The sun., 1899-05-14

Whlch conblbteu OF ABOUT e0Venty-nV0 Iougos
Some OF them were very large. being from
twenty to twenty-five buffalo hides in size.
The average size was from ten to twelve hides
There was an abundance of cooked buffalo
meat and bread. which had been prepared evil
IDENTITY for war parties. Largo quantities OF
powder. lead and percussion caps were found
L noticed four white and three Indian soalDs
Many bunalo robes and much clothing had
been LETT behind The village burned Hereby
and made an intense heat. the Indians dan
cling and bowling with rage at the sight.
The danger OF being cut of from supplies
In the Antelope Hills was growing hourly moro
serious. lookout was kept for the return OF
Major Elliott and his men. II was feared that
they had been killed. As the hours OF the
afternoon wore away Custer abandoned his
original plan OF following the Indians and
prepared 20 retreat under cover OF night. The
troops started at sundown. crossing tho WASH
ita where they had gone laundering over at
daybreak. For several miles down the north
side OF the river was level bottom land. STRAIT
egy was employed to deceive the hostlles. The
regiment was drawn up In close marching
order Three hundred Yards ahead OF the ad-
vance guard OF ono troop were the.scouts A
quarter OF mile In the rear OF the advance
guard was another troop. close behind which
were the captives on ponies. Then came the
main body OF the.troops. the wagon train and
the rear guard. 1t was apparently general
movement to attack the villages. The hostiles
deserted the hills and rode as rapidly as posi-
bic toward the villages. firing at long range.
Troop flankers were thrown out near the river
TO guard against surprise and TO look for FL
liott. After marching slowly for six or seven
miles an order was given to countermarch and
10 move briskly. The rear guard now grew
very restless. expecting general assault by
the Indians. but the latter failed to suspect the
ruse. Camp Supplv was reached without
trouble from the Indians.
Gen. Sheridan had reached Camp Supply
the day after the regiment had left. and wns
there when 1t returned. as was the Nineteenth
Kansas. Another expedition was now formed
and Gen. Sheridan assumed command The
troops were In motion In about week. headed
south. to deliver crushing blow to the hos
tiles and to succor Elliott and his men. IL they
were alive. Soon Elliott and his men were
found dead. On the south side OF the Washita
about three miles below the ruins OF the Chey-
! emo village a searching party was startled at
the sight OF pile OF naked bodies. They were
as white as the snow around them and stin In
the rigor OF death. Strange as It may seem.
they had not been molestsd by the wolves and
other wild animals 30 numerous In that region.
Every body except Elliotts had been mutt
lated Skulls were crushed In with war, clubs.
ears and noses and legs had been cut on.
scalps torn away and the bodies pierced with
bullets and arrows. Elliott had been greatly
admired by the Indians Tor his bravery long
before the fight. They remembered this when
he was dead and treated him as a Valorous zoe
by severing his right hand at the wrist and his
left foot at the ankle. leaving each attached bV
tendon. The body bore no other marks
save the death wounds. IL was evident tnat
the bodies had been brought to this place and
war dance held around them
The charge was made against Custer In
after years that he gave the order whlch led
Elliott TO his death and then abandoned MIN
to his fate. This accusation: vas false. Gus
ter knew nothing oil klliotts gong. Half an
| hour after Elliott and his men roGe away Custer
came up and asked me 'That had become OF
| Elliott. The enmity between Custer and Col.
! Benteen. which aiterward grew very bltter.
showed itself day or two after the Hight.
Benteen anxious to weaken Custer s.prestige.
came to me after 1t was believed that Elliott
and his men we're lost and asked me II would
be willing to make the statement that Custer
! knowingly let Elliott go to his doom without
| trying to save him. l refused to have any
| thing to do with the matter
| After the bodies OF Elliott and his mon had
| been found the troopers were commanded to
dsploy In all directions. in order not tn mfrs
any OF the dead. short distance up the
| river the naked body CT white woman was
found and near by was the body OF her baby
Both had been stabbed with knives. This
woman and her child had been captured dur
ing cheyenne RAID IN colorado. near whers
Sand Creek empties into the Arkansas River
In tho uproar OF battle they had been killed by
| squaws to prevent their teing rescued.
| 1.-THE stCrV OF the daath Of Elliott and his
men was not learned until after the Indians
! oona In from, the warnatb Tbe boatiIes uho
canir Az iion- '"o "a'pa'" no hos''io' WV
| Killed them were led by Lett Hand. now the
| head chief OF tho Arapahoes and the most elo-
80. Indi.n orotor In OL,oho,o, 10 ur.. =,
uueh' ih"iah vi i"'oi VI oA'a""n"' iie h'os a.
this time on the North Canadian River. about
| four miles from the little town OF Geary Eli
w. "au 80 ~ - -, 1e.an ~ %il - ~
AS he advanced no came IN sieh1 Oh ABOUT iortS
| advancing warriors. he thouRht ne was
iiuu" ne"iei ,"o n,a'n oU' ~ vi ''oope ."an ne