packed ny again al moved out.
Inc nIgnt very DARK ana our progress slow. Alter
horses were unsaddlcd and tie men lay down to
rest he pacSs were taken Oh The mules ana every
tbing done 10 rest and rccuperatc the animals
IFS GREAT srEkSGTH Known.
Sumo time during the night tie scouts came In and
reported TO Custer that tho lLdan camp lound.
We packed up ana moved icrwarSfai early hgnl.
Mich. Boyer ana koypOlds, who nad been out,
the camp VAS very large Boyer SAID II Wa tue Bug
gtst village he had ever seen. Reynolds said there
VAS hcsp OF them, and Custer replied 'ne could
wnip thcil.n Reynolds said II would take hours
hard nshtlbg TO whIp them.
RECoNNoTRgs PERSON.
About nine O'Clock on tue morning OF the 18th OF
June ana the last day our marcn Custer halted ms
A aTt al Hl ~ led rs
thea took ordory and rode up on the DIVIDE about
four miles to where Lieutenant Earpum aud boyer
were. Tue General was trying 10 get a look at the
village, which was over on the other side OF the De
VIDE, ON Lutte Big Horn. While Custer was gone
rodc up the Dry Fork OF the R0sebuJ, along wbIch
The trail rsn, but had not gone af wncn saw ,wo
objects gong the bills IN the direction oil the
Lnue Horn.
haii, anu wDen ne sanIr BACK Boyer, VINO was with