The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-09-18

for all we're mutiliated except that
of General Custer-were buried lit
tie pile OF empty cartridge shells was
found by the side of each body. This
is indisputable evidence that they died
fighting, and when you look at the
alignment of the marble slabs you will
note that they are in line of battle
the General on the highest point, with
his brother, Colonel Tom Custer,
Just behind him, Lieutenant Reilly
on his left, and Captain Yates
on his right. Other officers were
grouped about the commander, and
the troopers were little farther down
the hill in front, stretched out in line
of battle. A half-dozen slabs stand
out few rods in advance of the main
lines like skirmlshes. To the right of
the line are two slabs bearing the
names of Boston Custer and Arthur
Reed, the young brother and nephew
of the General, who accompanied the
expedition and died in the ranks of
the soldiers. The slab bearing the
name of Lieutenant W. W. Cook is in
front of that of Custer. and a little to
the LETT, where line officer could lead
his men. No man could form more
precise line of battle than were these
three mute sentinels, glistening in the
bright afternoon sun, placed, marking
the place where 262 brave men fol-
lowed Custer to death. Standing by
the monument and facing toward the
West, from which direction the on
rushing tide of Indians came to over
whelm Clusters little band of sixty
one, to the left another quarter of a
mile is another group of marble sen.
tinels. They seem to be marching
around the side of another part of the
hill and trying to reach the centre of
the battle which ragged around the
General. They are not so compact as
those around the cross which marks
where Custer fell. They are scattered
out in line just as men might be who
were fighting against great odds and
trying to gain the top OF the hill,
where the fair-headed chief stood
among his soldiers.
Back in the other ravine in the east
of the hill are other groups of white
marble slabs, some standing close to-
gether, like soldiers touching elbows;
some detached and struggling along
the hillside. One Of these slabs bears
the name Of the gallant Captain Keogh
and another the name of Lieutenant
Crittenden. These marbles oil look to
represent body trying to climb the
hill and rally around the Commander.
in.Chief. They may have been cut
off by another tide of savagery that
swept through the ravine and between
them and Custer. They died there,
a little band of thirty eight men, to-
gether. There are few slabs scattered
far away from the groups to indicate
that any tried to escape by an lndl-
vldual effort. The men fought to-
gether, died together, and the marble
slabs marking their positions stand to-
gether, Us sentinels to tell the coming
generation how Clusters men died, If
not how they planned and fought their
last battle. This field marks the place
of every man, where he fought and
where he died. There is not another
battle field like this in the world,
where oil the coming generations may
come and stand beside the granite
monument on the brow OF the hill and
sec in the white marble tablets scat
tered about just how tho five troops OF
the Seventh Cavalry who followed
Custer in that last battle fought and
died in line of battle, forgetting
neither military tactics nor duty IL
fighting horde.
There is one slab 70 which IS at
tacted o ,athetic little story. 1t is
the one which marks the resting place
of the body of Lieutenant John D.
Crittcnden, the only otliccr buried ON
the field. All others have bsen re-
moved-Custer end his brother to
West Point, the other officers to their
homes or to other military cemeteries,
and the privates are buried on the toy
| OF the hill arounl tie granite mo0u-
ment. tut Licuten1nt Crittenden
lies where lie fell. His father. Gen.
eral CrittenIeu, telegraphed that q