Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1897-04-23
A SLIGHT MISTAKE.

A SLIGHT MISTAKE.
Yesterday was the 2lst anniversary
of the terrible snow storm which
came while Gen. Custer and mis- army
were camped on the fiat near the
Milwaukee depot prior to that fatal
campaign of the Big Horn.
The above item is from the Yankton
Gazette of the 18th inst. 1t ought to be
the Oath anniversary, Bro. Robinson.
Gen. Custer and his gallant regiment,
ten companies, arrived in Yankton on the
evening OF April IA, 1878. A terrible
snow storm set in during the night and
next morning it was a blizzard. The
soldiers had just got their tents pitched
before darkness set in, and were without
fuel and the horses without forage. Next
morning the blizzard ragged. Major
Tilford and a number of soldiers were
caught il town by the storm. Gen. Gus
ter and wife was without fuel and the
General was sick Gen. Edwin Stanton
McCook, afterwards shot in 1ankton,
made determined effort to reach the
cavalry camp, but was unable to do so.
Maris Taylor the present state bank ex-
aminer, introduced the writer TO Major
Tilford, who was seeking some one VINO
would open communication with the
camp. Taylor told Tilford the writer
could reach the camp if anyone could. 1t
was quite compliment, but the writer
had serious doubts of success, but
promptly consented. The writer took
a sergeant along with supplies for Mrs.
Custer. Fences were followed until we
crossed the Rhine and left Major Stones
field fence beyond the old powder house
Then we turned and faced the storm for
a few minutes and then plunged into the
thickest snow storm we ever faced. The
The sergeant was instructed to keep close
up as the snow was nearly two feet deep
and drifting furiously. For half an hour
we faced the snow. We stopped and lis
tened once, but no sign of life could be
heard yet IN few yards more we ran
upon the small frame building where the
General, his wife, twenty officers and six
sick soldiers were sheltered. Gen. Custer
was lying on Il camp cot up stairs while
the officers and Mrs. Custer were around
him. The building was not over
l2xl6, and was built for smallpox
refuge. The only refreshments in the
crowd was keg of Jersey cider. Mrs.
Custer treated US. Plans for relief were
discussed. We urged the officers to 60 to
town and we would organize relief meas.
ures. No one thought it possible to reach
safe. Out Of the twenty officers we took
nineteen along, Col. VIM. Thompson
alone refusing. Everybody IN Yankton
rallied to the rescue. Men with ropes on
sleighs did the work. First cared for
were the laundresses and babies. then the
sick. then the men and finally the horses.
Gen. Custer and Mrs. Custer refused to
leave the deserted camp and remained
there until the storm passed and the SOL
diers returned. The regiment was the
finest in the service, and braver officers
never lived. The writer enjoyed many
courtesies from men and officers alike
while the regiment remained, and was
given a vote of thanks before leaving
The writer was in Canton on that July
morning when the first news Of that ter
rible disaster arrived by Howard's stage
from Sioux City. We knew every one Of
the brave officers who went down IN that
bloody slope on the banks of Big Horn.