The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-22
A Scouts Story Of the Battle
Of the Little Big Horn.
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 BaltaliOns Engaged.
BozxMAS, NJ. T., Jan. 4, 1878.

BOHEMIAN, NJ. T., JAM 4, 1878.
To TIE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
have read good deal OF late in tue HERALD and
other papers the battle Of the Little Big Horn
much OF which is incorrect pnd calculated to misead
the public | was present with Reno during the
whole OF his connection witn the battle and am per-
sonaly coguizant of what occurred both before aud
alter the engagement OF course did not see all
chat took place; but great deal amt will relate
It just as 1 witnessed it.
A COUNCIL OF WAR.
was with General Gibbons command AT the mouth
Of the Rosebud when General Terry una General
Custer Joined Gibbou General Terry told me could
60 WIN General Custer on his march up tho Rosebud
He told General Gibbons tent 10 go with
Custer and afterwards saw Terry the steamer
Far West, while she lay at the mouth of the Rose
bud, ana he asked about the country
along the upper part OF Rosebud aud Tullock's
Fork was standing on tho forward deck Of
the boat when called into tho cabin, where
found Generals Terry, Gibbon, Custer and Brsbn
nrouud table apparently holding council oil war.
Terry showed me map and asked me for Information
about the country on Tullock's Fork and the Little
Big Horn. I understood from the conversation had
by Terry with Gibbon and Custer that he trying
to lind where the columns OF Custer and Gbbon
could best form Junction, somewhere in the neigh
borhood oil the mouth or the Little Big Horn Custer 10
march up tho Rosebud and Gibbon up tho Big Horn.
had been over the ground aud told the General all
knew about it, Custer seemed much pleaaed with
tho Information gave Terry and said was just the
man he sd, and that he would like inc 20 with
him. went out on The deck again, and soon AFTER
ward General Gibbon came out and spoke to me. Ho
said could consider myself as employed to 30 with
General Custer. l asked him compensatory
would receivo aud what would be expected TO do,
command got to the head OF TulIock Greek l would
down the ruiIock with dispatches to hrs (Gio.
bon's) command. There was somo conversation about
what compensation would receive. but the above was
all that OF Importance THIS the 2lst
OF Juae, aud atior General Gboon left the boat
General Brisbin came out Of the cabin and asked him
where his cavalry would probably be in tho next few
days, SO l could ind him aud hc replied about tho
mouth OF Little Big Horn.
STARTING THE ROSEBUD.
reported TO General CASTOR noon on tho 21st OF
June ana TO Lieutenant vasnum, who had
charge of some scouts. ] saw with varnum Mich
Boyer the hafbrecd and guide. We started out
the Odd about noon and travelled up the Rosebud
Boyer and Bloody Knfe, Rec scout had the lead and
Custer travelled with them Lieutenant varnum win
mis- scouts followed Custer in advance Of the column
We marched about twelve miles and went into camp
ut five +. n.
An INDIAN rRAII.
General Custer ordered rcvcillc TO be sounded ut
four and the command TO be ready to march at I've
O'Clock next morning THIS the morning OF the
23d, and VIC marched promptly at five a. ~. Our
course led up the tour five miles, when we
struck an Indian trail which Reno had followed few
days before. We followed the trail until five r. H.,
when encamped for tho night ana IN tho evening
Custer seal he Grow scouts VINO with US on in
advance what they could lind gu.
On the morning of the 24th we broke camp at I've
O'Clock and continued following the trail up the stream
Soon after starting Custer who was in dvancs with
Boyer, called him ana told me 10 get ready
saying he thought he would send me and Charlie
Koynods TO the head OF TulIocK's Fork to take
look. told the General 1t was not time ye,, as
then travelling IN the direction
OF the head OF the Tulock, and | could
only Follow his iraL called Boyer, VINO was q litlo
ahead, back and asked him II correct In my
stateLehtto tho General, and he SAID Eyes; further
up on ROSEBUD We would como opposite a gap and
then could cut across and strIKc the 1uiluck IN
about hitcen miles, ride" Custer said .Au risnt;
could walt" =
BLOODY OMEN
We had not proce,dsa Tar whcn The Grows came In
on the run anureportcd the trail getting iresn
ahead, ana that they had iresn pouy
tracks They brought In with them the scalp Of a
white man when they had picked up the irail,
aud which was identified us coming IRON the head OF
= man named stokcr, Company II, Second cavalry,
Wuo hau octu hiieu lew udyh osiOro NJ the mouth
the Rosebud.
Custer receiving the above Intelligence halted his
command. disnoun'ed the men ana had tho officers
call sounucd. no he'd council with mis- officers. but
was not near enough 10 hear what p,sseu.
Alter hating about hail an hour we mounted and
moved Slowly along tho trai. soon came 10 she
mouth OF Muddy Creek, up which about three miles
the second cavalry had It's hgbt WIN Lane nrcr's
band last spring,
As We passed Muddy Creek | noticed that some
iooges had lett The nam trail the Rosebud gone
that way followed them SNORT distance and then
RODE over to Custer told some OF tho ioagcs
hau gone up thu Muddy lie hated 90 ~ rnand az
the iran On Tie Maddy went. Custer sAid not
want ~ ose aay oil the lodges aud any Of them left
tue man trail lie wanted to know II.
halo Nafnam WIS gone matted aud the mel
cooked dinheE lie Was absent ABOUT TWO hburs, anu
winch he caue back told custer thai the MUDDY trail
swung over the Rosebud and Joined he main iran
eHcd every moment We passed over plac.e where "A
number OF had been quite together SHOVE
ing that .tho Iudians travelling very SLOW " and
only moving Tor grass.
GET THE WHOLE VILLAGE
Toward evening the iran became ircsn that Gus
ter ordered iankers TO De Kept well out anu sharp
Jvkvut had Tor lodges leaving 10 the right or the ief
He said he wanted 10 get the Snoc village, noll-
inE must leave The maIn tral without his H.
About duck We hated aud went INTO camp On tho
trail IL Was then very fresh aud the General sent
Nurnum, Boyer aud some scouts On anead To cx-
anime The traIl and adjacent country The men were
given orders 10 Craze tncr anmals get supper anu be
ready 10 start al eleven r. ~ rested unt,
Inc nisnt was very dark and our progress slow Alter
niarcu,ng some len miles aboat Two A. VI. hailed,
horses were unsaddicd and the lay down to
rest he pacSs were Laken of the mules and every
tbing done 10 rest and recuperaic the animals
IT'S GREAr sTKESGTH
some time during The nisnt ihe In and
reported to Custer that tho lIdian camp was iound.
We packed up ana moved iorwsrttTxt early light
Mich. Boyer anu Reynolds, who nad been OUT, said
the lamp VAS very large. Boyer SAID II wx the big-
gest village he had ever seen. Reynolds said there
was hcap OF them, and Custer replied ''nc could
- IlC Wouid lax iaurs
hard nshtiDg 10 whIp then.
CUSTER REC0SSoiTREs IN PERSON.
About nine O'Clock on Tue morning Of the 25th OF
juno last day OF our march Custer halted his
tfvol s1aiu concealed them we'll he could. lie
then took ordcry and rode up on the DIVIDE about
four miles to where Lieutenant yarpum aud Doyor
we're. Tue General was jing 10 get look at the
vIlpge which over on the other side OF the d.
VIDE, ON tho Lttlc Big Horn. While Custer was gone
rode up The Dry FORK oil the Rosebuc, along whlcn
tue trail ron, but had not gonc lar wnen
objects gong over the bills the direction oil the
Lntie Horn.
Custer WAS gone perhaps an hour or an hour aud a
haI A q IA