The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-29
WHERE CUSTER WAS KILLED.
Chief Gall Tells the Story of the Battle
The Cavalry Horses Stampeded.

CUSTER BATTLEFIELD, NJ. t., June 26.-The
celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Gus
ter massacre by few of its survivors took place
yesterday. The great Sioux chief GALL SweDt
over the field and described the manner in which
Clusters command was destroyed. Gall ID fine
looking Indiana, forty six years old, and weighs
over two hundred pounds. He was reticent at
first, but finally told his story with dignity and
emotion He said:
"We saw soldiers early in the morning cross
the divide. When Reno and Custer separated
we watched them until they came down into the
valley. The cry raised that the white SOL
diers were coming and orders were given for the
village to move. Reno swept down so rapidly
upon the upper end that the Indians were forced
TO fight. Sitting Bull and were at the point
where Reno attacked. Sitting Bull was the
Big Medicine Man. The women and children
were hastily moved down the stream where the
Cheyennes were encamped The Sioux attacked
Reno and the Cheyennes Custer and
then all became mixed up The women and
children caught horses for the bucks to mount
and the bucks mounted and charged back on
Reno, checked him and drove him into the tim
ber The soldiers tied their horses to trees,
came out and fought on foot.
"As soon Reno was beaten and driven back
across the river the whole force turned on Gus
ter and fought him until they destroyed him.
Custer did not reach the river, but was met
about half mile up the ravine now called Reno
creek. They fought the soldiers step by step
until all were killed.
One of Renos officers confirms this, saying:
cit was probably during the interval of quiet
on Renos part that the Indians massed on Custer
and annihilated him."
Gall continued: 1.-THE Indians ran out of am-
muniton, and then used arrows. They fired
from behind their horses. The soldiers got their
shells stuck in the guns, and had to throw them
away. Then they fought with little guns [pis-
tolls The Indians were in couples behind and
in front of Custer as he moved up the ridge and
were as many as the grass on the plains.
The first companies Keoeh's and Cal
houn'sl dismounted and fought on foss
They never broke, but retired step by
step until forced back to the ridge upon which
all ially died They shot down in line
where they stood Keoghs company rallied and
were all killed in a bunch. This statement
seems borne out by fact as thirty-eight bodies
of Keogh's troopers were found piled in a heap
The warriors directed q special FIRE against the
troopers who held the horses, and, soon as a
holder was killed, by waving blankets and great
shouting the horses were stampeded, which
made it impossible for the soldiers to
escape The soldiers fought desper.
fought standing along in line on the right. AS
fast as the men fell the horses were herded and
driven toward the squaws and old men. who
gathered them up When Reno attempted to
find Custer by throwing out a skirmish line,
When the skirmishers reached high point
overlooking Clusters field, the Indians were gal
Looping around and over the wounded. dying and
dead, popping bullets and arrows into them.
When Reno made his attack at the upper
end. he killed my two squaws and
three children, which made my heart
bad. l then fought with Ratchet
Meaning he mutilated the soldiers. The sol
diers out of ammunition early in the day.
Their supply of cartridges were in the saddle
pockets of their stampeded horses. When their
ammunition was gone the Indians killed the SOL
diers with hatchets. A lot of horses ran away
and jumped into the river, but they were caught
by squaws Only forty three Indians were
killed altogether, but a great many wounded
ones came across the river and died in the
bushes.
I'VE had Ogallalas, Mineconjous, Brule. Teton,
Uncapapa, Sioux. Cheyennes, Arapahoes and
eros Ventres. When the big dust came in the
air down the river meaning Terry and Gibbons
we struck our lodges and went up creek toward
the White mountains. The Big Horn ranges
were covered with snow. We waited there four
days, and then went over to the Wolf mount
aims"
1t has been popularity supposed that Custer
entered the river but such was not the case.
The ceremonies exercises were gone through
wit vaStardav