Omaha daily bee., 1895-09-08
BUCLER WAS SAVED
He is Now with the Federal Troops Quar-
tered at Fort McHenry.
COLLECTIONS OF THE FAMOUS B ATTLE
The BuEIer's Life Saved by n Special
Assignment Given by General
Custer-Ffnding the Bodies of
the Slaughtered Soldiers.

Now doing duty as bugler in battery d, U.
S. A., at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, is John
Martin, who was the bugler of General George
A. Custer when that gallant officer and his
devoted band were slain by Sitting Bulls
murderous Sioux in the Big Horn valley
nineteen years ago. Martin was sent back
with a message by General Custer just before
the fight began, and in that way his life was
saved. He Joined the command in the Black
Hills in 1874, relates the Baltimore Ameri-
can, and Of his subsequent experiences says:
in the spring of 1876, after wintering at
Fort Rice, a large detachment from the
Seventh regiment, U. S. l., was sent word to
prepare for an expedition against the Sioux
Indians under Sitting Bull, in Montana, who
were exceedingly troublesome and vicious
toward the settlers and troops. Our troops
started from Fort Abraham Lincoln on May
II, 1876, and well do 1 emenber the day and
the brave appearance The boys all bore as
they departed from headquarters. The entire
distance. l Judge, was between 500 and 600
miles, and we were from May II until the
latter part of June on the march.
IN CAMP ON THE YELLOWSTONE.
'Our first halt-that Is. for any length Of
time-was at the intersection of the Powder
and Yellowstone rivers, where We remained
several days, until the government supply
boat put in an appearance. When we had
been given our rations we resumed our march,
and did not stop until we had come to the
junction Of the Tongue and YellO stone, where
we again awaited the arrival of the supply
boat. General Terry. with the companies of
the Sixth and Seventeenth infantry, boarded
the boat, and our cavalry was left to resume
the tramp alone. General Custer took COM
mand of the troops at General Terry's de-
parture, and through his orders we were df-
rected to repair at once to Rosebud valley.
with strict instructions to each man to be
supplied with rations for fifteen days and
100 rounds Of ammunition. This was a signal
of future trouble to all Of us, but l know that
every man was prepared for the worst and
went out OF camp on the memorable 22d day
of June determined to fight to the last.
The regimental band which had accom-
! panied us thus far was left at the Tongue
river to return to the fort, and the scene was
indeed an affecting one when Generals Terry
and Custer held their final interview, and
when, after General Terry had issued his in
structions to General Custer. the band Played
the favorite tune of General Custer. Garry
owen" and returned to Fort Lincoln. The
Seventh set out for the valley, and on the
evening of the Gath, after a long march Of
thirty miles, we pitched camp and had just
settled down to rest when We were ordered
to break camp and march till daybreak, and
then we halted again. That danger was i'm
minent could be easily understood by the
commanders order that every man should
stand by his horse, and eat a light breakfast
and drink a cup of coffee. The men scarcely
had time to swallow their meal when For
ward" rang out. and once more We were on
the trail Of the wild and willy Sioux.
ORDERS TO MARCH FORWARD.
about five miles out from the morning
camp. June 25, the officers call was sounded
and General Custer gave orders for the day.
The regiment was to be divided into three
columns. In which order they were to pro-
coed. The Indians were now about ten miles
ahead. and we we're to endeavor to overtske
them. The division Of the regiment was
arranged In this order: Five companies
under General Custer TO take the right flank;
three companies under Major Marcus A.
Reno to take the left flank; three companies
under Colonel Benteen TO assume the CEN
ter, with orders to sweep everything before
them, and the twelfth company, under Cap
tain McDougal, was TO bring up the rear In
the center. / was In General Clusters de-
tachment, and acted as bugler OF the guard.
THE first attack by the soldiers was by
Major Reno's forces, who reached the upper
| end Of sitting Bulls village about 10 a. m.