The Portland daily press., 1897-07-03

it was supposed that Custer had made the
charge and then reiterated to the eleva
ton, where he and his men were
slaughtered. 1t was generally supposed
also that the soldiers after returning,
reaching the ridge had dismounted
But Gall stated that the soldiers were
taken unawares, right where they met
their fate, without having chance to do
anything but defend themselves. Custer
would have met the same fate had his
forces been twice as large, for the In
dins, as Gall said, were as thick as the
grass upon the ground. The soldiers he
said fought hard, but their efforts were
useless against such large numbers. 1t
was here that the famous pony of Rain
in-the-Face was shot and killed.
The only thing that saved Reno's forces
from the same fate as Clusters was the
fact that they were in the hills, where
they might retreat in safety. With Gus
ter it was to do or die and no matter how
bravely he fought to exterminate his foes
it would have been of no avail. 1t has
been said also, but, perhaps, not with
any degree of veracity that the Indians
were more enraged at Custer than any
other man on the battlefield and that it
was for this reason that they attacked
his forces so yiciously at the battle of the
Little Big Horn. 1t was also stated that
after the soldiers had all been killed Rain
in-the-F Face cut the heart out of Custer
and drank cupful of his blood to satisfy
his revenge. This impression is general
among people even to this day. Neverthe-
less it is not true for DIR. Porter made an
| examination of the body and found that
it was untouched. 1t is true, however,
that Rain-in- Face and Custer were
the most bitter enemies, and the former S
hatred is said to have grown out of the
killing OF the chiefs pony by shot from
the ranks of Custer.
SURVIVORS ARE SCATTERED.
Hundreds of lives were sacrificed in
these savage-lile battles, and the hopes
of as many more homes shattered yet the
old soldiers who participated delight in
| telling of the occasions on which they
helped rout the red devils" They are
fast thinning out, however, and it will be
but comparatively short while before
| nealry all of them shall have passed
away.
Gen. +. W. Benteen is at Atlanta, Ga,
having retired Maj Myles Mylan is re-
tired and is living at San Diego, Cal.
Capt. L M. McDougall is retired, and is
at Washington, D. c. Capt. E. S. God
frey is at Fort Sargent. Capt. D. G. De
Ruido is retired at San Diego. Capt. W..
s. Edgerly is on duty at Maine State
| College. Capt Charles Varnum is on
| duty at the University of Wyoming,
Laramie. Capt. L. r. Hare is stationed
| at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. DIR. Porter
| is living at Bismarck, N. d. Curley
| Crow, Clusters Indian scout, is living at
| Grow Agency. near the Custer battlefield
"Comanche, the old pony which sur
yived the seven wounds on the battlefield
| is dead. after having been out in many a
| dress parade. The principal leaders Oh
| the Indian side are all dead. Sitting
Bull, as will DO remembered, was kille1
| by Indian police six years ago, when they
reservation. Gall and Crazy Horse, two
Of the principal leaders, have gone to the
| happy hunting grounds Crazy Horse
was killed in a personal encounter at
Rosebud Agency. Rain-in-the Face is
| alive, unless he died very recently, and
he still mourns the loss of his buckskir
nOnv