The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-15

lowed to have his saddle OIL ah4 the
men had no blankets or tents along and
had to sleep on tho ground holding
their horses. The start in the morning
was made about two hours before day
light, as Custer knew that Indian
scoutr were watching him from the
start. The Indians were caught up with
early on the morning OF June % on the
divide between the Rose Bud and Little
Big Horn rivers. Custer there halted
his command aud had the officers call
sounded. He then gave each officer or
ders to have all saddle cinches made
tight and in place. lie then ordered
Major Reno to take three troops, each
having about forty-fve men, to 90 down
to the Little Big Horn river, cross over,
ana if the Indians were not too strong,
engage them. Captain Benton was or
dered to take three troopssgo'te,a large
camp up the river, which proved to con-
tain no Indians. One troop was sent
back to guard the pack train and bring
it up as soon as possible, as our ammu-
milton was back with them. Custer
kept five troops. Major Reno crossed
over the river and started towards n
large body of Indians down the Little
Big Horn.
''The Indians, seeing Major Reno
coming, set Are to the grass which burnt
between them and Reno, so az to shield
their movements. While we were
moving up near the Indians Clusters
command was seen on the divide above
US across the river, and az that moment
there was q great Gommotion near the
Indian camp. We soon saw through
tho smoke what looked like stampede
among the Indians, large bodies OF
them running away from us, driving a
great herd OF ponies, but We soon
found out these were squaws driving
their ponies out OF danger of capture;
Squaws can't, at distance, be told
from bucks, both wearing blankets
around them. This is what IS thought
by number OF Reno's commands to be
the cause OF Clusters destruction. We
supposed that seeing what he sup
posed to DO the whole body OF the IN.
dams retreating, he came to the con-
clusion that if three troops under Reno
could drive them like that, he with his
five troops could head them of and
capture them. But tho Indians divided
up. leaving enough to keep Reno busy,
while the main body formed an am
bush for Custer by hiding behind trees,
logs, brush and the river bank. Reno,
finding that the Indians were too strong
for him to rout, dismounted his COM
mand, formed limo across the valley
and fought them there until he sew
that he was being surrounded, when he
gave orders for bis men to mount and
get ready to charge. In a few moments,
however, he came TO the conclusion that
it would be better to go back and join
Custer and report. Custer had at that
time, however, with his, command been
killed, but nothing of that was known
until the next day when Terry came up.
"As Reno started the Indians closed
in on him killing and woundiug several
officers and men. Reno after reaching
the divide met the troops with the pack
train coming in and asked the officer
where Custer was, but he was equally
ignorant Of his whereabouts Captain
Benton came up soon alter and stated
he did not know where Custer went.
The indians surrounded the hill on
which was posted what was loft OF the
Seventh cavalry. In the afternoon
there was seen large column OF troops
going back on our trail, with our uni.
form on and guidons flying. We
thought this body was Custer leaving US
to our fate. Major Reno had several OF
his trumpers sound calls to attract the
attention OF what wo thought was Gus.
ter's command.