The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1899-07-06

Quite often, especially OF recent years,
have seen articles in papers and mag
azines relating to the actions and
motives of Gen, Custer that lead up to
the historic massacre of his heroic band.
Most of these do grevious wrong to the
bravest and best officer the United
States government ever sent out to fight
Indians on the frontier. Books, too, 80
40 far as to call him suicide and muir
derer for going at the head of his men
into the battle OF the Little Big Horn ON
June %, 1876.
AT that time was in Clusters employ
ns a civilian scout, and had known him
Tor long time knew his ways of at
tacking Indians, and knew his un-
bounded confidence in his men. had
known him to win Indian fights against
greater odds than his last one For in
stance, at Wichitl, he routed them
with force that numbered one to ten.
Had he, in his last fight, been supported
as he could and should have been, he
would have won the day and then the
81 ting Bull war would have ended and
not have lasted until it cost much money
and many lives. Not until the buffalo
were killed and other game became
scarce were the Indians satisfied to ac-
cept of government rations and spend
their honeymoon at home. Az Indians
heart 10 never geod until he is hungry
and cold.
Custer has been accused by would he
historians of going contrary to orders in
his last campaign and to .refute these
charges write to follow him as far, or
farther, than anyone else is truthfuly
capable of doing. That he did not go
contrary to orders in his last movements
the captain acting as General Terry's
adjutant at the time, if he is alive, will
gladly, doubtless, testify. Unfortunately
have forgotten his name. He will re-
member the greater part of thesorders. !.
After we, the scouts, delivered to Gus
ter his last orders. i know he had nt
opportunity, to receive any more,and as
/ recount the events as nearly as / car
remember them at this length of time
it will be seen that / ana correct.
General Terry started myself and an
other scout to overtake anG join Custer
After leaving the supply train and head
quarters on about June %, 1870, We
reached the camp that night and de
livered our message. My readers viii
know that in these stirring times when &
scout was given message it was II
duplicate, one for the perusal of the
scout and one sealed for the receiver
These precautions were taken for feal
one or both might he lost en- route. IL
the first case the open one could be de
might deliver the message from memory
/ have yet in my possession th1 extra
copy of this message, but unfortunatel,
it is SO old and pocket worn as to b'
partially decipherable. From this, aidec
by memory give the message:
''To Lieut-Col. Custer, 7th United State
Cavalry:
"The Brigadier General commanding
desires that you proceed up the Rosebuc
in pursuit of the Indians, whose trai
was discovered by Major Reno's scouts
few days ago. OF course it is impossible
for me to give definite instructions will
regard to this movement and werc it no
impossible to do so the department com
mander places too much confidence. il
your zeal, energy and ability to wish T.
impose upon you orders that would con
fict with your own Judgment and whicl
might hamper your actions when nearl
in contact with the enemy. He wil
however, indicate to you his ideas G
what your movements should be, and h
desires you to conform to thom unles
your own judgment should give yo
sufficient reasons for departing fror
them. He thinks you should >procee
up the Rosebud until you ascertai
definitely the direction in which tn
trail above spoken of leads. Should
be found that it turns toward the Littl
Big Horn he thinks you should still pro
ceed southwark as far as the headwatel
of Tongue river and then toward tn
Rosebud and the Little Big Horn, keel
ing scouts out constantly to your left, s
as to prevent the possibility of the escap
of the Indians to the south or southeas
10y passing around your left flank. Th
,.Dluuo ne Col Gibbons ia now