The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-05
The Awful Slaughter Of General
Clusters Brave Men.
BATTLE OF THE BIG HORN
A Graphic Story Of the Horrible
Massacre as Told BY q Man Who
Knows the Facts-ThIs Will
Interest All Pioneers.

Great Falls, May 1.-The tragic
story OF the Custer massacre-always
interesting-is graphically told in the
last number of Montana Hlustrated--a
high class monthly magazine pub
lished In this city. The article is con-
tributed by Robert jackson, the we'll
known Indian interpreter. whose faith
er was a Virginian and whose mother
was a favcrite daughter of a famous
Blackfoot chief. Army men and old
residents Of Montana will remember
jackson as chief Of scouts for Gener-
ais Custer and Terry. His story of the
battle is as follows: ----
1t was ON the 25th of June. 1876. that
the memorable battle of the Little Big
Horn occurred. At the head of his
column. the Seventh cavalry regiment.
rode the commanding general George
A. Custer. It was about . o'clock in
the morning that the troopers were
crossing the divide btween the Rose
bud and Little Big Horn rivers. when
they were met by three scouts who
had been out reconnoitering. They
were Mitch Bouille. guide: William
Cross and the narrator. william Jack
son. The last named was tall. slen-
der Indian OF the Blackfeet nation,
scarcely sixteen years old. though al
ready versed in the warfare of the
plains. The scouts reported the hos
tiles encamped seven miles away tow
ard the Little Big Horn river, in full
war paint and feather. An orderly
was directed to summon Captains
French and Benteen and Major Reno
for immediate council. The report of
the scouts was reiterated in their pres
ence.
The column of soldiers moved for
ward and took a position under a
ridge near to and out of sight of the
Indians. The consultation of officers
was here concluded and an immediate
attack decided upon. The command
was divided into three battalions. Ma
Jor Reno. With three companies and
all the Indian Scouts, was to charge
from the ridge on the upper end of
the village, securing a position in
batch Of timber 500 yards from the In
dian camp. General Custer, with five
companies. would deploy under cover
of the ridge to attack the lower end of
the village. surprise by a rear assault.
and cut of a retreat; while Colonel
( Benteen. with four companies, would
bring up the pack train and baggage,
taking position on the east bank of
the Little Big Horn river, overlooking
the village.
Orders to prepare for action were
promptly obeyed, guns and pistols in
spected and loaded. cartridge belts re-
plenished. and all the details incident
to an engagement perfected. The bugle
call Prepare to mount sounded and
the fateful order given which put in
motion this splendid body of men. To
the left hand went Major Reno. He
approached the ford of the Little Big
Horn on a double-quick trot. The pas
sage was made with difficulty. AS I
approached the ford looked back to-
ward the route Custer was to take, and
saw his five companies charging down
upon the Indians at a full gallop, with
Custer fifty yards in advance of his
column. This was the last / saw of
this heroic soldier alive.
On the other side of the river the
order Charge" was given. and our po-
sition in the chosen vantage ground
gained without incident. Dismount-
ing his men, leaving the horses in
charge of every fourth trooper. the bat
tie began by an assault by the In
dams. But little was accomplished.
The main body Of Indians were massed
behind an elevation in our front, five
hundred yards westward. A dashing
charge by the Indians drove the Reno
skirmish lire further into the timber,
and for brief while the fight was hot
for Renos handful of men. A second
charge by the hostiles. with reinforce
ments. drove Reno to higher ground,
one mile distant. 1t was during this
retreat that we heard the sound of
Clusters attack at the lower end of the
village. The sounds at this moment
were not as of a heavy fight, for in the
beginning he did not meet many In
dams. This rear attack was unexpect-
ed and the main body. not hearing of
this onslaught. withdrew from Reno
and hurried away to repel Custer. 1t
was now between and o'clock, and
the fighting had become furious. For
two hours the roar Of musketry sound
ed like thunder. gradually slackening
until desultory. then ceasing. AS the
sun went down behind the Big Horn
mountains the gallant Custer. his two
brothers. his brother-in-law and three
civilian friends, together with every
man OF his five companies. lay dead on
the plains
The main body of Indians now
turned their attention to a renewed at
tack upon Reno. Infiamed with success,
they madly sought to annihilate this
portion OF the command as they had
done with Custer. The fighting pro-
crossed until darkness forced them to
withdraw out OF range.
An incident OF the retreat Of Reno
from his first position calls for special
mention In their endeavors to protect
the retreating body. fourteen men were
cut of and unable TO escape. OF these,
Clusters favorite scout. Charlie Rey-
nolds. a Sioux scout named Bloody
Knife. another called Isaiah. myself.
Lieutenant Deriodio. +. +. Gerard and
Tom O'Neal were among the number
Within a few minutes all We're killed
except the last four named These lay
hidden till dark. surrounded by In
dams. The four men, including my