The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-22
ried meat, and a large amount of general

dried meat, and large amount of general
plumber.
The Indian tribes which were scattered
through the valley were the Arapahoes,
Kiowas, Cheyennes, Comanches and some
Apaches. Gen. Clusters official report
gave the number killed as 103. The num-
! Der of prisoners taken %, including squaws
and children. We captured S75 ponies,
LIB buffalo robes and skins, 535 pounds
of powder, 1850 pounds of lead, 1000
arrows, 700 pounds of tobacco, besides
rifles, pistols, bows, lariats, an immense
amount of dried meat, thousands of lodge
poles, and an endless number of cooking
utensils.
The number Of officers killed was two.
and three were wounded Twenty-one en-
listed men were killed and II wounded.
That night the moon shoBe down upon the
bodies q zzE1g Uao lad not yet been
found upon the battlefield.
Capt Louis Hamilton. grandson Of
Alexander Hamilton wsE killed ip the
EIzt charge He was the officer detailed
% remain with the wagons and supplies
when the Indian trail Was first struck, but
his brave, restless spirit dropped at the
thought Of remaining away from an open
engagement Of his regiment, and he per-
ssaded Lieut. Mathey now Major. re-
tredl 70 serve as his substitute, which he
DID, with the consent of Gen. Custer Be
fore the close OF the war of the re-
beiiion the sentiment became prevalent in
the Union army that an officer did his duty
sufficiently who served when and where
ordered, instead of volunteering, whereby
many lost their lives. But for this brave
act, Capt. Hamilton would perhaps be
living today.
Lieuts. Custer and Marsh were slightly
wounded. Maj. Elliott and the Sergeant
Major, with 10 men who had become
separated and cut off from the majority
during the fight, were surrounded and
killed by the Indians after a most des-
perate fight. their plight not being dis
covered by others of the command Capt.
Barnitz was shot through the body and
his death was expected. but he lived. A
silk handkerchief was drawn through his
body where the bullet made an opening or
orifce.
1t was after many long weeks and dur
ing the following March that we again
found the hostiles in the Panhandle of
Texas. They were not as yet troublesome,
to enable their ponies to gain strength for
raid. They were, however, tricky and
elusive, slyly spiriting away their pos
sessions, while endeavoring to deceive
Gen. Custer with faithless professions of
friendship and willingness to go with us
10 Fort Hayes, Kan, the General re-
CURED The General made prisoners Of
he Chief and a few of his band who had
tempted the deception, and pointed to
imb of tree standing near, upon which
he told them he would hang them unless
two white women captives, held by them,
were brought into our camp before the
middle of the afternoon of the second day
following. Tho Chief was permitted to
send one of his men as messenger, the
main body OF the tribes having taken pre-
cipitate fight upon our approach.
On the second day he showed an in
creasing interest in the affair as the day
advanced, and early in the afternoon
looked very anxiously and often in the
direction from which he expected to see
the approach of the captiyes. 1t was
about 4 o'clock when the runner appeared
on the crest Of the hill, conducting the two
white women, who, although woebegone,
showed all that such mortals could feel
over their deliverance from the bondage
Of the merciless savages. AT a narrow
creek which fringed our temporary camp
they were conducted over a frail crossing,
and standing by this as they entered were
more than half Of our number, among
whom were many with moistened eyes.
The Indian who brought the women kept
at safe distance and soon hurried away
over the hill, thus gaining once more his
freedom.