The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-26

BISMARCK, N. D., April 22.-The
most remarkable fight in the history of
Indian warfare, and in some respects
the history of the world, was the bat
tie fought on the Little Big Horn river
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 a single man in Clusters
command escaped to tell the tale. Much
has been said and written about this
famous fight, a large part Of which has
been erroneous and the product Of
vivid imagination. It has been so long
since anything having the least SEM
blance of truth has been published con-
corning this bloody affair that the
recollections of a friend of Custer, who
was with him until a few minutes be-
fore 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 surviving surgeon of the three
who were with Clusters regiment on
lions have never appeared in print,
and it was only after much persuasion
that he consented to talk for publica-
ton Speaking of the expedition and
its result, he says:
"Our expedition left Fort Abraham
Lincoln on May IT, 1876, under the COM
mand of Gen. Terry, and proceeded
overland. Mrs. Custer accompanied
her husband on horseback as far as
the Heart river a distance Of several
miles, and there bid him an affection
ate farewell, and returned to the garri-
son. We marched in easy stages to the
Powder river in Montana. Nothing
of particular note occurred on the
march except that one day we saw
with field glasses a lone horseman at
q distance of several miles. He had
evidently seen us and was riding to-
ward our command. We thought, of
course, that he was an Indian, as it
did not seem possible tnat any white
man could be off in that wilderness,
hundreds of miles from any habitation,
alone. AS he came nearer we discov-
cred that it was none other than Buff
falo Bill, the noted scout and Indian
NNAA'
scouts and was off on an expedition OF
his own. Gen. Crooks command was
then in the Black Hills, $50 miles away
After we had gone into camp at Pow
der river, Reno was ordered cut on a
scouting expedition. He found a wide
Indian trail leading in a westerly d.
rection toward the Rosebud river. Gus
ter 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 18th. Ter
~ was sure that his scouts had them
well located and results demonstrated
that he was correct Gems. Terry and
Gibbon were to go by another route
and were to strike the Indians in front
and Custer was to close in on the rear.
Custer started from the camp on Pow
DER river on the morning of June "a.
I was sent with him. We were on the
trail all that day and night. The night
was very dark, and we lost the trail
once, but found it again by lighting
matches.
eve proceeded until o'clock, the
morning Of the 25th, when we camped
in a deep raVine where the Indians
could not see US. We were not allowed
to unsaddle or unpack. Being very
tired after our long ride, we laid down
and slept, each man holding his horse
by the bride rens. In about an hour
the scouts reported a large camp of
Indians ahead. The command was
ordered to get ready for action. Gus
ter came to me and said: Porter, there
is a large camp of Indians ahead, and
yyn 20
At 6 o'clock we started It was Gus
ter's purpose at this time to charge the
Indians in a body, he supposing that
our presence had not been discovered
by them. In a short time the scouts
reported that we had been seen by
the Indians. Custer then decided to
divide the command. He sent Col
Benteen with three companies to the
left, Maj. Reno with three companies
in the center, and he took three COM
panies and was to go to the right, his
idea being to surround the Indian
camp. Capt. McDougal was left in
charge Of the pack train. 1t was about
10 a. m. when the command was di-
vided. Just as we were ready to start
Custer came to me and said: Doctor
l would like to have you go with me
as you are younger and a better rider
than DR.. Lord, the chief surgeon
replied: All right. 1 would much prefer
going with you Custer then said !
will see DR.. Lord and ask him to con-
sent We rode over to where DR.. LORD
was, and Custer spoke to him about
the contemplated arrangement The
doctor replied: Not much am coins
with you The poor fellow in those
few words saved my life and sealed his
own doom. 1 went with Reno. We had
proceeded but a short distance when
Capt Cook, Clusters 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 dis
covered that Indians were on the op-
posite bank. We forded the river and
suddenly came upon ten or fifteen of
the redskins, and they were running.
We then thought that we had alread DIV
won the fight We rode some little
distance toward the Indian camp. when
suddenly a swarm Of the red devils
rose up and poured a terrific fire into
US. We dismounted and formed a
skfrmish line. At first there were only
few compare lively, then more and
more or 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 finally became so hot that
'charge'-he called ito the rear We
were driven into the woods A