The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-06-24
Memorial Day at Custer Battlefield.


scription of this famous battlefield, as no
doubt many of the readers of The Jour
nal do not know its exact location. The
Custer battle took place on, OF near, the
east bank of the Little Big Horn river in
Montana, at a point about 100 miles
southwest of Miles City and about go
miles southeast of Billings. 1t is about
Is miles west of the 10Th meridian, about
midway between the 18th and 10th paral-
lels, and some 40 miles north of the Wy
oming line Many people who have not
visited Montana and this section of the
State have an idea that Fort Custer is
located at the battlefield. but such is not
overlooking the Big Horn river, about
one mile west and up the river from the
mouth of the Little Big Horn; whereas
the Custer battle took place about 10
miles up the Little Big Horn. AS the
surrounding country south of the Vel
lowstone river to the Wyoming line is
Crow Indian reservation, the Agency is
located on the Little Big Horn, about two
miles below the battlefield, and about II
miles by rail from Fort Custer, all on the
line of the Burlington & Missouri river
railroad
As previously stated, this battle, or
massacre-which is a more proper name
are, ftyl,t g.,
their lives against from 1900 to 5000 of
as murderous, blood thirst~ savages rs
ever went on the war path-took place
nea1 the Little Big HON river, over a
rough piece of ground, in two OF three
large and several small ravines. Very
little fighting seems to have taken place
IN the high ground, OF ridges. This is
told by the graves, as the soldiers are
buried where they fell. 1t covers about
], 900 acres and is substantially fenced.
As this has been made a national Gene
rcly. other bulials have been made here.
These, of course, in regular order and all
marked by marble headstones and num-
Jtr soldiers is inscribed: Here fell a
liel of the 18th Cavalry, June %,
1876. AS the remains of all the com
missioncd officers. with one exception.
have been removed the spot where they
fell is marked 10y wooden cross with
1heir name upon it.
I,o juha
point of the field near the western side
and about 80 feet above where Gen. Gus
ter fell The headstone of Tom Custer is
only a few feet away, showing that the
brothers kept together to the last. In
this group are about 20 headstones, if my
memory serves me Alright, and it is
thought they were the last to fall These
are to the west of all others, with the ex-
ception of two lone graves about 100
feet to the west of this group.
There seems to have been but one stand
made near the river, as most of the
graves are from half mile to one mile
away from it. South of the monument,
u
upon level piece of ground overlooking
the valley of the Little Big Horn-which
is as beautiful valley as man ever look
ed upon-stand the buildings of the
custodian. They are substantial build
ings of stone, well finished and furnished,
and present nice appearance; yet what
a lonely life for man and his family,
with only the graves and monuments of
the dead for neighbors, as there are no
white settlers allowed on the reservation
the nearest white Inhabitants being at the
agency over two miles away. Near these
buildings the grandstand was erected
where the exercises of the day We're held
About the Goth of May the "Burling-
TOM advertised an excursion by regular
tain from Billings ard by special train
from Sheridan, Wyoming. to the Custer
battlefield on Memorial Day. As | had
never visited the battlefield l concluded
to avail myself of this opportunity.
The n. P. train from the west was late
Sunday morning, so it was go before we
left Billings with six passenger coaches
and Alb passengers, arriving at Fort Gus
Ter station on the Big Horn about II
O'Clock, where we were joined by III,
mostly colored soldiers, (al the soldiers at
this fort are colored, but they are com
manded by white men, and few officers.
AT the Crow agency, 1 miles from Fort
Custer and two miles from the battle
field, as we pulled into the station the
boys and girls from the Indian school
were marching out to join us. There
was IS boys and so girls, all dressed in
suits of gray trimmed with red braid.
They were accompanied by their teachers
and headed by the school band of Is
pieces, one Indian boy carrying a large
u. S. flag These Indian children were
from to 16 years of age. AS our train
was already over crowded we We're ob.ig-
ed to leave them, but the special from
Sheridan went after them. From the
agency depot we could see the custodian S
house upon the bluff over two miles away.
The battlefield, lying east, north and
south of it, can only be seen after ascend
ing the bluff.