Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1885-07-02
THE CUSTER MASSACRE.
4 Description of the Battle Between
Eeno's Command and the Sioux
Indians.


snorable battle between Sitting Bulls
command and Gen. Custer occurred,
in which the latter with his entire
command Of five companies were
massacred. 1t has always been ques-
tion, who, If anyone, was to blame for
this, and Colonel Reno has been held
responsible to some extent; but Gen.
Brisbin in recent letter to the San
Francisco Call, completely acquits
him and his command from all blame.
The article in question is quite leng-
thy too much SO for reproduction in
the TRIBUNE. As an explanation, it
will be necessary to say that Custer
divided bis command, giving Colonel
Reno seven companies with orders to
move down towards the Little Big
Horn valley, while Custer with the
remaining five companies descended
On the left, and it vas expected that
the two commands would join forces
when the decisive moment came. But
fate decreed otherwise. We all know
the fate Of Custer, and it is the mar
row escape of Reno's command which
we will now relate.
On the evening Of June 25tb, 1876,
Reno was drawn into battle and held
his ground against overwhelming
numbers Of savages, but lost in the
fight which ensued, eighteen enlisted
men killed and forty-six wounded
The battle ragged from 6:15 p m. until
$40 p. ~, when it became too dark to
see to shoot, and the Indians with
drew. Reno knew the overwhelming
strength Of the Indians and gave up
all idea of supporting Custer or re-
ceiving assistance from Custer and
the portion Of the regiment that was
with him. He made up his mind to
take care of himself and his command,
and at once set the men to digging
rifle pits and throwing up barricades.
Dead horses and mules were dragged
into position and cracker boxes filled
with hard bread piled up, from be
hind which the men could fire.
The depression toward the Indians
in which the animals had been herded
was rife -pitted and every effort made
to be ready for renewal Of the battle
in the morning. All night long the
men were busy fortifying the hill,
while the Indians were holding a scalp
dance underneath it, down on the river
bank, and in full hearing.
The morning of the 2Gth dawned
clear and bright, and. as was expected,
the Indians were soon seen coming
Hp the hill to renew the attack. Reno
believed he could hold his own, and
went from point to point inspecting
the works and encouraging the men
to make fight It becomes daylight
very early in the rare atmosphere Of
Montana, and it was hardly yet Il.
m. when the crack of two rifles an
nounced the beginning Of the days
deadly conflict. The firing of the two
rifles had evidently been agreed upon
by the Indians as signal for opening
the battle: and in less than half
minute lead was pouring in on all
sides on the troops. Reno says, I
have never seen sllch fire equalled
in my whole life" Every rife was
handled by an expert and skilled
marksman and with Z; range that ex=
ceeded the short guns or carbines of
the cavalrymen. For a time it was
simply impossible for any to show his
bead or his hand OF any part of his
body above the earth without being
hit. The soldiers could see, as day
light frightened over the hills and
plains, countless hordes of Indians
pouring up from the valley below and
out OF the village, and running to-
ward the points assigned to them in
the battle. Their chiefs were with
them and leading them on in bodies
OF from one to three hundred. Reno'g
position was soon entirely surrounded
and his situation became perilous.
Tho Indians had sufficient numbers
to completely encircle the soldiers,
and men were struck from opposite
sides of the line from where the shots
were fred. It seemed at one time as
Reno says, Gas though we were fight
ing all of the Sioux nation and also
all the desperadoes, renegades, half
breeds and squawmen between the
Missouri and Arkansas, east of the
Rocky Mountains" Reno places the
number of warriors in the attack on
him at at least 2, 800.
DESPERATE CHARGE BY THE sAyAGEs,
The bat q continued with uninter
mitting fury, from daylight until $50
a. M. when it slightly slackened and
Reno found that the Indians were
forming for charge, hoping to over
whelm him with their numbers. He
noticed that the largest masses were
gathering in front Of the line held by
companies II and M. In the charge
11,hiicl follamad Tho Indinnc n.n,an