Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-07-19
THE CUSTER MASSACRE.

from the Custer battlefield in Monta-
ma, describes the celebration of the
tenth anniversary of the battle by
few of its survivors. The great
Sioux chief, Gaul, went over the
field and described the manner in
which Clusters command was de-
stroyed. Gaul is a fine looking In
dian, 46 years old, and weighing
over 200 pounds. He was reticent
at first, but finally he told his story
with dignity and animation.
"We saw the soldiers early in the
morning crossing the divide. When
Reno and Custer separated we watch
ed them until they came down into
the valley. A cry was raised that
the white soldiers were coming, and
orders were given for the village to
move Immediately. Reno swept
down so rapidly upon the upper end
that the Indians were forced to fight.
Sitting Bull and 1 were at the point
where Reno attacked. Sitting Bull
was the big medicine man. Women
and children were hastily moved
down the stream to where the Chey-
ennes were encamped. The Sioux
attacked Reno, and the Cheyennes
Custer, and then all became mixed
up. Women and children caught
the horses for the bucks TO mount.
Then the bucks mounted and charged
back on Reno, checked him, and
drove him into the timber. The SOL
diers tied the horses to trees and
came out and fought on foot. AS
soon as Reno was beaten and driven
back across the river, the whole
force turned on Custer 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, and beat them back step by
step until all were killed. One of
Reno's officers confirm this, saying
that it was probably during this in
terval of quiet on Reno's part that
the Indians massed on Custer and
annhilaled him. The Indians ran
out of ammunition, and then used
arrows. They fired from behind
their horses. The soldiers got shells
stuck in their guns and had to throw
them away. They fought with little
guns (pistols). The Indians were in
couples behind and in front of Gus
ter as he moved up the ridge to take
position, and we were just as many
as the grass. First two companies
of Keogh's and Calhoun's dismount-
ed, and tough on foot. They never
broke, but retired step by step until
forced hack to the ridge, upon which
all finally perished. They were shot
down in line where they stood.
Keogh's company rallied by company
and were all killed in bunch. (This
statement seems borne out by the
facts. as 38 bodies of Keogh's troops
were found piled in heap.) The
warriors directed special fire against
the trooper who held horses while
the Others fought. AS soon as the
trooper was killed, hy the waving of
blankets and great shouting the
horses were stampeded, which made
it impossible for the soldiers to es-
cape. Afterward the soldiers fought
desperately and hard, and never sur
rendered. They fought standing,
they fought in line along the ridge.
As fast as the men fell the horses
were herded and driven towards the
squaws and old men who gathered
them up. When Reno attempted to
find Custer by throwing out a skir-
mlsh line, Custer and all with him
were dead. When the skirmishers
reached the high point overlooking
Clusters field, the Indians were gall
Looping alound and over the wounded,
dying and dead, popping bullets and
arrows into them. When Reno made
the attack at the upper end, he killed
my two squaws and three children,
which made my heart bad. I then
fought with hatchet (Which means,
of course, mutilated soldiers.) The
soldiers ran out of ammunition early
in the day. Their supplies Of car
tridges were in the saddle pockets of
their stampeded horses. The Indi-
ans then ran mp to the soldiers and
butchered them with their hatchets.
A lot of the horses ran away and
jumped into the river, but were
caught by squaws. Only 43 Indians
were killed altogether, but great
many wounded ones came across the
river and died in the bushes. We
had Ogallallas, Mineconjours, Brutes,
Setona, Uncappas, Sioux, Chey-
ennes, Arapahoes, and Grosventres.
When the big dust came in the air
down the river, (meaning Terry and
Gibbon) we struck our lodges and
went up creek toward the White
Rain Mountains. The Big Horn
ranges were covered with snow. We
waited there four days and then went
over to the Woj Mountains. 1t has
been popularity supposed that Custer
entered the river, but such was not
the case. There were no ceremonies
or exercises gone through with.
VERY REMARKABLE RECOVERY.
Mr.. Geo. V. Willing, of Manchester, Mich.
writes "My wife has been almost helpless for 1--WE
years, so helpless that she could not turn in