The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1895-01-05
CHIEF CALL OF THE SIOUX
Said to Have Been the Real Leader
in the Custer Fight.
Sitting Bull Sat in Safety In tho Mcdicln.
Tent and Hrewed the Mystic
stun That Brought the
victory. 5f5

ABERDEEN, S. d., Jan. 1.-Tho recent
death of Chief Gall of tEe Sioux Indian
tribe has served TO rcfresheu the mem.
orics of the pioneers OF this country in
the important part he took in the
nnniiiilution OF the dashing Gus
ter's forces in the valley
of the Little Horn. Gall had
for years borne the reputation Of being
the bravest and shrcwdest of his race.
Not the equal of John Grass and tho
later leaders in enlightenment, he was
in fixcdness of purpose and power G
his fellows without a peer on the reser-
walton. When Sitting Bull died Gall
became the most celebrated and best
known member OF the Sioux tribe.
Aberdeen and nearly I'LL the towns
along tho Missouri, had
been occasionally visited by him for
years. His presence always excited
keen interest, almost as much perhaps
for his commanding and superior figure
and feature us for the recollections le
awoke respecting the disaster of June
25, 1876. He was above the average
height and had mn oval shaped, largo
featured face, with bright, piercing
eyes.
Indians who participated in the Cuss
ter massacre have always declared that
Sitting Bull was not in the fight ut all.
Gall. they maintained, WAS the big
chief and gencralissimo of the day, and
willie lie was leading the bucks and di-
r~ecting the engagement, the Bull was
back in his medicine lodge making
medicine. As the Indians won md
Sitting Bull made the medicine, he Of
course, got all the credit of the
victory. When the ammunition Of the
soldiers was exhausted the Indians
knocked them down with clubs and
butclered them with hatchets- Gall
has been accustomed to say that the
main object of his young men was to
stampede the horses which carried the
saddle pockets in which each soldier
Ind stored his ammunition. The troop
ers had some fifty rounds
apiece on their persons, but
the main supply was in the saddle-bags,
being entirely too heavy to carry on tho
body. In ali. the soldiers were provided
with about 200 rounds per maj for the
fight. When the cavalrymen were dis
mounted tic fight on foot one soldier
was detailed to hold every
eight horses. Gall said he quickly
saw the advantage to be gained
could the horses, laden with ammupi.
ton, be stnmpedcd, SO he devised .
plan to TINT end. He sent a score OF
two of young bucks up a ravinc to the
renr, and these embryo warriors,
remindful of flying lead and the
dangers of the job, suddenly
rose up with yells and shouts
just in front of the horses, swung their
blankets wildly in the air and every
stced in the outfit broke loose from
the holders and scampcrcd down this
ravinc towards the Little Horn, where
they We're gathered in by the squawh
and old men who We're waiting for
them. Gall had oftentimcs declared
that only forty-three Indians were
killed in all, although a great many
afterwards fell over and died. Tina
seems a very small percentage OF loss
among the red men when it is rcmem.
bered that 2O4 white bodies were found
on the field.
The Custer battlefield is today ono
vast cemetery, neglected and almost
forgotten save by the few who have
relatives and friends sleeping among
those barren rocks in-tiiat far away
uninhabitcd country. Tho little
stakes and piles Of stone,
are yet to be seen, but they
give a desolate look to the field, and
the monument itself is in the frs,
stages of decay. 10 stand on any one
of the elevated points and survey the
surrounding country the scene is
strangely weird and beautiful. The
death of Gall removes the last central
figure of That most s%anguinary bnttle.