The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-06-24
CuSter'S Last Stand.
Some Inside History of the Massacre on the Lit.
tie Big Horn.

fare, and in some respects the history of
the world, was the battle fought on the
Little Big Horn ri yer in Montana between
the command of Gen. George A. Custer
and the allied forces of all the renegade
Indians in the west under the leadership
of Chiefs Gall and Sitting Bull, on June
25, 1876. 1t was remarkable from the
fact that not single man in Custer S
command escaped to tell the tale. Much
has been said and written about this
famous fight, large part of which has
been erroneous and the product of vivid
imagination. 1t has been SO long since
anything having the semblance of truth
has been published concerning this bloody
affair that the recollections of friend Of
Custer, who was with him until a few
minutes before the battle, and who, when
the command was divided, was sent with
Maj. Reno, are most interesting. DR.. H.
r. Porter OF this city was the only sur
viving surgeon of the three who were
with Clusters regiment on that fateful
June day His recollections have never
appeared in print, and it was only after
much persuasion that he consented to talk
for publication. Speaking of the ex-
petition and its result, he says:
Our expedition left Fort Abraham
Lincoln on May II, 1876, under the com
mand of Gen. Terry, and proceeded over
land. Mrs. Custer accompanied her hus
band on horseback as far as the Heart
river, a distance of several miles, and
there bid him an atfectionate farewell and
returned to the garrison. We marched in
easy stages to the Powder river in Mon
lana. Nothing OF particular note occur
red Oh the march except that one day We
saw with field glasses lone horseman at
distance of several miles. He had evil
IDENTITY seen us and was riding toward our
command. We thought, OF course, that
he was an Indian, as it did not seem pos
Sible that any white man could be off in
that wilderness, hundreds of miles from
any habitation, alone. AS he came near
er we discovered that it was none other
than Buffalo Bill. the noted scout and
Indian fighter. He was one of Gen.
Crook scouts and was off on an expedi-
ton of his own. Gen. Crook S command
rras then in the Black Hills, $50 miles
away. After we had gone into camp at
Powder river, Reno was ordered out on a
scouting expedition. He found wide
Indian trail leading in a westerly direc-
ton toward the Rosebud river. Custer
was then ordered to follow the trail. The
Indians had been located by Gen. Terry S
scouts and he told Custer to strike them
on the 10Th. Terry was sure that his
scouts had them located, and results
demonstrated that he was correct. Gems.
Terry and Gibbon were to 60 by another
route and We're to strike the Indians in
front and Custer was TO close in on the
rear. Custer started from the camp on
Powder river on the morning of June "a.
al
trail all that day and night. Tie night
was very dark and We lost the trail once,
but found it again by lighting matches.
''Ne proceeded until 4 O clock. the
morning of the 18th, when we camped in
deep rayine where the Indians could
not see us. We We're not allowed to un-
saddle or unpack Being very tired after
our long ride, we laid down and slept,
each man holding his horse by the bride
leins. In about an hour the scouts re-
ported large camp of Indians ahead.
The command was ordered to get ready
ton action. Custer came to rle and said :
Porter there is large camp of Indians
ahead, and we are going to have great
killing. At o clock We started. 1t
was Clusters purpose at this time to
charge the Indians IN body, he suppos-
lng that our presence had not been dis
covered by them. In a short time the
scouts reported that we had been seen by
the Indians. Custer then decided to di-
vide the command. He sent Col Ben
teen with three companies to the left,
MAJ Reno with three companies in the
centre, and he took three companies and
was to 90 to the right, his idea being to
surround the Indian camp. Capt Nc
Dou9aI was lett in charge of the pack
train. 1t was about 10 q. m. when the
command was divided. Just as we We're
ready to start Custer came to me and said :
Doctor, l would like to have you 90 with
me. as you are younger and Il better rider
than Dr. Lord, the chief surgeon r4-
piled; All right. ! would much prefer
going with YOU Custer then said: i
Will see Dr. Lord and ask him to consent. ,
We rode over to where DR.. Lord was and
Custer spoke to him about the contem-
plated arrangement. The doctor replied
Not much. | am going with you The
poor fellow in those few words saved my
LIE and sealed his own doom. went
with Reno. We had proceeded bat
snort distance when Capt. Cook, Gus
ter adjutant, came up and said: The
Indians are right ahead of you, and YOU
are ordered to charge them as soon as
possible.
I'VE went forward at a lively gait.
When we came to the river we discovered
that indians were on the opposite bank.
We forded the river and suddenly came
upon ten OF fifteen of the red skins, and
they We're running. We then thought
that we had already won the fight. We
rode some little distance toward the In
dian camp, when suddenly swarm of the
red devils rose up and poured terrific
tire into u.s. We dsmounted and formed
skirmish line. At first there were only
a few, comparatively; then more and
more OF the savages appeared, and the
ground seemed to be fairly alive with
them. They were all naked and their
bodies were painted hideously They all
rode their ponies bareback. The fire fin
ally became SO hot that Reno ordered his
men to mount and charge'-he called it
to the rear. We were driven into the
woods. general stampede of our troops
then took place. A soldier was shot in
the little clump of trees where was. |
dismounted and found him mortaliy
wounded. My horse was rearing and
plunging and had all | could do to hold
him. The Indians, in their mad pursuit
OF our demoralized troops, did not notice
me in the timber. They were passing
within ten feet of where | was | placed
laudanum on the wound of the soldier
and bandaged it as best | could and again
mounted nv frightened horse As 7 was