Savannah morning news., 1886-06-30
row CUSTER FELn.
Desuuction of the Gallant Seventh
81 Cavalry Narrated by Chief Gall


CavaIry Narrated by Chief Gall
from tho NetO York RsrGld.
CAN'T CUSTER BATTLE FIELD, MoNT.s
Jnne 26.-Yesterday being the tenth an
niyersary of the massacre of Gen. Custer
and his dashing Seventh sRegiment OF
United states Cavalry by Aflerce North
err Sioux bands under the lead of the
wilY Big Medicine Chief Sitting Bull, the
occasion was, commemorated by an in
epection of the localities made
historic by that bloody struggle,
~ which one of the finest
corps in our army was virtually ami
Mated by the relentless red man. All
the officers gathered here went over the
ground traversed by Clusters and Reno's
forces on that fatal day, ten years ago,
Whose sunset saw only the stark and mu-
hiAted bodies Of that fated, gallant band
and the few Of RenO's detachment who
were left alive defending their position
win the bravery OF desperate vaior.
CALLS DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGHT.
Our party were piloted over the field
by the great Sioux chief Gall, who
pointed out the various localities and de-
5e ecribed the manner Ia which Custer's
was destroyed. Calls a fine
Indian, As years old, weighing
, I0ver two hundred pounds. He was reti-
CCub at uIht, Dub uualiI lOlO his HlOEN
with dignity and emotion, He said:
We saw -0ldiers early in the morning
crossing the divid-,. where Reno and Gus
ter separated. W. watched them until
they came down into the valley. The cry
was raised tnat the white soldiers were
coming, and orders were given for the viii
lage to move. Reno swept down so rap
idly upon the upper end that the Indians
were forced to fight. Sitting Bull and
We're at the point where Reno attacked.
Sitting Bull was the Big Medicine Man.
The women and children were hastily
maved down the stream to where the
Cheyennes were encamped. The Sioux
attacked Reno and the Cbeyennes Custer,
and then all became mixed up.
ALL ENGAGED.
The women and children caught horses
for the bucks to mount, and the bucHs
mounted aud charged back on Reno,
checked him, and drove him into the tlm-
L Der. 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
1 Custer and fought him until they de-
I stroyed 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 confirms this, say
! ing:
It was probably during the interval of
kQuiet on Reuo's part that the Indians
massed on Custer and annihilated him.
ARROWS AGAINST PISTOLS.
z Chief Gall continued:
the Indians ran out Of ammunition and
n then used arrows. They fred from be-
hind their horses. The soldiers got their
AEhells stuck in their guns and had TO
Throw them avPaS Then they fought
with little guns (pistols) The Indians
SkSvere in-cOuples, behind and in front OF
sICuster as be moved up the ridge and
twere as many as the grass on the plains.
kThe first two companies KeOgh's and
EGalhoun's) dismounted and fought on
foot.
H vALOR OF KEoGH's MEN.
IA They never broke, but retired step by
Hstep until forced back TO the ridge, upon
(which allfinally died. They were shot
blown in line where they stood. Keogh's
company rallied and were all killed in
bunch.
"a This statement seems borne out bv
Z FHtacts, as thirty-eight bodies OF keOgh's
n TROOPERS were found piled in a heap.
lt The warriors directed a special fire
n against the troopers who held the horses,
,Nand as soon as a soldier was killed. bv
sAwaving blankets aud great shouting, the
,Ilh0rses were stampeded, which made it
81 stIfmDOssible for the soldiers 10 escape. The
OTDeYer surrendered. They fought stand
sting along in line on the right. AS fast as
kAhe men fell the horses were herded and
bkiriven toward the squaws and old men,
tWhO gathered them.
" CUsTER's FORCE ANNIHILATED.
When Reno attempted to find Custer by
throwing out a skirmish line Custer and
III who we're with him were dead When
n The skirmisherS reached a high point over
II looking Custer's field, the Indians were
n galloping around and over the wounded,
a dying and dead, popping bullets and ar
N rows into them.
III When Reno made his attack at the
III upper end he killed my two squaws and
III three children, which made my heart bad. |
then fought with the hatchet (meaning
that he mutilated the soldiers). The sol |
diers ran out OF ammunition early in the |
day. Their supplies OF cartridges We're in |
Y the saddle pockets OF their stampeded |
horses. i9When their ammunition WAS
i0One the Indians killed the soldiers with |
thatchets. A lot Of horses ran away and
bumped into the river, but were caught by
lsquaws,
~ SITTING BULLS MUSTER.
Only 43 Indians were killed altogether,
slbut a great many wounded ones came
bcross the river and died IN the bushes.
/. 1--we had Ogallalas. MinecoDjOus, Brules,
lTetons, ,Uncapapas, Sioux, ,CheI enges, Ara
Iahoes and GrOsVentres. Whel he big
81 Eust came in the airdOwn the river me ., )
& Lng the march of Terry and Gi bbOn) we
Nk,tTnck our lodges and went gdp creek
Nogard the White Mountains. The Big
N,dorn ranges were cOvere5d with snow.
hWe waited there four day; $ and then went
Hover 10 the Wolf MOuVdtain. 1t has been
tsupposed that Custer reached the river,
but such was not t.he case.
This ended the terrible recital BY the
Aeader of the attack Of the Indians on
dnster; and the party that listened 10 it,
iaonprising several participants, left the
losld without any further ceremonies and
bknrned TO ecamp.
Ie5 HUNT LNG FOR MILLIONS.
AZ Il BefLs of Col. Chas. Fleming in