Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-17
THE CUSTER MASSACRE.
A Modoc Indian Participants Account
or the Fight.

From tAs chicago Journal.
A gentleman Of Kenosha, Wis, fol
many years connected with the United
States army, and more recently Gin the
fall of lSS4) engaged in trapping and
shooting near Cottonwood creek, Northern
Wyoming, found an opportunity 10 inter-
view one of the Indians who participated
ia the terrible figut IN which Gen. Custer
aud his brave companions parlsheu. ne
interview took place, through an inter-
prefer, In sioux tepee, and was Ie"
days ago reported ia henosha noWspa-
per.
The in formation received from The Mo-
Soc warrior was freely given, aud bore the
semblance of truth. IN substance, he
said
"Sittiug Bul was not THAR chief when
Gen. Crook struck their tra-l and chased
them across the Rosebud river but Rain
in-the-Face, a warm friend or sitting BHh,
was h command, After crossing the
Rosebud a council az chiefs was held TO
decide whether they would hight Gen.
Crook or run 70 the Big Horn mountains
and make q stand. some Of the warriors
wanted to night at once, and while the
council was in session Sioux scout
brought in word that Gen. Custer was adj
yanciug into the Biz Horn country. This
Intelligence naturally created an excite
ment. Rain-iu-the-Face made great
speech, telling the chiefs that they were
between their white enemies, Crook and
Custer, aud eloquently urging them 10
march across the country as rapidly as
possible, kill Custer, and then turn upon
Crook.
s'After this big talk the Sioux war
riors were ready TO 90 anywhere with
ain-in-the-FaCe, who told them that
Crook was a walk-a-heap and very bad
man.
ssIf the above statement Is true,' adds
the correspondent, lit is evident that
Rain-in-the-Eace. although an unlettered
savage and scarcely knowing the differ
ence between parapet and a Calling
gun, had grasped the situation. and with
the intuition OF military genius had deter
mined to destroy his foes DO detail, ana
that he went 10 his task with the cunning
Of a of and the 4 rOcity OF tiger. The
necessary delays Of CROOK. the rapid adj
vance OF Custer into the valley, and the
division Of his command almost within
sight Of the battle ground aided the In
dams design, and when the blow came 1t
was crushing
Toe warrior further stated, in answer
70 questions, that in the fight with Gus
teT's force party of about twelve sol
diers shot their own horses and fought be-
hind them in a "bunch;' that Gen. Custer
was one Of that party. and that they all
fought ike great ldiers and would not
give up the struggle.
In reply % the query whether Gen. Gus
ter was the last white soldier killed. the
warrior said that the smoke of the. con-
test was 50 dense when the Indians rode
rapidly around the "bunch" and finished
their bloody work they could not see
-r.al T4s -4e.-4 -
" hen asked how many Indians were
killed in the light the warrior declined to
answer. The Interpreter said, in refer
snce 70 this, that although he had been
with the sioux several Years be could get
no definite idea az the number OF warriors
killed in the Custer battle; that the In
dians are supersutInus and do not like 10
SPEAK about their dead, but he thought
their loss was small, as the Indians chad
the DROP" and the fight lasted only TWEEN
~ minutes.
The correspondent. referring to the cen
sure which was passed upon Mai. Reno
for his part in the unfortunate affair de-
tends the course Of that officer. and says:
THAT Maj. Reno saved any OF his men,
envir0ned as be was by horde OF savaRes
flushed by victory and eager for revenge.
should rebound 10 his credit" Thus lar
the correspondence.
At this late day no one will wish 10 dis
parage the valor, the judgment, and the
military skill OF the lamented Custer.
That he should iall into a fatal ambush IS
a mistake that no officer with less bra
very would BE- likely 10 make; but Custer
vas daring and Impulsive. Iii said that
Reynolds, his scout, told him to ego slow"
that the valley was full OF Indians. and
that they were in the bush. The oppOrtu-
nifty for fight Overruled all other consld-
erations, and the brave soldier rode gal
lantly to his death.