Frostburg mining journal., 1889-12-14

probably have been very disastrous to
the Indians; but it 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
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 short time the spies came dashing
into camp with the news of the near ap-
proach of the troops, who soon ap-
peared on the river bottom, in full
view. Here the troops made short
halt, and, forming company front, boldly
advanced. guidous and colors flying
with the motion of their noble steeds, at y
full charge Clusters last, but q noble
one-on on they came, certain doom only
awaiting every soul toward the point best
prepared to meet them, past part OF the
now deserted lodges, until the line boz
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 uuderbrush, sprang up and delivered
their calling fire in the front, while Rain
in-the face, from his position with his
braves, delivered raking, murderous
fro 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 we're the last or
ders the gallant Custer ever gave TINT
wore obeyed by his men. The firing now
became general The horses, unloosed
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-
mont probably no one Of Clusters men
| dreamed of victory
At this critical juncture the Ogallala
chief, Crazy Horse, appeared on the loft,
| and, taking in the situation at glance,
| ordered his legion to charge.
| Let us now close our eyes as the horrl-
| bio 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 lass
| of Clusters bold riders had succumbed to
! the inevitable.
| Not much remains to be told. The
soldiers were hurriedly stripped OF their
arms and accoutcrments. The Indian al.
lies, fifteen in number, were scalped, and
| tho field was left to the squaws. who
went the rounds with stone war-clubs
and tomahawks, Drained the soldiers
who were not quite dead, stripped
them of watches, jewelry. etc, and hor-
ribly mutilated their bodies. For some
reason, not one white man was scalped.
A thousand warriors had perhaps
boasted that the long yellow huir of Gen.
| Custer should that day dangle at his belt.
| but owing TO tho fact that he started on
| this expedition with his hair cut short nn
was not recognized by the Indians.
| The casualties of the Indians were com
| paratiyely small thirty-sx on the field
dead. The number dy ing of wounds will
| probably never be accurately known, AZ
| the village was shortly afterward broken
up. Probably seventy would be fair cs-
| innate.
Why Major Reno did not support his
| Colonel i'll the charge or rescue him In
retreat, Indian logic can find no answer.
| GEO. l.. BARrLETr