The morning call., 1892-01-03
Captain Godfrey On the TruG Theory Of
That Engagement
a Thrilling Article in Which the Writer At
tempts to Settle the Controversy Which
Has so Often Been Started

lowest point of these bluffs; that he was
there met by an overpowering force and
driven back; that he then divided his bat
tallion, moved down the river with the view
of attacking the village, but met with such
resistance from the enemy posted along the
river bank and ravnes that he was COM
PEELED to fail back, fighting, to the position
on the ridge. The numerous bodies 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 was as indicated on the map,
and his column was never nearer the river
or the village than his final position on the
ridge The wife of Spotted Horn Bull, when
giving me her account of the battle, persisted
in saying that Clusters column did not at
tempt TO cross at the ford, and appealed to
her husband, who supported her staten ent
On the battlefield, In 1885, Chief Gall indi-
Gated Clusters route te me, and it then
flashed upon me that / myself had seen
Clusters trail On June 28th, while we
were burying the dead, asked Major Reno's
permission To 60 on the high ridge east or
back of the field to look for tracks of shod
horses, to ascertain If some of the COM
mand might not have escaped. When l
wondered who could have made it, but dis
missed the thought that 1t had been made
by Clusters column because it did not ac-
cord 18th the theory with which we were
then flled-thet Custer had attempted to
cross at the ford-and this trail was too far
back, aid showed no indication Of
LEADING TOWARD THE FORD.
Trumpeter Penwell was my orderly and
accompanied me. 1t was singular c0nc-
dence that IN 1856 Penwell was stationed at
Fort Custer, and was my orderly when visit
ing the battle field. PenWell corrobOrated
my recollection of the trail.
Tie ford theory arose from the fact that
we found there numerous tracks of shod
horses, but 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,
and these facts are conclusive to my mind
that Custer did not 60 to the ford with any
body of men.
AS soon as Gall had personally confirmed
Iron CeGar's report he sent word to the war
riOrs battling against Reno and to the people
in the village The greatest CONSERVATION
prevailed among the families, and orders
we're given for them to leave at once. Be-
fore they could do so the great body Of
warriors had left Reno and fastened to at
tack Custer. This explains why Reno was
not pushed when so much confusion at the
river crossing gave the indians every OppOr-
tunity of annihiating his command Not
long after the Indians began to show
strong force in Custer front. Custer turned
his column to the left and advanced in
the direction of tile village to a place
now marked as spring, halted at
the junction OF the ravines just below
it aud dismounted two troops, KeOgh's
and Cahoun's, to fight on foot. These
two troops advanced at double time to
a knoll, now marked by Crittenden's mOnu-
ment. The other three troops. mounted,
followed them short distance in their rear.
The led horses remained where the troops
diSmOunted. When KeoCh and Calhoun
got to the knoll the other troops marche
rapidly to the right; Smiths troop de-
ploYed as skirmishers, mounted, and took
position on a ridge. which, on Smiths left,
ended in keoglrs position (now marked by
right, ended al the hill on which Custer took
position with Yates and Tom Clusters
troops
NOW KNOWN AS CUsTER's HILL,
And marked by the monument erected to
the command. Smiths skirmishers, hold
ing their gray horses, remained in groups of
fours.
The line occupied by Clusters battalion
was the first considerable ridge back of the
river, the nearest point being about half
mile from 1t. His front was extended about
three-fourths of a mile. The whole village
was in full view. A few hundred yards
from this line was another but lower ridge,
the further slope of which was not com
manded 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 ravine south of KeOgh and Cal
houn. 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 to stampede the horses-that
is, yelling. waving blankets, etc. in this
they succeeded very soon, and the horses
were caught up by the squaws. In this dis
aster 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 dis
mounted and advanced up the slope far
enough to be able to see the soldiers when
standing erect, but were protected when
squatttng or lying down. BY jumping up and
firing quickly, they exposed themselves only
for an instant. but drew the fire of the sol
diers. causing waste OF ammunition. In
the meantime Gall was massiHg his mounted
warriors under The protection of the slope.
When everything was in readiness, at sig
nal from Gall the dismounted warriors rose,
fired, and every Indian gave voice to the
lllC uIOuHtSu IUulduS put VIVID
to their ponies, and the whole mass rushed
upon and crushed Calhoun. The maddened
mass of Indians was carried forward by its
own momentum over Calhoun and Critten-
den down into the depression where Keogh
was, with over thirty men, aud all was over
ON THAT PART OF THE FIELD.
In the meantime the same tactics were
being pursued and executed around Gus
ters Hill. The warriors, under the leader
ship OF Crow King, Crazy Horse, Wild Bull,
"Humph and others, moved up the raviue
west OF Clusters Hill, and concentrated un-
der the shelter OF the ridges on the right
flank and back Of his position. Calls
bloody work was finished before the ami
hiation Of Custer was accomplished. and
his victorious warriors hurried forward to
the hot encounter then going on, and the
frlghtful 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 the troop
and other organizations were found in one
ravine nearer the river. Many corpses
were found scattered over the field be-
tween 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 | recognized, and one of the
nearest to the ford, was that Of Sergeant
Butter OIL LON clusters troop. Sergeant
Butler was soldier of many years expert
ence and of known courage. The indica-
tions 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 was no organized close
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 not have defensive force along
the river and in the ravines which destroyed
those who left Clusters line.
There was great deal of firing going on
over the field after the battle by the young
men and boys riding about and shooting
into the dead bodies