The times., 1897-06-27
New Facts Concerning the Mon
tana Tragedy Of 1876.
CHIEF GALL AND SITTING BULL
Custer Was Surrounded and De.
stroyed Because He Disobeyed
Terry'S Orders-The Arguments
Proving This-Captain Benteen
the Hero of the Fight.

The locality is about three miles south OF
Crow Agency, and forty-fiye miles soutL
OF the Yellowstone River
To have a proper understanding OF the
battle, knowledge of the locality is
necessary The Little Big Horn River
flows nearly north. IL is a very tortuous
stream SO much SO that a party who raftet
some logs down it said they passed one
house five times. Flowing by the eastern
end of the valley in which the Sioux were
canlped it runs nearly north until 1t strikes
ridge which deflecss ii TO northwest. as
il strikes the ridge it receives the waters
OF Reno Greek, down which Custer 5 forces
marched until they were divided, and down
which Reno continued his march. About
two miles below the mouth uf Reno Greek
the river bends sharply TO the southwest
the leg of the bend being nearly mile il
length II turns back upon itself very
abruptly and al this point was the ash
grove where Reno met such serious re
sistance that he ordered a retreat. Soon
after the river reaches the ridge again, u
large couIee ernpties into it. A few years
ago this was known as Medicine Tail couiee,
after Crow chief, who lived in the valley
opposite it's mouth. Beyond this eoulee
As second ridge along which the river
runs until it passes its western end. aud
then crosses the valley to the hills ON the
west, where the river runs in north
easterly direction for several miles.
The first ridge is very rough and broken,
and TIE ascent from the river precipitous
in most places. The summit of the sec.
ond ridge is farther from the river, and
the ascent is net so steep, neither is the
cp iS no plnsa
80 both ridges. there are many cut
banks along it Reno occupied the first
ridge after his retreat, and CusJer's I'M
mediate force was destroyed on the second
ridge, Tue distance between the point oc-
cupied by Reno and the place where Custer
vas killed is about three miles in direct
line. BEYOND the sc cond ridge is a stream
called Custer Creek. Reno Greek, Medi-
cine Tail CoUiee and Custer Greek all
run i'll a westerly direction. On the map
Ill the Century accompanying Capt God
frey's article Reno Greek is called Ben
teen" Creek aud Medicine Tail Coulee is
called Reno Greek. The valley ia which
the hostile Indians were camped is about
eight miles long and two miles wide. The
Cheyennes were camped on the right bank
of the river at the western foot of the sec
ouQ TltlES- anu but o1tGA CdBAp tAtHuttd
from opposite the Cheyenne camp to the
ash grove. distance of about four miles.
The PONIES of the Indians were pastUredin in
the valley, the greater number being at
the eastern end.
Gen Terry, who presided over the de-
partneHt OF the Dakotas, commanded in
person. His troops were gathered from
both East and West Those from the East
and those from the West by Gen. John
tiibbon These forces met at the mouth OF
the Rosebud on the Yellowstone River
June 20, 1876. Their object was to CON-
pei what Were called the hostile In
dians 10 go upon their reservation and re-
main at peace with the whites.
Gen Terry believed the Indians, in con-
siderable force, weEe either upon the Little
Big Horn River or Rotten Grass Creek, a
stream hat emptieS into the Big Horn about
twenty miles above the mouth of the Little
Eag Horn. He held a conversation with
Custer and Gihbon on he stea mer Far West,
which had gohe up the Missouri ana the
Yellowstone, on the afternoon OF the 21st,
and detailed to them his plan OF the cam
paign That plan was 10 prevent the In
dams from retreating to the south or east,
and bring them between Clusters forces,
which were to he sent up the Rosebud, and
Gibbons which were to march up the Big
Horn The Indians were not TO be per
nitled 10 setTeat in any direction, unless
to the Pig Horn Mountains, and as they
could not long susist there, Terry believed
they would have TO surrender or give bat
tie II they gave battle, it was his desire
to have The two columns close enough to-
fgethcr to assisteach other, for he was Goubt-
ful If either by Itself was strong enough to
defeat the Indians
Clusters forces left the Yellowstone at
noon. June %, and marched UP the Rose
bud River Clusters orders were explicit
The commanding officer directs him 10
''profeed up the Rosebud in pursuit of the
Indians wliosetrailwas discovered by Major
Reno" a few days before. He was told
that ii was impossible to give definite
Instructions in regard TO his movement,
and even If it were not, the commander
placed toe much confidence in Clusters
zeal. energy and ability TO impose upon
him precise orders, that might hamper
HIN ''wheD nearly in contact with the en-
envy The order proceeds: HE Will,
however, indicate to you his own views OF
what yeur action should be, and lie desires
shat you should conform to them, unless you
shall see sufficient reason for departing
from them. He thinks that ycu should
proceed ZIP the Rosebud until you ascertain
definitely the direction in which the trail
above spoken OF leads.
"Should ii he found tas il appears to be
almost certain that it will be found to
turn toward the Little Horn, he thinks
that you should proceed southwark, per-
haps as far as the headwaters Of the
Tongue, and then turn toward the Little
Eorn. feeling constantly. however, to YOUR
left. so as to preclude the possibility of
the escape Of the Indians to the south
OF southeast hy passing around your left
flank"
The order then says that Gibbon will
cross the Yellowstone and move I'D the
Pig Horn TO the mouth of the Little Big
Horn, his future movements to he con-
trrblied i,y rircuflst ances, and adds. "But
IL is TO be hoped that the Indians. 4 upon
the Little Horn, may be so nearly inclosed
by the two columns that their escape will
be impossible
Custer carried out these instructions until,
THE evening of TIE 24th, his scouts in
formed hifa that the Indians were on the
Little Fig Horn River, about thirty miles
TO the west. That night, following the
trail, he crossed small range of hills
20 conceal his forces from the enemy,
which would be sure to see him il he had
crossed in the daytime. He remained in
camp until about O'Clock, when the
column moved forward. divided into four
divisions. MacDongan. withone troop, WAS