The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-09

told him to, and darted into the forest. I
had not gone more than three hundred
yards when heard the most terrific yell
ing. imaginable. mingled with the crack of
carbines. | knew it was all up with Wag-
ner He was shot all to pieces, and if you
ever read in the history about the man of
Clusters command who was found about
three-quarterS of a mile away lie was the
one-the poor. good-natured German trum-
peter.
II went on as I started, congratulating
myself on my narrow escape. Just as l got
within sight of the soldiers my horse was
shot and II fell. My caroline was in my sling
at my side, but when 1 was thrown over his
head as q result of the sudden STOP my arm
being through the rein, | was jerked back
AS l regained my composure ! was shot
through the left leg near the knee.
/ proceeded through the pandemonium as
rapidly as possible, and was soon in sight
of several Indians, and knew they were
shooting at me- My horse was shot through
the lungs. also, about this time, and 1t was
with the greatest difficulty that could get
nm 70 MS Iee5. l saw one buck shoot at
whether hit him or not, but he dropped,
and soon another appeared in the sanAe
place Perhaps 1T was the same one, but I
am a good shot and wouldn't miss a man
fifty feet away in those days one time out
or a milton; l made as good progress as
possible. and soon got to the side of Gen
Reno. / shouted my orders to him as loudly
as possible. but he only yelled back: It's
too late, orderly; take care of yourself
BY that time I was shot in the left and
Il Inre6
times before / got to Gen. Reno, however.
AT that time Custer and his men had been
wiped out l guess. and was the last man
he spoke to, suppose, or at least I am fine
last living man he spoke to. Gen. Custer
was brave man, but was one who would
sacrifice anything in the interests of his
personal ambition. have seen him pictured
in this battle with long, flowing hair. He
did not wear his hair long at that time. but
had it cropped short.
Another thing that I noticed that is
wrong In the picture of the battle. and sc-
counts of it, and that is that we had sabers
we dld not. We had discarded sabers three
we weeks 5eiore; l notice an article in Septem-
per McClure,s referring to the wagons of
soldiers on this occasion. There was not a
wagon N w, within minor, one hundred miles.
All my company was killed in the battle
except myself, but was young and full of
fire and vigor and did not have enough. I
r rsInalned Nh, n the army and fought under
the battle Of Bear Paw mountain with him.
and was in charge Of the horses.
STORY OF THE WHITE HORSE.
That reminds me of a good Indian story
can tell and spoil for you In the COM
mand was one white horse. The others were
all sorrels. had charge of nearly all of the
company horses. and after assigning them
for the march I took the white one. For
some reason deliberately left him standing
in our abandoned camp ready saddled and
started to the rear. When we had got ten
miles away and pitched camp / was asked
where the white horse was, and told them.
when reminded of the fact, that had left
it behind. The officer told me that would
have to go back after it. and agreed. When
asked if l was afraid I replied that / was
not, but was. just the same for the dark
ness was almost thick enough to cut and
there were innumerable buffalo trails in the
vicinity to throw one or / went neyerthe-
less, and knew that. there was a gulch on
one part of the trail which would have to
be jumped. It was Ave miles from where /
was to start, and the white horse was three
miles farther.
Il pushed into the cactus and over the
hills as best ! could, and in short time
the travelling became easier, as the trail
became palmer. At length, thanks TO the
instinct Of my horse, / came to the gulch
and upon making my horse jump It found
horse was there waiting for me. I made