The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-07-08
THE CUSTER MASSACRE.
The story OF the Slaughter Told BY Sioux cIisi

The Story or the Slaughter Told By Sioux CHEF.
The celebration Of the 10th anniversary Of
the Custer massacre 10y few of its survivors
took place on the battlefield in Montana June
Is. The great Souix Chief Gall went over the
field and described the manner in which Clusters
command was destroyed. Gall is 6 fine-looking
Indian, 46 years old, weighing over 300 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-
ing the divide When Reno and Custer sepa-
rated we watched them until they came down
into the valley. The cry was raised that the
white soldiers were coming and orders were
given for the village 70 move. Reno swept
down so rapidly upon the upper end that the
Indians were forced to sight. Sitting Bull and
were at the point where Reno attacked. Sit
ting Bull was the big medicine man. The
women and children were hastily moved down
the stream where the Cheyenues were en-
camped. The Sioux attacked Reno and the
Cheyennes Custer, and then all became mixed
up. The women and children caught horses
for the bucks 10 mount and the bucks mounted
and charged back on Reno, checked him and
drove him into the timber. The soldiers tied
their horses to trees. 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 tho river, but was
met half mile up the ravine now called Reno
Creek. They fought the soldiers, aud beat
them back step by step until all were killed"
One Of Rcno's officers confirms this, saying
1t was probably during the interval of quiet
on Reno's part that the Indians massed on Gus
ter and annihilGted him" Gall continued
"The Indians ran out of ammunition and then
usued 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 their little guns lpistOlsl
! The Indians were in couples behind and in
front of Custer as he moved up the ridge, and
were as many KS the grass Oh the plains. The
first two companies Keogh' S and Calhoun'sl
1 dismounted and fought on foot They never
broke, but retired step by step until forced
back to the ridge upon which all finally died
They were shot down in the line where they
stood. Kecgh's company rallied and were all
killed in 4 bunch. This statement seems
/ borne out by facts, as IS bodies of KeOgi's
troopers were found piled in heap The war
riors directed special IRE against the troopers
who held the horses. and as soon as a holder
was killed, by waving blankets and great
shouting the horses were stampeded, which
made il impossible for the soldiers to escape
The soldiers fought desperately aud hard aud
never surrendered. They fought standing
along in line on the right. As fast as the men
! fell the horses were herded and driven toward
|
up.
when Reno attempted 70 find Custer by
throwing out a skirmisb-line, Custer and al
who were with him were dead. When tn,
skirmishers reached high point overlooking
Clusters field the Indians were galloping around
and over the wounded, dying, and dead, pop
ping bullets and arrows into them. Wher
Reno made his attack at the upper end he kill
ed my two squaws and three children, which
made my heart bad. then fought with tn,
Ratchet meaning mutilated the soldiersl. TIL
soldiers ran out Of ammunition early in tn
day. Their supplies Of cartridges were in tn
saddle pockets of their stampeded horses. WheI
their ammunition was gone the Indians killeC
the soldiers with hatchets. A lot OF horses raj
away aud jumped into the river, but wer,
caught by squaws. Only 43 Indians were killec
altogether, but a great many wounded one
came across the river and died in the bushes
We had ogallallas, Minneconjons, Brules, TIE
tons, Uncpapas Sioux, Cheyennes, Arapahoes