The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-02-15
WHO KILLED GEN. CUsTER9
RaIn.In.Ihe-Race Declares That He NJ
II, and II Glad OF II.

RAiu.In.Ihe-Pace Declares That Ne NJ,
II, and IL Glad OTIt
From the New York Sun.
MILWAUKEE, February 1.-THE Seatine
has received the following dispatch from
special correspondent at Miles City
Montana:
~ witnessed an accident to-day which
brought to mind the sad events OF the
campaign which was opened against the
Indiana in Montana by Gen. Terry, on
June q, 1876, and which eliminated in
the death Of Gen, Custer and the annihil,
alton OF his band on the 26th. While the
command under Gen. Terry was at the
mouth Of Rosebud river, in June, 1870, il
was decided after consultation, that Gen.
Custer should move up the Rosebud until
he came into an Indian trail discovered by
Major Reno few days previous. His In.
structions were TO take with him his entire
regiment, and on striking the trail he was
TO leave his scouts to follow It, 1t being
supposed 10 lead To the Little Big Horn,
while with bis engineers he should make
detour to the south, regulating the dis.
lance 80 as to reach the Little Big
Horn at the same time and form q juno.
tion with Gen. Gibbon. This would also
prevent the Indians from slipping in be.
tween him and the mountains. General
Custer refused 10 take Gibbons battery or
battery OF Calling guns with him, which
be was urged TO do, he preterring to de.
pend on bis own regiment. Alter follow.
Ing the Rosebud for twenty miles he
found the trail, and, instead Of carrying
out his instructions, he followed the trail
until he came to the Little Big Horn and
found q large Indian village. Taking Eve
companies Of Sl5 men and fifteen officers,
hS attempted to enter the villrge lower
down, while Major Reno, with three com.
pantes, was TO charge up the valley from
the point where the trail entered the vii.
lsge. The result was that Gen.
eral Custer was overpowered and
his command annlhilated while Mai. Reno
was forced on to side bill and besieged
by Indians until be was relieved by Gen,
Gibbons troops. The Indians fled from
the valley on their approach, and il was
not until then that the fate OF Gen. Custer
was fully known. From that day to this
there has been q sort Of mystery hanging
over the tragedy Of the Little Big Horn.
Nota man OF Gen. Custer's band escaped
to tell the story Of its fate, and the his.
torian had no other source from which to
Oil the page than the horrible imagininRs
which clustered around the dead and
mutilated bodies otthe gallant commander
and bis troops.
"While l was In the merchandising
house OIL. ]. Graham, at Fort Keogh,
three Indians -Rain.in. The. Face
TWo.Roads and Spotted Tail-who sur. |
rendered to Gen. Miles last spring, came |
10, as was their custom, 10 converse with |
Mr.: William Courtenay, the chief clerk |
and interpreter oi the establishment. Mr., |
ConrtenSy was reading WhittAker's Life
Of Custer, and In turning the leaves OF the |
book one Of the Indians caught sight Of |
his own picture, which he Immediately |
recognized, They then took the volume |
from Mr.. Courtenay and found |
all their portraits, but exhibited little
emotion OF pleasure or otherwise, until |
one OF them turned page and the picture
OIL Gen. Custer was revealed. At this Rain. |
ln'the. Face became greatly excited, going
through with all the gyrations OF the war
dance, and giving the Sioux war hoop At
the top Of bis voice. After he was through
with bis wild demonstration, but still
exhibiting the greatest anger, he struck
The picture with his hand, and with de.
moniacal sneer on his face, said in the
Sioux tongue;
az killed him. made many holes in
bis llfe.'
"0n being told by abystander that Tom
Custer was still living, Rain.in.the Face
became very violent and hissed between
lis teeth: Your tongue Is iorked,' which
8 the Sioux figure for you lie. Continuing
40 said; i visited his body after the battle,
cut him open. l am glad l killed him.
Wafriors.'".