New-York tribune., 1878-10-12
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
WHERE CUSTER FELL.


THE BLUNDFR. AND WHOSE WAS T-TEsiIMoNY OF
AN INDIAN WHO FOUGHT UNDER SITTING BULL
RETREAT OR ANNIHILATIoS or THE RED MEN
INEVITABLE HAD RENO BEEN THERE-NEG-
LECrRD AND SHALLOW GRAVES.
70 the EdfEor Of The Tribune.
SIR: have been spending portions OF two
days lately looking the Custer battlefield There
is no sweeter valley that the shines on than this OF
the Little Big Horn River approached IL across inc
country from the Rosebud River in nearly the same d
reetiou that along which General Custer led his men
on the last march OF his life to this fatal place. The jour
ney for large portion Of the way Ia extremely difficult
One passes over and miles of bad lands There are
great stretches dreary emptiness unreeyed by trees
with never any flowers. The only vegetation are the
scrawny saRebush and faint spears OF struggling grass
But last the traveller reaches the soft and yerdant
Valley Of the Little Big Horn. Luxuriant cottonwood
trees stand thick along the river banks Drap
and the finest grasses hang upon the
shoulders OF the hills and sweep downward until their
folds lost amid the shadows OF the trees In the blue
distance tower ranges OF the Big Horn Mountains
Here spottlng this valley with its lodges and from
these hills upon which are Just now standing. Gen
eraI Custer 25tb of June, 1876 caught sight OF
the great Indian village he had been searching for II
cOnfederated village. made up of the discontented
Indians various tribes gathered under the controlling
mind OF Sitting Bull. General Custer had with him
nearly and friendly Indian scouts, sufficient
force to have captured the village had his commands
been thoroughly obeycd. It has been frequently said
that the General dsObeyed his orders But it capable
Of perfect proof that his orders given subject to his
own discretion and that he in wise disObeyed since
he thought victory cersin with the forces at his
disposal General Custer has been blamed, too, for III
vidnG his command, for not throwing his whole force
with blow at some single point Of the village II is
true that General Custer did divide his command lie
left portion Of it under the leadership of Major Reno
nj ippr IN tha fha rfv md
under the shelter OF the timber end OF the Indian
village begin the attack. Meanwhile General Custer.
passing along the crest OF the hills. TO make de-
scent in another place. seek another ford,
and upon the Indians in their rear
and flank For such disposition Of his
forces the dead hero been greatly blamed But il ia
to be said in answer that with just such tactics these
he had been successful before in many Indian fights,
and when there had been great disparity between his
forces and those OF the enemy. From careful
review OF the whole ground do not think one
can resist the conclusion that the massacre occurred
simply because the commands OF General Custer were
not obeyod Major Reno did begin the fght in the tim
Der at OF the village, but for some strange rea
son be did not stay there. There was little firing
The gathered indians displayed themselves ON the low
buIs and then this portion OF the command upon which
General Custer depended beat retreat They Tell DacA
ont OF the timber rctreated along an 0pfn space re-
ioried the rysr cOe aDd wsc One can nd graves
along the line OF the retreat, but few. com
pnratveIy, however. in the timber There was
i,tte 1lhting there. Here this hillside
aud hIll-,Op tails portion Ot the cohMa. a % stTa Sr
Then Indians left them, and with ther whoie oLce
turning their attention upon Custer, who was coming
down upon the village from the guTLef lo hau cnoSe
they drove him back from the river he was about TO
fnrd Then he massacre began. One see the lines
OF graves where toe brave fell AS, cOntesng inch
bg inch and position alter pOslu H. they sunk III ueir
p.accs while the survivors fell slowly back; Out OF
about 26O men, forty only had survived when they made
au attempt 80 escape through IaylDe; Before they
had tavCrsed twO-thifd5 OF the short distance Ihey
were every one OF them cut down.
Meantime. upon the other hill, not more than four
miles from the place where this fighting was going on
what were those other dDing upon that hs cresti
There were 10 Indians before them. They must have
known thai tbe entire strength or the enemy was turned
ngaiust Custer sni what they dongf Just there is
the mystery that Remains to this day unexplained !
They are doing nothing They are simply waiting;
that Is all And they In stronger force than When
they rst gained that hill Aud had they attacked the
savages ns far Sec Custer and many OF Ills
noble men might hayo been saved heard Cheyenne
INDIAN who lieut. his nIud 10 the work OF massacre saw
there on tHe suot this force on the hilltop had
tnem IN their rear tuey cou'd not nave Waeu 70
complee their bloody work. IneY WOd nave oeeh Ot-
tween two rcs Aud THIS 10 the question wnlCn hannts %
IKE nightmare as he rides over TINS earln' t
WHY did MAJOR Reno aud his command, even u they |
attack uvOI the indian village there among the unoeI m
treat wait the summit and let Custer ana his men
go down to such dcarnf
The battlefield now is in most shameful plight Az
least men who gave their lives 50 ora ely ought TO
have decent BURIAL Certainly some memorial OF TINS
sad heroic ght ought to stand there pointing out the
ace But II another year goes round IN the same care
less way the aud will complete their work
of devastation and obliteratou. over the poor dead
men 4 few spades uf ear,n have been heaped mp, but
boncs rrotTudug This batteuolp ought TO remain
IN It's present dgraceui condition Tor ahOther month
Ccmp at me MuuoHeH Hot springs, RelorstoHe Park
sept 10, 1878.