The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-01-28

go ~ - talon, moved down the
l. A. river bank and ravines
that he was compelled to fall back, lighting to
the position on the ridge. The numerous bod
les found scattered between the river and ridge
were supposed to be the first victims Of the
fight. | am now satisfied that these were men
who either survived those on the ridge or at
tempted to escape the massacre.
Clusters route, as indicated on the map,
and his column was never nearer the river or
village than his final position on the ridge. The
wife oil Spotted Horn Bull when giving me
her account OF the battle, persisted in saying
that Casters column did not attempt to cross
at the ford. ard appealed TO her husband, who
supported her statement.
On the battlefield, in 1886 Chief Gall iudi-
Gated Clusters route 70 me aud it then flashed
upon me that ] myself had seen Clusters trail
On June D. while we were burying the dead,
j asked Mai. RenO'5 permission 10 20 on TO the
high ridge east or back of the field 20 look for
tracks of shod horses to ascertain if some Of the
command might not have escaped. When /
reached the ridge i saw this trail and wondered
who could have made il, but dismis sed the
thought that it had been made by Clusters
column, because it dill not accord with the
theory with which We were then dlled. that
Custer had attempted to cross at the ford. and
this trail was too far back and showed no in
dcation OF leading toward the ford. Trumpeter
Penwell was my Orderly and accompanied
me. twas a singular coincidence that IN 1856
Penwell was stationed at Fort Custer aud was
my Orderly when visiting the battlefield.
Penwell cOrrobOrated my recollection Of the
trail.
The ford theory arose from the fact that we
found there numerous tracks Of shOd horses,
and they evidently had been made after the
Indians had possessed themselves Of the cavalry
horses, for they rode them after capturing
them. No bodies Of men or horses were found
anywhere near the ford, aud these facts are
conclusive to my mind that Custer did not 20
to the ford with any body Of men.
80 As soon as Gall had personally COnfr med
Iron Cedar's report he sent word to the war
TiOrs battling against Reno, and 70 the people
in the village. The greatest CONSERVATION
prevailed among the families, aud orders were
given for them 70 leave 40 once. Before they
could do so the great body Of warriors had left
Reno aud fastened 70 attack Custer. This ex-
plains why Reno was not pushed when so much
confusion at the river crossing gave the Indians
every opportunity OF annihilating his command.
Not long after the Indians began 10 show a
strong force in Clusters front. Custer turned
his column to the left, and advanced in the
direction OF the village to near place now
marked as a spring, halted at the junction of
the Tavines just below il, and dismOunted two
troops, keO2h's and CalhOun's. to fight on foot
These two troops advanced at double time TO
a knoll, now marked by Crittenden's mouu-
ment. The other three troops, mounted, fol-
lowed them a short distance in their rear. The
led horses remained where the troops dis
mounted. When Keogh and Calhoun got to
the knoll the other troops marched rapidly 10
the right; Smiths troop deplOyed as skir-
misheTs, mounted, aud took position on a ridge
which, on Smiths left, ended in Keogh's posi-
ton lnow marked by Crittenden's mOnumentJ
and on Smiths right ended on the hill ON
bF.I Gn,.5E N,.l- \
Tom Clusters troops now known as Clusters
Hill, and marked by the monument erected to
the command. Smiths skirmishers, holding
their gray horses, remained in groups Of tours.
The line occupied by Clusters battalion
was the first considerable ridge back from the
river, the nearest point being about half mile
from II. His front was extended about three
fOurths OF mile The whole village was in
full view a few hundred yards from his line
was another but lower ridge, the further slope
Of which was not commanded by his line. 1t
was here that the Indians under Crazy Horse
from the lower part OF the village, among whom
were the Cheyennes formed for the charge on
Clusters Hill. All Indians had now left Reno.
Gall collected his warriors and moved up a
ravine south of KeOgh and Calhoun. As they
were turning this flank they discovered the
led horses without any other guard than the
horse holders. They opened fire upon the
horse holders and used the usual devices 10
stampede the hOrses-that is, yelling, waving
blankets, etc. in this they succeeded very
soon, and the horses were caught by the
squaws. In this disaster keOgh and Calhoun
probably lost their reserve ammunition, which
was carried in the saddle-bags. Calls war
riOrs now moved to the foot Of the knoll held
by Calhoun. A large force dismounted and
advanced up the slope far enough 10 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, eaHsing a waste of ammuni-
ton. In the meantime Gall was massing his
mounted warriors under the protection OF the
slope. When everything was in readiness, at
signal from Call the dismOunted warriors,
rose, fired, and every Indian gave voice to the
war whOOp; the mounted Indians put whip to
their ponies and the whole mass rushed upon
and crushed Calhoun. The maddened mass Of
Indians was carried forward by its own mo-
mentum over Calhoun and Crittenden down
into the depression where KeOgh was, with
over thirty men, and all was over on that part
of the field.
Elm the meantime the same tactics were be-
ing pursued and executed around Clusters Hill.
The warriors, under the leadership of Crow
King, Crazy Horse. White Bull, Hump" and
others. moved up the Tayine west Of Clusters
Hill and concentrated under the shelter of
the ridges on his right flank and back Of his
position. Calls bloody work was finished
before the annihilatiOn of Custer was accom-
plished. aud his victorious warriors hurried
forward to the hot encounter then going ON,
and the frightful massacre was completed.
"Smith's men had disappeared from the ridge,
but not without leaving enough dead bodies to
mark their line. About % bodies Of men be-
longing 10 this troop and other organizations
were found in one rayine nearer the river.
Many eorpses were found scattered over the
field between Clusters line of Defense the river,
and in the direction Of RenO's Hill. These,
doubtless, were Of men who had attempted to
escape some Of them may have been sent as
cOuriers by Custer. One OF the first bodies /
recognized and one of the nearest to the ford
was that Of Serg't Butler, OF Tom Clusters
troop. Serg't Butler was q soldier of many
years experience and of known courage. The
indications were that he had sold his life dearly,
for near aud under him were found many empty
cartridge shells.
"All the Indian accounts that know Ofagree
that there was no organized elOse-quarters
fighting, except on the two TANKS; that with
the humiliation at Clusters Hill the battle was
virtually over. 1t does not appear that the
Indians made any advance to the attack from
the direction Of the river; they did have de-
fensive force along the river and in the ravines
which destroyed those who left Clusters line.
HThera was n great deal of firing going ON