The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-01-09
AT CLUSTERS LAST FIGHT.
COUNT CARLos's STORY OF THE BAT
TIE OF THE LITTLE BRO HORN.

IlE UT IhE LIIILE II "VfhNs
Ceunt Carlos wa. Lett Behtnd when the
Troops Fcl Back. and he Saw the Battle
from the Indiana side-A Cry In the Night.
FARGO, Jan. Att was on a bitter cold night
In December. with q Dakota blizzard doing Its
worst, that, acting upon the suggestion OF q
friend, I called upon Count Carlos" to hear his
description OF the Custer fight. He" 1 had
been assured. gives q moro correct and real
istic account OF the fight than any other officer
who took part in 1t. just get him well started,
and you will be fully repaid for your trouble"
With the former history Of Count Carlos l
was already familiar. He was n descendant Of
a noted patriotic family of Italians. His father
and several Of his brothers had been executed
In Italy for their patriotic principles, while all
OF tho members of tho family, besides himself.
including even the females. had suffered lengthy
imprisonments. Brought up in such an atmos-
phere. 1t was not strange that, after arriving
Mt more mature years, he should devote his
body and soul to the cause in which his rela-
tives had persisted; and before he had reached
the age Of II years he had been proclaimed q
political outlaw. and u reward had been offered
for his body, alive or dead.
Trusting for his safety in the intricacies
OF the passes of. the Alps, he remained In
or near Italy until several years later, when he
| WIN " L va bo q ~ 'SH
time. a member and the representative Of one
of the most powerful European secret socie-
ties OF the day. Finally. on the night OF Jan.
IA, 1853. he undertook to perform, in connec-
ton with Orsini, Gomez, and Pieri. the duties
imposed upon them by the society. who be-
lieved that the Emperor's death would accom-
plish the independence OF Italy. History has re-
corded the attempted assassination of Napo-
leon III. that night. The bombs wero thrown,
but failed in their object.
In the course OF u few days all four OF the
conspirntors were captured. Gomez saved his
own neck by sacrificing those of his compan-
ions, who were sentenced to be executed. Or
SIM and Picri were executed in the presence
OF Count Carlos. whose sentence was CON-
muted on the scafrold.
Soon after his narrow escape from death
Count Carlos made his escape and came to
this country. accepting, upon his arrival. q
commission in the Northern, army, and at
the war he remained in the army, and is now a
gallant Captain OF cavalry.
pipe eU and BOOK SS%n' He N was - a ni Slight tiioush' COM
was trimmed to q noint. were fast turning gray.
~ In the best Of humors. After carefully lead
i and re- rem sa I sucteeededd in getting him fairly
started. and, as the story progressed, he seemed
to live over ona , agaIn bis p SlSod Go scenes oni n Of his sho ose
citement. he Illustrated his narrative by, many
descriptive gestures and attitudes. and, allowed
Wei. You see said he. ~ probably had a
better view OF parts. ut least. OF the fight than
dians' side. owing to my being left behind when
the troops fell back.
JUNE y ss. 1 Hss5l Th n%o1 far on ahead tsS de y OF our rn soi Raasls
we saw immense clouds OF dust, and other in
dications that Indians in large numbers were
into two parts. one Of which he commanded
while Major Reno took command Of the other.
Little Big Horn. Intending to cross and.attack
from the lower side; while we were TO cross
further fHs t he, up 1p. and I'd a alta I n b IRON a. a his ao,i hhat c was
mand until We found their mutilated bodies
SONG %s days syos istsr +, q ford som. distance fur,ber
up stream. and soon came In sight Of an i'm
mense crowd OF mounted Indians. They were
that we could tell nothing about their mum.
bers. Before long the bullets began to fall
among ss Ms and an the the order %s w saSs siss5g to io a sfIn%i1s
mao sa a stand mnuI He fri Has' had aIb been nA going so on
small party detach themselves and move
around toward our flank: gathered four or
from which the flank could be defended. We
found there a dry stream with h%iEh;cqt banks.
which gave Us ample cover. and sheltered by
occasionally succeeded in knocking over one
OF their number. Some time after-l don't
derly's voice behind mo saying: Lieutenant.
~ don't want my horse I replied. Get him
down here out of range as quickly as you can
but replied the orderly. the is
"Iiooked behind me. and. sure enough, there
was the long line slowly falling back toward the
horses. l sprang toward my horse. and was
ing in the wind where it had been left when the
troops Eel, back. caught my eye. l ordered one
and lh his attention " was entirely i taken up in try T,.
ing to got back to the Dlsliking 10
which l had ordered ono OF my men. l started
my, head appeared above the bank, | heard a
my old Ranking party Of Indians. Abandoning
all idea Of saving the gpidon, l gave my horse a
d deSf tnGt in se one n dinea RiiSns1 %6il te I aieed IH out to Of
rsachedt the top Of the bank they blazed away at
the point where my horse was creating SO much
commotion, and t made a detour. coming out
on the bank at another point,
The main body, of the Indians had advanced
and halted In line between me and ny com
Ing The. movements OF II. rstirins troops 70 It
know Just what to Do. No remain where ! was
rush through the Indian line, trusting to luck
and the Indians' excitement to save me, from
the bank to put this plan into execution when
a yell on my left caused me to stop, There
were my old friends the lanl:ers again, COM
ing around to Join the main body.
AT their yell many OF the main party turned,
and l dropped behind the bank again Just In
time TO escape a shower OF bullets sent after
me. There / remained, expecting each moment
to, have them come over after me, and deter.
mined to give them n taste OF my revolver II
they did. But either on account Of fear, or be-
cause they thought that they had me trapped
and could attend to me at their leisure. they
did not come.-
Very soon left that position. deciding that
the best plan WAS to hide until darkness should
set in. and to then slip out II l could. l was
carefully stealing along tho bed Of the stream,
hiding us host l could. when l thought that I
heard the whispered word:
Lieutenant
"IIistoneda and 1t was repeated. and. looking
up into u large hole under the oyerhanging
bunk. l saw a Sergeant and two men, one OF
whom was. an Indian scout and the other q
half breed interpreter. who. Ike me, had been
left behind. The two Indians had horses.
which l advised them to turn loose. feeling
sure that they would, by neighing or paving.
give notice OF our presence. to some passing
Indian. This they refused todo. and l left them;
finally found a place In the wide bottom which