The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-10-16

thing 10 cause alarm, ana 80 tney gave
the story no credence. However, Chief
Gaul. always suspicious. determined to
send out few scouts TO make IN investi-
CATION. These returned before midnight
with q confirmation of the report that
soldiers were coming, gave a good est:-
mate of their numbers, and also reported
that they were under the leadership OF
Long Hair (Custer).
All was now excitement and turmoil in
the Indian camp. Orders were issued by
Sitting Bull that no lodges were to be
struck, but that the squaws should take
the old, the crippled and wounded, to-
gether with their children, and retreat in
to the high hills with the stock at first
sign of bre king day. 1t was decided to
make no demonstration until the soldiers
should attack the camp.
The command on the right was given
to Rain-in-the-F Face.
Meantime the portion of the Indians
known as the Ogallala Sioux slept quietly
on. Nor is this to be wondered at, when
we know that the camp was upwards of
three miles in length, and perhaps
this was we'll for the Indians, for had
the Ogallala chief, Crazy Horse, been
present at the council when the final dis
position was made, Custer might have
been met on the open plain, where, in
conjunction with Reno, the result would
probably have been very disastrous to
the Indians; but ii seems, as the Indians
had said, their medicine was good, for
all worked to their veal.
AT last morning broke-a glorious morn
indeed. Not the slightest breeze caused
a rifle in the leaves of the giant cotton
woods that lined the camp in the rear.
Spies were now sent out TO watch and re-
port the advance of the soldiers, runners
were sent to warn the Ogallalas, and all
was put in readiness to await the onset.
In a short time the spies came dashing
into camp with the news of the near APP
proach of the troops, who soon ap-
peared on the river bottom, in full
view. Here the troops made a short
halt, and, forming company front, boldly
advanced. guidons and colors flying
with the motion of their noble steeds, ut n
full charCe-Custer's last, but a noble
one-on, on they came, certain doom only
awaiting every soul, toward the point best
prepared TO meet them, past a part of the
now deserted lodges, until the line be-
came necessarily broken to avoid the
tepees. Here portion of their horses
became unmanageable at the sight of half
dried meat and untanned skins that every
where strewed the ground.
In the midst of all this confusion the
blood curdling war-cry of the Sioux
sounded on their ears, and hundreds of
painted savages, heretofore hidden by
the underbrush, sprang up and delivered
their CALLING fire IL the front while Rain
in-the-face, from his POSITION with his
braves, delivered raking, murderous
fire on their flank
Custer now probably saw his mistake
too late; but the splendid courage that
always marked the man did not desert
him. Both himself and men fought like
demons.
Halt! Dismount." rang out in stem
torian tones, and these were the last or
ders the gallant Custer ever gave that
were obeyed by his men. The firing now
became general. The horses, Embossed
and maddened by thirst, dashed into
the stream, where they were easily
caught by the Indians. Groups and
squads of dead soldiers here and there
marked the spot where some brave cap
tain or lieutenant fell while stimulating
his men by word or deed and men with
empty cartridge shells between their legs,
sitting where they fell, with gun lying
close by. went to show how dearly they
had sold their lives, for in this awful mo-
ment probably no one Of Clusters men
dreamed of victory.
At this cri zeal junc.ure the Ogallala
chief, Crazy Horse, appeared Oh the left,
and, taking in the situation at q glance,
ordered his legion TO charge.
Let Us now close our eyes as the horri-
bic work OF butchery goes on. Unaccus-
toned to such warfare, and overcome by
vastly superior numbers, before the sun
had fairly reached the meridian the last
of Clusters bold riders had succumbed to
the inevitable.
Not much remains to be told. The
soldiers were hurriedly stripped of their
arms and aecouterments. The Indian al
lies, fifteen in number, were scalped, and
the field was left 10 the squaws, who
went the rounds with stone war-clubs
and tomohaNks, Drained the soldiers
who were not quite dead, stripr ed
them of watches, jewelry, ETC., and hor-
ribly mutilated their bodies. For some
reason, not one white man was scalped.
\ thousand warriors had perhaps
boasted that the long yellow hair of Gen.
Custer should that day dangle at his belt,
but owing TO the fact that he started on
this expedition with his hair cut short he
was not recognized by the Indians.
Tie casualties of the Indians were COM
paratively small-thirty-s on the field
dead. The number dying of wounds will
probably never be accurately known, as
the village was shortly afterward broken
up. Probably seventy would be a fair es-
innate.
Why Major Reno did not support his
Colonel in the charge or rescue him in
retreat, Indian logic can find no answer.
GEO. L. BARTLETT.