Omaha daily bee., 1892-01-10

the Indians under Crazy Horse from tho
lower part OF the village, among whom
we're the Cheyennes, formed for he
charge on Custer's Hili. All Indians
had now left Reno. Gall col
lected his warriors and moved
up Il ravine south Of keogh and
Calhoun. AS they we're turning
this flank they discovered the led hoses
without any other guard than tho horse
holders. They opened fire upon the
horse holders and usel the usual devices
to stampede the horses-that is, yelling,
waving blankets, etc; in this they sue
ceeded very soon, and the horses were
caught by the squaws. In this disaster
Keogh anu Calhoun probably lost their
reserve ammunition, which was carried
in the saddle bags. Calls warriors now
moved to the foot of the knoll held by
Calhoun. a large force dismounted and
advanced up the slope far enough to be
able to see the soldiers when standing
erect, but were protected when squattihg
or lying down. by jumping up and fir
ing quickly they exposed themselves only
for an instant, but drew the fire of the
soldiers, causing a waste OF ammunition.
In the meantime Gall was massing his
mounted warriors under the protection
OF the slope. When everything was in
readiness, at a signal from Gall the dis
mounted 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 maddcned
mass OF Indians was carried forward by
its own momentum over Calhoun and
Crittenden down into the depression
where Keogh vas, with over thirty men,
and all was over on that part OF the Held.
''In the meantime the same tactics
we're 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 Custer's 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 humiliation of Custer was
accomplished, and his victorious war
riors hurried forward to the hot en-
counter then going on. and the frightful
massacre was completed.
''Smith's men had disappeared from
the ridge, but not without leav-
ing enough dead bodies to mark
their line. About twenty-eight bodies
of men belonging to this troop
and other organizations were found in
one ravine near the river. Many
Cut IJScS WcIe Ouuu SCiblOICu oNOi IL
field between Clusters line Of defense,
the river. and in the direction of Reuo'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 ressg-
nized and n Of the nearest to the ford
was thHt of Sergeant Butler of Tom Gus
tors troop. Sergeant Butler was q
solier of 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 l know
Of agree hat there was no organized
close quarters fighting, except on the
two TANKS: hat with the humiliation
at Custer's Hill the battle was virtually
over. 1t does o appear that the In
dians made any advance to the attack
from the direction of the river; they did
have a defensive force along the river
and in the ~ravines which destroyed those
who left Clusters line.
''There was u 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"