Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-05-01

were IeiI or TOUR companies.
He knew nothing of Custer, but stated
that he himself, with three companies, had
charged through the village and had met
with such q hot reception that he was oblig-
ed to take to the hills, from whence. but tor
our timely arrival, not one of them would
have escaped, as they were surrounded Oh
all sides by ~splendidly armed and mounted
Indians, and could only obtain water at the
imminent risk of their lives.
The red scouts who are still with us think
that there were not less than twelve hun-
dred lodges here besides a great number of
wicky-ups. They, (the %seouts), as well as
old f~rontiersmen, think that there could not
have been less than from four to five thou
sand warriors, and even that they consider
a low estimate.
The Sioux have disappeared like a scene
in a magic lantern-triumphant.
Some Of Clusters command are missing.
Have they fallen alive into the hands of
their pitiless enemies? Woe to- them if
they have. Better to have fallen, far better,
in their tracks beside their dauntless chief.
A Grow scout, Curly, is also missing, and
hopes are entertained that he may have es-
capped.
We go into camp on Reno's battle field.
just at the point where the Indians had him
surrounded in the timber.
For years the Sioux have been in the
habit of making here a winter camp, and
when the ground was so covered with snow
as to render it difficult for their animals to
Craze, they made a practice of cutting down
the cottonwood trees, the bark of which
furnishes the horses a very nutritious food.
Inc dry wood the next year supplied the
savages with an abundance of dry fuel. The
grass grows to an unusual height among
this dead timber. Dry brush is abundant.
In such a place as this was Reno and his
men surrounded by the Indians. They.
tine lndlans), set fire to the grass. and
though the flames did not reach Reno, it
babe fair to do so. The smoke was very
dense, and at best they could not long have
remained in such a trap. Their only safety
lay in flight. Had they remained not a man
OF the party would have escaped. I OBJ
tained my information on all concerning
"S I@Ao VI CAN SiIosii AiOtIlN COtlL OGOTOe
Herendeen, who was with Reno, and who
is a cool, determined frontiersnan of an
extended experience Of the plains. He tells
me that about five miles above where we
are now camped they left the high ground
on the right of the Little-Big Horn, and fol-
lowed along down the bottom. They found
tWo or three deserted lodges. Custer. with
his part of the command. had followed
along the high ridge, and the pack train,
under charge of Benteen. was some distance
behind. When near this point of timber
the tables were turned on them by the
Sioux charging them, instead of they the
Sioux. They Were driven into the timber
and halted to reform. Here Reno must
have taken in the gravity of the situation,
and arrived at the conclusion to make for
the hill-tops, and fortunate indeed that he
did SO. Reaching the hills, they made a
most desperate fight. the Sioux charging to
within twenty feet of the hastily thrown up
earth works. They had finished Custer BY
this time, and now turned their entire atten.
ton to Keno. contenting themselves, after
the first effort, with merely drawing around
him q line too strong for him to break
through, and at a range too great for his
carbines. His position was almost four
hundred yards from water, and surrounded
as he was on all sides, it was almost certain
death to attempt to reach the RIVER. But
water they must have, and willie one mart
OF his force charged in one direction another
made a break for a deep ravine that led to
The river. The line of communication was
thenceforth kept open.