The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-05-21

correct version. The only living object
that came out Of Clusters command
was an old ~favorite horse Of Captain
keogh's. which was found in the tim
Der north of the Little Horn and be-.
low the place where Clusters battle
took place, with many a bullet hole in
him, but still with much life in his
body. Colonel Reno ordered the ami
ma shot, but his life was pleaded for
by the farrier of Captain Keogh's
troop, and colonel Reno consented to
let he man take him to the boat and
send him to Fort Lincoln, where he
was kept for years, and at every par
ade he marched in mourning, with
Captain Keogh's boots reversed and
sword hanging from the saddle. Five
men of Clusters command were un-
accounted for. The generals roster
had been left with Reno's command,
and from a comparison of this and
those killed and found on the battle
field it was learned that some were
missing.
Wounded Sent to Fort Lincoln.
"After completing the sad duty of
burying the Custer dead the Seventh
cavalry returned at about noon to
General Gibbons camp. The after
noon was devoted to the gathering up
and destroying of the Indian plumber
left IN the village and in making ira.
vols, preparing TO move the wounded |
men of Reno's command down to the
mouth of the Big Horn, where the
steamer Far West" was ordered to
receive them. The distance to be COW
cred was IS miles. AS the days were
extremely hO, re troops did not move
the men until night time, it taking
two nights to reach the river. The
wounded were then taken to Fort
Abraham Lincoln, while the command
proceeded down the Big Horn to
arrival of fresh troops and reinforce.
ments. and for the purpose OF form.
ing a junction with General Crook.
Reinforcements Received.
THE command after receiving the
reinforcements from General Miles
Fifth infantry and General Otis six
Of the Twenty-second in
fantry on or about August 10, 1876,
up the Rosebud. On the third
day out General Crooks command
was met proceeding down the Rose
bud at the junction just formed, the
entire command crossing over to
Tongue river and thence to the mouth
of Powder river. The Indian trail
was found divided n going in the
direction of the Black Hills country
and the other going toward the Cana
dian line to the north. Then General
Terry, commanding general, divided
command, sending General Crook
in the direction of the Black Hills
and General Terry with the Seventh
and Colonel Reno crossed the
following the trail of /.
The Indians north to the Missouri riv-
er. Arriving at Fort Peck it was,
that the Indians had gained
he Canadian line. General Terry
then returned to st. Paul on the
steamer, while Colonel Reno proceed
I'd down the river to Fort Abraham
Lincoln, where the remaining fall
vas devoted to disarming the various
indians at the agencies along the
Notes Of Renos Battle.
During the fight, and while Colonel
3enteen va sstanding on the hill en-
;ouraging his men. a bullet fired by
redskin struck the neel of his boot.
The officer turned around with an oath
md remarked: you can't do it
The words had no sooner left
lis mouth than a buiie. whizzed be-
his feet.
Mike Madden, the only person
wounded in the charge for water, had
o have his leg amputated. The doc
or wanted to place the man under
he influence, of chloroform, but Mad
demurred, saying that if he was
;iven a drink of whiskey he could
tand it all right. The surgeon
some of the hospital liquor
nd poured out a large cup full. Mad :
drank it down at one gulp and
hen told the doctor to proceed with
operation. When the leg was
aiken of end after a short time Mad I
EN- called the doctor to his side and
aid: "Say, doctor, have you any
of that stuff" meaning the
7hiskey. The doctor replied: YES,
little, Mike" Mike then said: "By
doctor, if you will give me an
Their drink like that you can take "
# me other leg" 1t is needless to
ay that Mike got the whiskey, but
is other leg did not have to come
If. This incident Mr.. Reynolds says
e will never forget as long as he 7
YES. l.
The officers which are deserving of
special mention in Reno's command
re Colonel Benteen. Captain French,
III late lamented George D. Wallace,
was afterward killed BY the Big
DOT b2nd at the battle of Wounded
in 1891, Captain Varnum, chief
the SCOUTS and Luther r. Hare, now
rigadier-general serving in the Phil