Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-02

The True Theory Graphically Set Forth b,
Capt Godfrey.
A COMMANDER OF TEocP uSDxR crsrER arvrs
THE RESULTS OF MS IxyEsrIGArioNs on nm
GROUND, SHOWING THAT 80 ArTEnFr ~u
MADE TO FORD TER RIVER
Prom the Century.

eNSN,As hAthANo NhAA ~
MADE TO FORD TER RIVER
Prom the Century.
The accepted theory for many years after The
battle, and still persisted in by some writer's.
was that Clusters column had turned the high
bluffs near the river, moved down the dry
(Renos) creek and attempted 20 ford The
river near the lowest point Of these bluffs: the,
he vas there met by an ovorpoworing force and
driven back; that 10 then divided his battalion.
moved down the river with the view Of attack.
ing the village. but met with such resistance
n ON the enemy posted along the river bank
and ravines that he was compelled TO fall back.
Fighting. TO the position on the ridge. The
numerous bodies found scattered between IN.
river and ridge were supposed TO be the first
victims OF the tight L am now satisfied that
these were men who either survived those as,
the ridge or attempted TO escape the massacre
custer route was A. indicated On the man,
and has column was never nearer the river or
village than his final position on tho ridge IN.
vile OF Spotted Horn Bull when giving me her
account OF the battle persisted In saving that
custer Column did not attempt % cross at the
lord, ana appealed to her husband. who sup
ported her statement On the battlefield an
lsHe, Chic Ga indicated Clusters route 20 ma
ana u u - hashed upon me that myself lad
seen Clusters trail On june - while We we're
ouryins the dead. asked Msj. Reno's permits
SION to 80 on the high ridge east or bach Of tha
held 10 look Tor tracks OF shod horses 20 ascer-
tam II some Of the command might rot have
escaped. When 1 reached the ridge I saw th,s
traii and wondered who could have made ~
oat dismissed the thought that it had been
mace by clusters column because Il did not ac-
cord with the theory with which We were th.n
MED, that Custer had attempted 20 cross Rt the
lofd, ana this trail was too tar back and showed
To lnileSton OF leading toward the ford.
uihleter ienwell was my orderly and accom-
panied me. IL wasa singular coincidence that
IN 1886 fenwell was stationed at Fort Custer.
anu Was my orderly when visiting the tnttle-
ne1d Ienwel corroborated my recollection Of
the trail. -
WHAT STARTED THE FoRD Turony.
Inc ford theory arose from the fact that We
found there numerous tracks of shoa horses.
out they evidently had been made after the In
dams had possessed themselves Of the cavalry
nofses, ior they rode them after capturing
Them. No bodies OF men or horses were foun3
anywhere near the ford and these facts are con-
elusive to nv mind that Custer did not go TO
the ford with any body of men.
AS soon as Gall had personally confirmed
iron Sedars report he sent word 20 the war
rlors batting against Reno ana to the people
In the village. The greatest CONSERVATION
prevailed among the families and orders were
given Ter them to leave at once. Before they
could do so the great body of warriors had LETT
AsSAo anu 10 ATTACK ulster. This a.
plains why Reno Was not pushed when SO t,ueh
confusion at the river crossing gave the In
dlaEs every opportunity OF annlhiating his
command. Not long after the Indians began
TO show a strong force In Clusters front Custer
turned his column 70 the left and advanced in
the direction OF the village TO near place
now marked as a spring, halted at the junction
OF the rayines just below il and dismount.d two
troops, heogh and Calhouns TO fcht ON foot
ihese TWO troops advanced at double time to
Knoll now marked by Crittenden's monu-
ment The other three troops. mounted fol-
lowed them a short distance an ;hei- rear Tho
led horses remained where the troops dis
mounted. When heogh and Calhoun got 10 the
knoll the other troops marched rapidly 90 tho
right; Smiths troop deployed US skirmishers.
mounted, and took position on a ridge which,
on Smiths left, ended in keorhs position NOW
marked by Crittenden's nonumentl ana ON
Smith 6 right ended at the hill on which Custer
took position with Yates and Tom Clusters
troops, now known as Clusters Hill and marked
by the monument erected 10 the command.
Smith skirmishers, holding their gray horses
remained In groups of fours.
THE LINE OCCUPIED BY CUSTER
The line occupied by Clusters battalion was
the first considerable ridge back from the river
the nearest point being about half a mile from
1t. His front was extended about three-fourths
of a mile. The whole village Was in full view.
few hundred yards from his line was another
bat lower ridge, the further slope of which was
not commanded by his line. Ii was here that
the Indians under Crazy Horse from the lower
part OF the village among whom were the Chevy
ennes. formed for the charge on Clusters Hill
All Indians had now left Reno. Gail collected
has warriors and moved up ravine south Of
keogh and Calhoun. As they were turning
this flank they discovered the led horses with
out any other guard than the horse holders.
They opened IRE upon the horse holders aud
used the usual devices TO stampede the horses
that Is, yelling. waving blankets, &c.; an this
they succeeded very soon and the horses were
| caught up by the squaws. In this disaster Keogh
and Calhoun probably lost their reserve am
| munition. which was carried in the saddle bags.
Calls warriors now moved TO the foot of the
knoll held by Calhoun. large force dis
mounted and advanced up the slope far enough
| to be able to see the soldiers when standing
erect. but were protected when squatting or
lying down. BY jumping up and firing quickly
| they exposed themselves only for an instant,
but drew the fire of the soldiers causing n
waste of ammunition. In the meantime Gall
was massing his mounted warriors under the
protection Of the slope. When everything was
in readiness, at q signal from Gall. the dis
mounted warriors rose, fred and every Indian
gave voice to the war whoop; the mounted In
dians put whip TO their ponies and the whole
mass rushed upon and crushed Calhoun. The
maddened mass OF Indians was carried forward
| by its owe momentum over Calhoun and Crit
| tenden down into the depression where Keogh
that part Of the held.
THE SAME TACTICS AT cusrER's HILL
In the meantime the same tactics were being
pursued and executed around Clusters Hill
The warriors, under the leadership Of Crow
King, Crazy Horse, White Bull, Hump" and
others, moved up the ravine west OF Clusters
| Hill. and concentrated under the shelter of tie
| ridges on his right flank and back OF his posi-
ton. Calls bloody work Was finished before
| the annihilation OF Custer accomplished.
| and his victorious warriors hurried forward 10
| the hot encounter then going on, and the
| frightful massacre was completed.
smiths men had disappeared from the ridge,
but not without leaving enough dead bodies TO
| mark their line. About twenty-eight bodies Of
men belonging TO this troop and other organ
| izations were found in one ravine nearer the
| river Many corpses were found scattered over
| the field between Clusters line OF defense, the
river, and in the direction of Renos Hill
These, doubtless, were OF men who had at
| tempted to escape; some OF them may have been
sent as couriers by Custer. One Of the first
bodies 1 recognized and one of the nearest to
the ford was that Of Scrgt Butler OF Tom Gus
ter's troop. Sergt. Butler a soldier 81
many years experience and Of known courage.
The indications were that he had sold his life
dearly, for near and under him were found
many empty cartridge shells.
| All the Indian accounts that know OF agree
that there no organized close-quarters
| lighting. except on the two tanks; that with
the humiliation at Casters Hill the battle