The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-08-29
CUSTER'S LAST BATTLE.
How He Met His Death on the Shores
of the Little Big Horn

How He Met His Death on the Shores
of the Little Big Horn
Meyer realizing, as l believe, the
fearful odds against him, believing
that he would fine the village "on
the rum" and that between himself
and Reno he could double them NJ"
in short order, Custer had jauntiiy
trOtted down 20 his death. 1t was Il
long FIVE mile ride from where he
sighted the northern end Of the vi
lage to where he struck its centre
around that bold point OF bluff, and
from the start to the moment his
guidOns whirled into view, and his
troopers came gaIloping front into
line" down near the ford, he never
fairly saw the great village never
Rounding the bluff. he suddenly
found himself face to lace with thou
sands of the bOIdeSt and most skilful
warriors of the prairPS. He had
hoped to charge at once into the
heart of the village. to hear the cheers
of RanO'S men from the south. In
stead he was greeted with perfect
fury of flame aud Kissing lead from
the dense thicket of willow and cot
tOnwood. fire that had to be an
swered at once. Quickly he dis.
mounted his men and threw them
forward on the run, each fourth man
holding, cavalry fashion. the horses
of the other three. The line seems
to have swept in parallel very nearly
with the general course OF the stream
but to no purpose. The foe WAS ten
to one in their front. Boys and
squawS were shooting from the viii.
lows con, we had plenty guns, laid
our story tellerS y and worse than
that, hundreds of young warriors
had mounted their ponies and
swarmed across the stream behind
him, hundreds more were following
anu CllSIluS All dbOuI IlI1' Anu
then it WAS that Caster, the hero Of Il
hundred charges, seems to have real.
lied that he must cut his way out.
mount !" rang through the t:um-
pets, and leaving many poor fellow
on the ground, the troopers ran for
their horses. Instantly from ledge
and willow Ogalalas and Brules
sprang to horse anu rushed to the
ford in mad pursuit.
Make for the heights!" must
have been the order, for the first rush
was eastward then more to the left,
as they found their progress barred.
Then, as they reached the higher
ground, all they could see, far rs they
could see, circling, sWOOping, yelling
like demons, and all the time Keep
ing up their furious fire, We're thous
ands of the mounted Sioux. Hem
med in, cut off. dropping fast from
their saddles, Clusters men saw that
retreat was impossible. They sprang
to the ground, "turned their horses
loose" said the Indians, and 10y that
time half their number had fallen.
A skirmish line was thrown out
down the slope. and there they drop
ped at FIVE yards intervals ; there
their comrades found them two days
after. Every instant the foe rode
closer and gained in numbers; every
instant some poor fellow bit the dust.
At last, on mound that stands at
the northern edge of a little ridge,
Custer, with Cook. Yates and gallant
brother Tom" and some dozen
soldiers, all that were left by this
time, gathered in the last rally.
They sold their lives dearly, braYe
fellows that they We're ; bat they
were as a dozen to the leaves Of the
forest at the end of twenty minutes.
and in less than twenty five-all was
over.