, 1897-03-13

ieECiI ~ tnIS eilett, CeLeIdi Terry lelt
a council OF war with General Gibbon
colonel Of the Seventh infantry. Genera
Custer of the Seventh cavalry, and Gen
eral Brisben of the Second cavalry, a
which the plan of campaign was discus
sed and decided. 1t was arranged tina
the Seventh cavalry was to proceed w
the Rosebud river until it struck the
trail discovered by Reno and follow il
up. The other commands, which Gen.
eral Terry and staff accompanied, pro,
ceeded to the Big Horn river. followed
it up to The mouth of the Little Big
Horn, thence up the latter, with the pur
pose OF cooperating with the Seventh
cavalry.
In conformity with the plan adopted
the Seventh cavalry broke camp at the
mouth of the Rosebud on the afternoon
of June 90, and marched up hat stream
for seven or eight miles. and made camp
fer the night. Here General Custer dis.
closed a part CT the plan agreed upon
at the council Of war. On the ODD we
marched about twenty-five miles. On
the morning OF the Gath, after march,
ing six or seven miles. we came upon
the remains of a very recently deserted
Indian village, and also struck n very
large trail, leading toward the Little
Big Horn. We lost no time in taking
up his trail and following 1t rapidly.
After making a good days march we
went into camp. but broke camp in a
couple Of hours, and rcsumed the trail
until nightfall. We then b]ivoGackad
for another couple Of hours to give the
men and horses a little rest and some
thing 10 eat.
a PROPHETIC REMARK.
Just as we went into bivouac | passed
very near Colonel keogh, who told me
he was going to have some beans cook
ed. and asked me to come and take
some with him, saying at the same time
that it might be u last meal together.
| told him | doubted if we would be
there long enough to cook beans, but If
we were, | would come. 1t was indeed
poor keogh's last meal, he being killed
in battle next day. We left this bivouac
after about two hours rest and pushed
on in the direction of the Indian village.
Soon after daylight we discovered small
lunches OF Indians some distance from
our TANKS. 1t was not long after this
that we halted and the officers call was
sounded. All The officers assembled at
he head OF the column in esponse to
his call. General Custer said that we
had been discovered by the Indians and
from that point battalion organizations
would cease and the column would pro-
coed from there in the order that troop
commanders reported them ready for
action. 1t so happened that III" troop,
which | had commanded ever since
Colonel Benteen had been placed in
command Of a battalion, was zeal the
head Of the column that morning, md
after General Custer's remarks | hasten
ed to the troop and directed the men to
tighten up their horses girths. This
done. | reported to Benteen-he being
my captain, and being ordered to re-
sumo command of his troop-thal III
troop was ready for action. He. in turn
made the same report to General Gus
ter. and. being the first captain to re-
port ready, we were given the head OF
the column IN resuming the march. We
had hardly marched in this order two
miles when we again halted and General
Custer informed Colonel Benteen that
he had reconsidered his order breaking
up the battalions. and that Benteen
could take his again, which consisted
of three troops. and added that Colonel
Reno would also have his old bnltalions,
while he. himself, would resume per-
sonal command Of the original five
troops, the 18th, Troop "B." being des-
ignated he escort to the pack train. The
pack train was an important adjunct to
the command, as it constituted the
transportation for our supplies and ex,
ira ammunition.
A RECONNAISSANCE.
Immediately upon resuming battalion
organization Colonel Benteen was d.
rected to take his out of column and
proceed with it across the hills 10 the
left. which turned out to be small noun,
tains, and reach the valley of the Little
Big Horn ms soon as possible. If In
dams were found trying to escape up
the valley we were to intercept them
and drive them Toward the village. II
was a formidable undertaking, getting
over these so-cAlled hills, especially as
our horses were leg-weary and the mer
very tired and much in need OF rest ant
food.
About half way owe Colonel Benteer
ordered me to select half a dozen mer
on the best horses, get ahead of the bat,
talon, and proceed as rapidly as posi-.
BILE TO the valley. and report to him
without delay what l found there; a
the same time he handed me his field
glasses. His object in sending me was
o save unnecessary fatigue to bott
horses and men in case nothing was
there. l got to the valley and found i
as quiet as the grave itself. Up the val
ley could see a long distance, but il
the direction of the village only a shor
one, owing to the turn in the valley ant