Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-06-08
MisrtIlanto,1s.
CusrER,s FIGHT.
Sitting Bulls Version Of the Battle OF
Little Big aOrn.

yious TO the one in which Custer attacked
us he sent letter to me telling me that if
did not 90 to an agency he would fight
me, and / sent word back to him BY his
messenger that did not want 10 fight. but
only to be left alone. / told him at the
same time that if he wanted to fight that
he should GO and fight those Indians who
wanted to fight him. Custer then sent
word (this was in the winter, 80 You
would not take my former offer, now am
going to fight you this winter" | sent
word back and said just what had said
before, that I did not want 10 fight, and
only wanted to be left alone and thai my
camp was the only one that had not fought
against him.
Custer again sent message, II am fit
ting up my wagons aud soldiers and am
determined to fight against you in the
spring." thought | would try him again
and sent him message saying ! did not
want to fight; that wanted first OF all to
go to British territory, and after | had
been there and came back. ii he still want
ed to fight me. that | would fight then.
Custer sent back word and said:
II will fight you in eight days"
then saw that it was no use, that !
would have to fight, so sent him word
back. "All right; get all your men mount
ed. and will get all my men mounted;
we will have fight; the Great Spirit will
look on. and the side that is in the wrong
will he defeated
I began to get ready and sent twenty
Young men to watch for the soldiers.
Five soon came back with word that Gus
ter was coming. The other fifteen stopped
to watch his movements, When Custer
was quite close ten Young men came in.
When he had advanced still closer two
more of them came in, leaving three still
to watch the troops. We had got up a
medicine dance for war in the camp, and
lust as it was coming TO an end two Of the
young men who had stopped out came in
with word that Custer and the troops were
very close and would be upon the camp in
the morning. That night we all got
ready for the battle. NV young men all
buckled on their ammunition belts and we
were busy putting strong sticks in our
coup sticks Early at sunrise two
young men who had been out short way
on the prairie came to me and told me
that from the top of high butte they had
seen the troops advancing in two divisions.
then had all the horses driven into camp
and corralled between the lodges. About
noon the troops came up and at once
rushed upon the camp. They charged in
two separate divisions-one at the upper
end, while the other division charged about
the middle OF the camp. The latter divi-
sion struck the camp in the centre of the
2j0 lodges Of the Uncapapa Sioux, and
close to the door of my own lodge. At
the time that the troops charged | was
making medicine Tor the Great Spirit to
help us and fight upon our side. and as
heard the noise and knew what it was |
came out. When had got to the outside
of my lodge noticed that this division
had stopped suddenly close to the outer
side of the Uncapapa camp, and then they
sounded bugle and the troops fired into
the camp. (lIere Sitting Bull made
peculiar noise with his mouth and clapp-
ing his hands together, to initiate the fir
ing Of the soldiers.)
at once set my wife upon nv best
horse. pat my war bonnet on her head
and told her to run away with the rest of
the women. She did so, but in her hurry
forgot to take the baby Ca Crib after she
had gone a little way she thought of the
child and came back for it. | gave the
child to her and she went off again
now put u flag upon II lodge. and lift
ing it rs high as | could shouted out rs
loud as was able TO my own men, 81 am
Sitting Bull. follow me-"
then rushed at the head OF them up to
the place where l thought Custer was.
and just rs we got close up to the troops
they fired again. OIere Bull again im-
tated for some length of time the firing of
the troops.) When saw that the sol
diers fired from their saddles and did but
little damage to us, | ordered all my men
to rush through their ranks and break
them, which they did, but failed to break
the ranks. although we suffered as little
damage rs before. | then shouted to
them to try again. and putting myself at
the head of my men we went at them
again. This time, although the soldiers
were keeping up rapid firing (from
their horses). we knocked away a whole
corner and killed great many. though
had only one man killed. After this we
charged the same way several times and
kept driving them back for about half a
mile, killing them very fast. After fore
ing them back. there only remained five
soldiers OF this division and the inter-
prefer alive. and told nv men
TO let them live. Then the interpreter.
the man the Indians called The White, :"
called out in Sioux and said Cluster is
not in this division. he is in the other.r
| then ordered all my men to come on and
attack the other division. They did so.
and followed me. The soldiers of this d.
vision fired on us as soon as we got within
range, but did us little harm. When we
had got quite close. and were Just going
to charge them, n great storm broke right
over us the lightning was fearful. and
struck a lot of the soldiers and horses.
killing them instantly. then called out
to my men to charge the troops and
shouted oft: The Great Spirit is on our
side; look how he is striking the soldiers
down." My men saw this. and they all
rushed upon the troops who were mixed
up good deal. About forty of the sol
diers had been dismounted by the light
ming killing and frightening their horses,
and these men were soon trampled to
death. Il was Just at this time that we
charged them. and we easily knocked
them off their horses. and then killed them
with our s'coup sticks"
In this way we killed all this division
with the exception of few who tried to
get away but were killed by the Sioux be-
fore they could get very far. All through
tho hafflA the soldiers fired very wildly and