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

ed ana reported to General CuSte
its discovery of the Indians.
Troops Position Discovered.
ut was then known to the genera
that the position of the troops wa
known to the Indians as we'll as wa
the Indian village known to tn
troops. 1t had been General Custer
plan not to engage the Indians hta
day, but to secrete the troops for tn
night and do battle on the mornin,
o fthe 26th of June.
Plan Of Attack Decided Upon.
after learning that his position
had been discovered by the Indian
he decided upon a plan of attack a
once and ordered all troop com
manders to prepare for immediat,
action. and as each commander re
ported his troop ready it was formed
into a column, Custer taking tn.
first five troops, Colonel Reno thu
next three, Colonel Benteen the mex
three. and the remaining troop under
Captain McDougal being the last tt
arrive fell in as a real guard for pro
lection to the pack trains.
Troops Separate.
General Custer and the balance oil
the command then proceeded down
Greasy Grass creek, which is now
known as Reno creek, until he ar
rived at a lone tepee, where several
Indians were buried, having been
killed on June II in the battle that
General Crook had with some Sioux
in Rosebud creek canyon. General
Custer was bearing we'll to the right,
it being his intention to attack the
Indian village at the lower end where
the old Fifteen Mile ranch formerly
stood. Colonel Reno with his troops
went down the creek, crossing the
Little Horn, his orders being to sweep
everything in front of him and to at
tack the village from the upper end,
while Colonel Benteen was to keep
we'll to the left and attack simultan-
eously, and Custer would come to sup
port at the lower end, and all the
commands were to support Colonel
Reno in the general attack on the
village.
Reno Encounters Sioux First.
Colonel Reno crossed the Little
Horn and encountered Indians a few
hundred yards on the opposite side.
The redskins retreated ahead of his
troops until within 1900 or 1000
yards of the village when they came
out in large forces, which compelled
the troops to seek shelter in a small
crest of timber on the south side of
the river. Here they engaged the
enemy for about 20 minutes, some
claiming that it was between 80 and
40 minutes. The Indians finally sue
ceeded in getting in the rear of the
troops and between the Little Horn
and Reno's command. Some of the
troops claimed they were getting out
OF ammunition, when Colonel Reno
ordered a chargeto gain higher ground
as no command had come to his sup
port. He went into the fight with be-
tween $50 and $50 men, officers and
all. and at the crossing of the Little
Horn in gaining the bluffs he lost
20 in killed, wounded and missing.
and some nine or ten who afterwards
reported to the command on the
bluffs on the north side Of the river.
Men Took to the Brush.
Frank Girard, the interpreter, Bill
ly Jackson, a half-breed scout, Tom
Neil, soldier, Lieutenant de Rudio, sec
ond lieutenant of the Seventh cavalry.
VINO had stopped to pick up a guidon,
his horse having broken loose from
him, took to the brush and remained
there until the night of the 26th, when
they Joined Colonel Reno on the
Colonel Benteen Fails to Find Indians.
Colonel Benteen failing to find any
indians in front of him, and as he ex |
pressed it, thought Custer had sent
him out fishing returned, He had
struck Clusters trail leading around
TO the right of the village and follow
it to where he ran onto Colonel
Reno's command, which had then
gained the hills. The pack train with
the rear guard had followed in on
Clusters trail until it had also struck
Reno's command. The com
and then comprised troops A, B, D,
H, K and NJ. A was under Captain
Moreland; B, Captain McDougal; D,
Captain Weir; G, Geo. D. Wallace.
Mcintosh, first lieutenant, being kill
before crossing the Little Horn:
h, Captain B%enteen, second in com
mand to Reno, Lieutenant Hodson, !
Reno's adjutant being killed at cross.
ing OF Little Horn; X, Lieutenant
Godfrey, and M, Captain French.
Meantime Custer had succeeded
IN getting to the lower end of the
indian village, but not crossing the
Here Mr.. Reynolds draws the line
regarding Clusters movements. They
are known to no living white man.
Tor not a person of Clusters command
that massacre.
Heard Clusters voIIey of Distress.
While o nthe hill above the Little
Horn with Reno's command we
heard firing off to the right and west,
It being two very distinct v%olleys,
which were no doubt Clusters volley
of distress. One officer at the time
embarked that Clusters giving them
Ill, Colonel Reno Immediately or.
Tered Captain Weir with D troop to
go and feel in the direction of the
iring and to look for General Custer.
Weir had't gone more than half a
nile when his courier returned to the
with the information that