Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1894-04-20
THE GALLANT 7TH CAVALRY.
How the Regiment was Caught In
Blizzard Twenty-one Years ago
at YanktOn.

Twenty-one years ago, on the 18th of
April 1878, that famous spring blizzard
began during the night and on the morn.
ing OF the 18th it was hewler. On The
afternoon Of the 18th, Gen. Custer and
his famous regiment of cavalry arrived
at Yankton, and had just got their tents
pitched when the storm closed in upon
them with relentless fury. There was
no fuel or provisions in camp and the
men were in no way prepared to meet
such reception from the elements, be-
cause the entire command had been in
the south from 1866. The regiment was
in desperate straits. There had been no
communication with the regiment during
the night and none up to ga. M. next
morning. Although the gallant General
Nc Cook had made the effort and failed.
Major Tilford of the regiment was in
town when the storm began and at 8
o'clock next morning when McCook
failed, said that Mrs. Custer was with
the General and there was no fuel or
means to protect the general who was
sick I'D bed. Major Tilford was introduce
ed to the writer, and he stated the condi-
ton of affairs and asked us to undertake
the mission Of carrying relief to Mrs. Gus
ter and the general. He said he had a
sergeant with quart bottle Of spirits for
Mrs. Clusters spirit lamp who would go
with me. / said the effort would be
made, and away we went, the sergeant
taking my steps in the snow which was
deep and soft. 1t was not very cold.
After getting clear of the town limits and
calculating the location of the camp from
the last fence, we turned square to the
north and faced the gale of binding snow.
My calculations proved correct for after
about 20 minutes Of plunging in snow we
ran into the little bnilding occupied by
Gen. Custer and wife and all his officers.
The building had been built for a small
pox refuge. and not quite finished. The
soldiers found a sheet iron stove and
plenty of lath and they passed the night
without suffering. The General was still
on his camp bed, unable to get up. Mrs.
Custer was taking care of all. Out Of
twenty officers with the general, nineteen
braved the trip back determined TO get
relief The storm began to abate by
noon, and every sleigh in town was press
ed into use with men in place Of horses,
until a road was broken, and thus the
entire regiment was moved TO town. In
the crowd which we brought to town on
the first trip there was Capt, Tom Custer,
Capt. Keogh, Capt Calhoun, Capt. Yates
ana Capt COOK, nfe us SailanC SOlQlefS
as ever drew sabre, and they all went
down with their leader under the murder
Gus fire Of the Indians on the Little Big
Horn, three years after. Tie, writer re-
ceived u vote Of thanks from the entire
regiment for the little part he played in
the great storm. 1t was raining the day
the regiment marched away, and as il
passed out of sight up Third street, Gen.
Sturgis. remarked 10 DR.. Burlegh and
the writer. on the Merchants Hotel corner
There goes the finest Cavalry regiment
in the world" Sturgis made no mistake
in his assertion. Every soldier had seen
service in the rebellion and every officer
had distinguished himselg during the
war and in the Indian campaigns before
coming 70 Dakota. Nearly every Captain
had beeu brevet general or colonel in
the volunteer service. and Lieut.. Col.
Geo. A. Custer had been one OF the most
distinguished generals in the army.
Away back in 1876, on that July evening,
when the news reached Canton from
Sioux City BY Charlie Howards light
ming express. that the Seventh Cavalry
was cut to pieces and half the regiment
killed with Custer at the head, it seemed
ameng the impossible conditions uf war
on the frontier.