Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-09-10

SlDly de says he daTted IN
a rayine apparently in pursuit of .
party of fleeing soldiers, and when al
a safe distance paused on a ridge and
saw the Sioux massacre every blue
coat. When the soldiers were ali
killed, Uurley continued his hioht.
and afterward joined Gen. Terry's
command at the junction of the Little
and Big Horn rivers. The writer has
talked with Sitting Bull, Rain in.the>
Face (the most desperated and blood
thirsty Indian in the whole north
west), Iron Horn and a number of
other famous bucks, besides the squaws
and other Indian women who undeni.
ably did the mutilating and scalping.
but one and all of them seem to shun
the subject and will tell nothing about
it.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION.
The only reliable information is to
be had from an actual inspection of
the field, close conversation with the
officers present, with Reno on the hill.
what can be gathered from Curlev's
narrative, and the notes of the New
York Herald correspondent, Kellogg,
who was killed with Custer, bat who
kept an accurate account of the
marches and occurrences up to the
night of Jane "a, the eve of the fight.
If Sitting Bull had only been aware
of his power. he could, without the
slightest difficulty, after finishing
Custer, have turned his attention to
Reno and kept at him until the latter
was overpowered by numbers. then
attacked and annihilated Benteen's
three companies, then used up Nc
Douglas n company which was
guarding the pack train, and finally
wiped out Gen. Terry's whole outfit,
which numbered less than Clusters,
and which was camped 9 few miles
below at the forks of the Little and
Big Horn Rivers. Sitting Bull and
Crazy Horse were both at the Battle
Of the Little Big Horn, and Sitting
Bull has been credited with an im~
portance in ihat affair which really
does not belong TO him. His own di~
rect following was comparatively
small, numbering not more than forty
lodges all told. Rain-in-the~face was
undoubtedly the leader OF the hostiles,
and he was ably backed up by Crow
King, Gall, Grow Eagle, Low Dog and
numerous other doughty chiettains
and head men. OF this latter class
was the Bull family. father and son,
Jumping Bull and Sitting Bull, who
had never accepted the reservation
system, would not recognIze the auth
orlty of the government. and insisted
upon remaining wild and perfectly
free from control. They we're head
men or medicine men, and not chiefs.
The valley of the creek was follow
ed toward the Little Big Horn, Custer
on the right of the creek, Rene on the
left of it, Benteen off still further to
the left and not in sight. About II
o'clock Custer motioned to Reno to
cross over and come to him, when
their last conversation was held prior
to charging the village. At 1890
the report was brought back by the
scouts that the village was ouly two
miles ahead and running away. Reno
was now directed to recross his COM
mand, to forward as rapidly as
prudent, and to charge, with the UNI
derstanding Custer would follow him
up and support him"
THE LAST SEEN OF CUSTER
This was the last seen of Custer
and his five companions until found
on the morning of the 9th lying on
the hillside dead, with his officers and
men dead around him. After receiv-
ing his final orders, Rene moved at a
fast trot for about two miles, when
they came to the river. and saw lying
before the opposite valley, the largest
Indian village aver gathered toget.er
on the North American Continent.
One of the officers with Reno says the
village stretched up aad down stream
for q distance of three miles, and for
at least a mile and a half back TO the
bluffs, and msst have contained not
less than 1900 shooting men. The
actual number of people in the village
was about two and one.half or three
times the number of shooting men.
Fully 5000 and possibly 6,000of the
shooting men were bie9odied warriors
in the full vigor of manhood, and
armed with the best repeating rifles
known TO civilized warfare. Tie
squaws and boys used bows and ar
rows. which they handled with dead
!ly effect on the wounded and fleeing.
No wonder there was a massacre; and
it is q greater wonder that the dread
full slaughter was not carried to still
greater lengths, and every single
white man, citizen, soldier or teams
ter then IN the country, vas not