Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-11-22

was scofred at by the OgallaIas. It could
not be that any foe would be rash enough
to move on them in their stronghold; be-
sides, no one but squaWs had seen any
thing to cause alarm, and so they gave
the story no credence. However, Chief
Gauls always suspicious, determined to
send out a few scouts to make an inVesti-
cation. These returned before midnight
with q continuation Of the report that
soldiers were coming, gave a good est
mate OF their aumrers, and also reported
that they were under the leadership of
Long Hair Caster.
All was now excitement and turmoil in
the Indian camp. Orders we're 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. Tt 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
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 it seems, as the Indians
had said, their medicine was good, for
all worked to their veal.
At last morning broke 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 a short time the spies came dashing
into camp with the news of the near ap-
prOach of the troops, who soon ap-
peaTed 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, at
full charge Clusters last, but a 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 be-
came necessarily broken to avoid the
tepees. Here a portion of their horses
became unmanageable at the sight Of half
dried meat and Unframed 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 in the front, while Rain
in-the-face, from his position with his
braves, delivered a raking, murderOuF
fire on their flank
Custer now probably saw his mistake
too late; but the splendid courage that
-Tvv- Ill he q 10-
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, unlOosed
and maddened by thirst, dashed into
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 critical juncture the Ogallala
| chief, Crazy Horse, appeared on the left,
anu, taxing N the SITUATION al q 8tauC9s
ordered his legion to charge.
Let US now close our eyes as the hOrri-
! BILE 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 accOuterments. The Indian al
! lies, fifteen in number, were scalped, and
! the field was left to the squaWs, who
went the rounds with stone War-clubs
and tOmahaWks. Drained the soldiers
/ who were not quite dead, Stripe ed
/ 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
/ boosted 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.
/ The casualties of the Indians were COM
! paratively smalI-thirtY-si on the field
dead. The number dying of wounds viii
] probably never be accurately known, as
| the village was shortly afterward broken
up. Probably seventy would be 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. 3. BARTLETT.