Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-13
CAPTAIN DICK AND CUSTER,
The Formers Story About the
Latter's Last Fight.
Interesting "reminiscences Of the Lit
tie Big Horn Battle.
His Estimate OF Custer as Soldier
Reno's Failure to Go Forward.
Incidents of Custer's Last
Gallant Fight.

~~.--~-~--~
OF late man with long, curling hair,
the loose habiliments of a frontiersman,
an athletic figure and determined face,
with the features Of soldier, has been
noticeable on the streets of this city. He
is "Captain Dick" Falcoberg is his
surname, but the title and the Christian
name are what he is known by.
Captain Dick was hero of the Riel
rebellion in Canada, and on his stalwart
breast carries little steel medal, given
for valor. In this outbreak Captain
Dick was the leader Of the famous Amer
lean scouting corps, under that gallant
Canadian officer, Col. Arthur T. H.
williams, commander chief Of the
Midland volunteer force. But that is
another story.
Captain Dicks immediate interest
lies in the fact that he is the only white
man who is able to give an exact ac-
count OF the Custer massacre at the
battle of the Little Big Horn. The sub
ject Of the sketch is, like all brave men,
particularly modest, and it ia only by
reference to his records that the follow
ing is prepared.
He thinks Custer was the most gal
liant cavalryman who ever straddled
horse; the greatest general the United
States ever saw the bravest soldier who
ever fred gun. But for his terrible
impetuosity, well known as 1t was, he
might ba alive today. He was born to
be cavalry general hated restraint
worse than any thing; knew no fear.
His example shows how well it is to be
Q brave man. During all his countless
battles he always fought in front Of his
regiment, unlike others. He was but
once wounded. The truth was that he
gave no time to the enemy to charge or
f1re. He was among them before they
knew it, and this saccess OF surprising
led him into the belief that he could do
the same with Indians as he did so
many times with white men. There is
where he made his great mistake. II
Major Reno had possessed the same
spirit as be, the Da-ko-tas undoubtedly
would have been all slain.
In 1873 Gen. g. A. Custer was sent
to Montana to protect the interests of
the Northern Pacific Railroad company
oil through the Yellowstone valley, and
strange to say this expedition decided
his fate in 1875. Hearing that several
members of his party were slaughtered
by Indians, he went and caught one OF
them and had him sent to fort. The
Indian was sentenced to be shot. after
confessing the crime, but escaped that
day and ran to the Sioux villages, try
ing to persuade the Indians to rebel
against the government, in which he
fully succeeded. That young Indian,
Rain-in- the Face, being chief by birth,
was made leader Of the Sioux.
On General Clusters return to Da-
kota, General Terry ordered him to trail
the Da-ko-tahs, and make q clean sweep
if possible; but, with the instructions if
there were too many Indians about, to
wait for succor. But General Terry's
parting remarks to Custer were his
death warrant. They we're as follows {:
"The commander-in-chief places too
much confidence in your energy and
ability to impose upon you pre-
else orders which might hinder
you in your advance when near
to the enemy" If Terry had
given him strict orders and we'll
defined, Custer might have been saved.
In fact, it is Captain Dicks private
opinion that Terry, not liking Custer's
independence and we'll knowing that be
would rush ahead, Intentionally gave
him no restrictions. The consequence
was that Cueter neglected to wait for
General Gibbons forces, and trusting
to his own strength, his brave Seventh
cavalry regiment and hie great ability,
charged the Sioux camp as if riding to
q parade, ON his favorite horse Dandy,
which had carried him safely through
many battles. He only had twenty
eight officers and about 75O men under
his command, which were actually the
equal of at least 1000 warriors. Custer
expected 70 find somewhere in the
neighborhood OF $500 Indians, which he
could have easily vanquished.
He came up through the Rosebud val
ley, marched to the Little Big Horn,
discovered Indians in front of him and
made at once an attack, after sending
Captain Dick, who was then known ae
s'Nick Dick" as courier to Major Reno.
This name of mick Dick, came from
the fact that the captain, in spite of his
youthfulness had the stock Of his rife full
OF little notches, closely cut, for every
one 81 which dead Indian would an
swer roll-call in the happy hunting
grounds. Major Reno, with three COM
panies Of the Seventh, was ordered by
Captain Dicks dispatches to cross the
Rosebud on the left and at once attack
the Indians in the rear ct the same time
when Custer would attack them in front
On account of the immense number d
hostiles swarming all over the prairiei
and through the woods, mick Dick
could not reach Reno's command, but
came near enough to see that the brave
ca major, hardly having given AMI
battle to the enemy, retreat his 22l
men across the Rosebud river, underss
heavy fire, when he might have stooC
and fought, risking his skin for Custer
Captain Dick tried his best to return
to Custer to warn him not X
make the attack, or to retreat q
Reno would not support him. Nicl
Dick made tremendous efforts, bleed
ing from : bad wound, to reach the gen
eral In time; his horse being shot from
under him, Dick crawled on all fours
attempting to come within call at leas
of Clusters command. This could no
be done without uselessly sacrificing hi
own life, as the woods fairly swarmet
with Sioux. .4ass rs. y; ,s.e
Within shooting distance, nearly 6O
yards away from The battlefield, thescap
tain could see the soldiers we'll emo hgh
but hardly soldier Of the Seventh 81