The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1899-07-06
FACTS CONCERNING CUSTER'S LAST BATTLE.
ny ONE OF HIS FAMOUS SCOUTS.

cross the Yellowstone and move UP as !
far at least as the forks of the Big Horn |
and tho Little Big Horn. OF course, its
future will be controlled by circum-
stances as they exist. But it is hoped
that the Indians, if upon the Little Big
Horn, may be so nearly enclosed by the
two columns that their escape will be
impossible.
"The department commander desires
that on your way up the Rosebud you
should have your scouts thoroughly ex-
anime the upper part OF Tullock's fork,
and that you should endeavor to send
scouts through to Col. Gibbons com
inand with the result Of your examina
ton. The lower part of this will he ex-
amined by Col Gibbons scouts.
"The supply steamer will be pushed
up the Big Horn as far as the forks of
the Big and Little Big Horn if the river
is found navigable that far.
| "The department commander, who will
accompany the column of Col. Gibbons,
desires you to report to him there no
later than the expiration Of the time for
which your troops are rationed, unless in
the meantime you receive further
orders"
After sleeping about two hours that
j same night we got fresh horses and Gus
ter started us with instructions to go
to the east of the of Tullock's fork, and
to follow it down to it's mouth at Tul-
locks creek and to keep sharp lookout
for any signs of Indians, and to report to
him again that night if possible. This
we did, seeing nothing but the trail Of a
small war party going toward the Big
Horn.
We had been rolled in our blankets
but few hours when Charlie Reynolds
and half breed Sioux scout, Bill Cross
came in with report which caused
Custer tc send for us again. After
getting fresh horses we were given dis
patch toscarry' to Col. Gibbons com
mand. We reached the river, which We
tcrossed by the aid Of our horses tails
with our clothes tied so as to keep them
as dry as possible. We reached the
command that day. The next morning
after eating our embalmed turkey and
hardtack, / was sent back to the supply
train which was still at Powder river
and my companion was sent to ioir
Benteeu's command He was with the
latter during his engagement with the
Indians, and he gives Col. Benteen great
credit for bravery. The colonel, he says
} when the men behind the breastworks
ran short of ammunition, with his OWL
: hands carried it and threw it over to
them, being all the time exposed to the
deadly fire of the enemy.
In twenty four hours I reached the
supply train and was afforded ano5he!
opportunity TO fill up and get sQmt
sleep. On the 26th we met Siou1
} scout, Bloody Knife, coming in badly
scared and he seemed to think tha
Custer had been killed, although he haC
) not seen hun. Another scout, George
Mulligan and myself had been sent ou
to find Custer.
We had not gone far when We met Bill
Cross and eight Rec Indian scouts. The,
! had few Sioux ponies which they sale
, they had captured. They told us tina
Custer and his command were killed ,bu
they did not seem to know much abou
: it. They could not tell us just wher
i the fight took place, hence we took ittl
, stock in their story. We learned after
: wards, however, that when Custer mad
4 the charge they gathered up the Siou!
7 horses that had strayed out on the hills
|, and pulled out for Il more health!
t climate. Scout Reynolds had the sam
c privilege, but chose to go into the battle
$ and was afterward found in the sam
u deadly circle with General Custer wit
n many empty shells around them to coun
their COOS for them.
n Reynolds well knew of Clusters abilit
g to deal with the Indians against fearful
t odds, for he had previously fought wit
e him. He also knew the odds he had
J. face that day, as we spoke of it when "
8 last met and he proved by his action
g that he could not have been aware {
J. any wrong doing on the part of the gel
o eral VIXEN he, of his own free will, fo
o lowed him that day.
It After leaving Cross and the Rec scout
el we met Curley, the Grow Indian SEQ,