The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-28
LISTERS RIDE TO DEATH.
lpt. Kings Story Of How tho CAL
liant General and His Troops
Met tho Sioux.
ow the Entire Command Was
Wiped Out In Less Than
Thirty Minutes
. Part That Sitting Bull Took In the
Memorable Engagement-Craxy
Horse the Actual Leader.

"a Part That Sitting Bull Took In the
Memorable Crazy
Horse the Actual Leader.
Never realizing, as believe, the fearful
! dis against him, believing that he would
! d the village ION the rum" and that be-
sen himself and Reno he could double
EN- up" in short order, Custer had jaunt-
trotted down to his death. It was
ne five-mile ride from where he sighted
b northern end of the village to where he
luck its center around that bold point of
nff, and from the start to the moment his
idons whirled into view, and his troopers
me galloping front into line'' down near
ford, he never fairly saw the great vii
ke-never dreamed of it's depth and ex-
BIT. Rounding the bluff, he suddenly
md himself face to face with thousands
the boldest and most skilful warriors of
prairies. He had hoped to charge at
&c into the heart of the village, to hear
cheers of Reno's mon from the south.
stead he was greeted with per-
| ct fury of fame and Kissing lead
bm the dense thicket Of willow and
ttonwood, fire that had to be answered
once. Quickly he dismounted his men
d threw them forward on the run, each
urth man holding, cavalry fashion, the
rses of the other three. The line seems
have swept in parallel very nearly with
general course of the stream, but to no
rpose. The foe was ten to one in thei1
pnt. Boys and squaws were shooting
pm the willows ("Oh We had plenty
ns!'' said our story-tellers); and worse
an that hundreds of young warriors had
bunted their ponies and swarmed across
stream below him, hundreds more were
flowing and circling all about him. And
en it was that Custer, the hero OF q
ndred daring charges, seems to have re-
zed that he must cut his way out.
Iountv' rang the trrmpets, and leaving
any a poor fellow on the ground, the
popers ran for their horses. In
hntly from lodge and willow Oga-
las rn s1a B to the sp forG %sa
rsuit. MAKE for the heightsr' must
We been the order, ior the first rush was
stward; then more to the left as they
und their progress barred. Then, as they
ached higher ground, all they could see,
as they could see, circling, swooping, yell
hg like demons, and all the time keeping
their furious fire, were thousand of the
punted Sioux. Hemmed in, cut of, drop
hg fast from their saddles. Clusters men
that retreat was impossible. They
rang to the ground, turned their horses
bse," said the Indians and by that time
If their number had fallen. A skirmish
he was thrown out down the slope, and
ere they dropped at five yards interval;
ere their comrades found them two
ys after. Every instant the foe rode
pser and gained in numbers; every instant
me poor fellow bit the dust. At last,
brthern end of little ridge, Custer,
It'll Cook, Yates and gallant Brother
pm," and some dozen soldiers, all that
ere left by this time, gathered in the last
klly, They sold their lives dearly, brave
blows that they were; but they were as q
pzen to the leaves of the forest at the end
j twenty minutes, and in less than twenty
ke-all was over.
Sitting Bull was not the inspiration of
Q great victory won by the Sioux. Up to
is time he had no real claims as war
lief. Eleven days before the fight there
Rs s'sun Dance" His own people have
nee told us these particulars, and the
st story-teller among them was that
ight-faced squaw of Tatonka .he-gle-ska
Spotted Horn Bull-who accompanied
9 party on their eastern trip. She is own
usin to Sitting Bull, and knows whereof
. speaks. The chief had a trance and
sion. Solemnly he assured his people
lat within a few days they would be at
cked by vast force of white soldiers, but
at the Sioux would triumph over them;
ID when the Grows and Crooks COM
and appeared on the 18th, it was partial
demption of his promise.
Wary scouts saw Reno's column turning
lck down the Rosebud after discovering
Q trail, and nothing, they judged. would
me from that quarter. All around Crooks
mp on Goose creek the indications were
at that the "Gray Foxs was simply watt
for more soldiers before he would again
nture forth. Sitting Bull had not thought
a new attack for days to come, when,
rly on the morning of the 18th, two Chey-
Inc Indians who had started eastward at
hiving their blankets, signalled, white
iers-heaps-comins quick" Instantly
was uproar and confusion.
OF course women and children had to be
krried away, the great herds of ponies
thered in, and the warriors assembled to
bet the coming foe. Even as the chiefs
bre Fastening to the council lodge tn re
me crash of rapid volleys irom the
nth. It was Reno's attack-an attack
pm a new and utterly unexpected Quarter
and this, with the news that Long Hair
is laundering down the ravine
ross the stream, was too much
Sitting Bull. Hurriedly gather
his household about him
dashed his pony to the top of his spe. q
d fed westward for safety. Miles Le
Hoped before he dare stop for breatl I.
hind him he could hear the roar of ba.-
}, and on he would have sped but for the
scoyery that one of his twin children was
ssing. Turning, he was surprised to
d the firing dying away, soon ceasine al
gether. In half an hour more he man
ed to get back to camp, where the mis- :
child was found, but the battle b, d
en- won without him. Without him the
ackfeet and UncapaI q had repelled Reno
d penned him on tue bluffs. Without
III the Ogalallas. Brules and Cheyennes
4 turned back Custer's daring assault,
tipping circle in which he was held. Again
d Crazy Horse been foremost in the fray,
ling in and Draining the bewildered SOL
ers with his heavy war club. Fully had
vision been realized, but-Sitting Bull
Is not there.
For long time it was claimed for him
certain sycophantic followers that from
Q council lodge he directed the battle
1 it would not do. When the old sinner
q finally starved out of her majesty's ter
ory. and came in to accept the terms ac-
rded him, even his own people could not
ep straight faces when Questioned as te
e cause of the odd names given those
ms - "The--O ne-that-was taken" and
che One-that-was-left." Finally it al
aked out. and now none SO poor as to de
m reverence"
OF course it was his role to assume all thu
Rs of a conqueror, to be insolent and de
mt to the High Joint Commission, sen,
% following winter to beg him to CONF
pine and be good; but the claims of Taton
In &<. ho laada1alaixa thI