Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-01-03
EEN. CUSTER'S LAST FIGHT.
tory of the Battle as Cleaned From Indians
Who Participated.

Tore the Sioux like an apparition, coming
through the dry creek bed to the bank
OF the river. The Indians were dumb
rounded, for was not this the body of
men whom they had left under guard OF
their young men penned in the bluffs?
"A Tor Custer. it Is undoubtedly true
that he knew nothing of the defeat or
even or the engagement of Reno, the
bluffs having cut off all sound of the
brief conflict.
still relying Upon his subordinate, he
had no fear Of the Indians, although he
could see that their tepees extended down
the valley for three miles. Neither did
he know that the Sioux, in order to de-
ceive as to their fighting strength, had
crowded each tepee as full OF young
Ducks as they would hold. This lis how
IL Is that, although the story writer's
place the number of the Ind!ans at about
5000, the Sioux say they numbered
More Than 5000.
ut was two hours past moor and Gus.
ters horses and pack mules. maddened
by thirst, became un~manageable at sight
of the water. One Of the mules carrying
nearly all of the ammunition stampeded
INTO the river, and, sinking almost in
stantly In the quicksand, was lost, with
all its precious burden. an accident which
caused the fight to end much more
abruptly than it otherwise would have
lone.
After allowing his horses to drink Gus
ter halted his command in the protected
hollow made by the intersection Of the
creek bed with the banks Of the river,
and reviewed the situation.
$500.
tile demonstrations on the part of the
Indians. The women and children having
been hurried back from the scene at the
first attack, there were none but war
riors in the tepees. They had not intend
ed to attack the intrenched Americans
before dark, and no more would, they
move against this body before nightfall,
especially since the Sioux appreciated the
fact that Custer had halted in a position
under whose protection he might have
held their entire force off for a number
Of days.
Indian Strategy.
"Conjecturing that however he had es-
capped his position in the bluffs that their
young men were still c~linging stealthily
10 his rear, the Sioux, with no intention
Of making an immediate attack, but with
the aim to get into the most favorable po-
sition, sent hundreds of their warriors
down the river under cover to cross I'M
perceived three miles below and fill the
ridges and high places OF the line of
bluffs full of watchful, cruel and revenge
full fighting force. Also unperceived a
number of braves made their way across
the river a short way down and secreted
themselves under the precipitous bank on
Clusters side.
THE Indians, under cover and watch
ing the little column like a thousand
hawks, could see the white leader show
ing signs Of Impotence and disquiet. Ve
scanned the country beyond the clump of
timber through his glasses again and
again. They could not know that he was
watching and hoping for some sign of
the approach of Reno, so no indication
would show that he had taken up his po-
sition on the other side. This delay gave
| the indian plenty Of time for their forces
to deploy and scatter over the most ad-
~vantageous positions in the high ground
round about.
Clusters Mistake.
FINALLY, well along In the afternoon.
the white leader did a thing for which the
| liLlldiLS lOuld JIdiiIy CIGdil liz SNltCllCS
of their eyes. Either tired of waiting for
Reno, or being sure that he must already
have taken his position unobserved on the
tanks of the Indians, Custer moved out
Of the protected hollow and naturally for
titled ravine into the open of the exposed
hillside and marched down the river. the
slope of the bluffs resting on his right, on
his left at a distance of but a few hum
dred yards the p~recipitous bank Of the
river. with a writing pack of reds be-
meath, and just beyond the water the
camp Of more than 5000 Indians in their
war paint. Clusters fate was sealed with
thai command to advance, and there was
not an indian but knew it and exulted in
! his treacherous red breast at the thought
Of the grand killing in store for him and
his comrades. There was no immediate
attack. Custer was marching
Right Into the Trap,
and the indians lay low and let him come
on, but from the time the little force
moved out Of the hollow until the time
when the last man fell riddled with bull
lets there was not a moment when the
troopers were not covered by the sights
Of a thousand rifles. while a thousand
itching fingers played with the set tr:g-
gers.
Apparently puzzled by the actions Of
the Indians, and for the purpose OF draw
ing them out. Custer halted after march
ing a considerable distance down the
river and fired a volley across into the
struggling lines of tepees. Instantly the
volley was answered by. a deadly fire
from the under side of the river bank,
taking the soldiers so by surprise that
they fell back toward the peak of the
ridge, the Indians continuing their fire.
sun without any intimation Of the dan
ger behind them, the roopers mounted on
their horses and left a number of dead on
the field. With the Indians still under a
perfect cover, the soldiers had no chance
to reply with effect. They reached the
crest of the hills and were headed toward
the protection OF the ridges and gulies