The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-19

discovered the trail of an Indian viii
lage of about $50 lodges, the strength
being estimated at about 1900. The
Seventh Cavalry was detached and
sent in pursuit, proceeding up the
Rosebud till the 26th, when the col
umn turned to the right and crossed
the divide between the Rosebud and
Little Big Horn, and at noon reached
the valley of the latter stream, where
the Indians were discovered in force.
This force was afterward estimated to
be from 5000 to 5000.
An attack was decided upon and the
command divided as follows: Mai.
Reno, with troops A, G and NJ and the
detachment of Rec Indian scouts to
lead the column and open the attack.
Gen. Custer with Troops C, E, F, 1, L,
to follow as support. Capt. Benteen,
with Troops D. H, and K, to recon
hotter to the left of the column, and
Capt. McDougall, with Troop B and
attachments from other troops, to
guard the pack train. Troop fur
nished fifteen enlisted men for this
purpose and to act as packers. Maj.
Reno crossing the Little Big Horn,
Sun Dance creek and moving forward
two or. three miles, became engaged
with the Indians in force, and, not be-
ing supported, was forced back to high
bluffs across the river, where he was
Joined by Benteen and McDougall,
where he was closely besieged by
large body of Sioux until relieved by
Gen. Terry on the 9th. Reno's loss
was three officers and forty-seven men
killed and fifty-three wounded.
The Massacre.
column in the meantime. 1t was after
wards shown that, instead of following
Reno's column, he deviated to the north
and west on the north side of the river,
and proceeded to a point about two
miles in advance of the bluffs, where
Reno's column was besieged. In this
position his command was surrounded
by the Sioux and completely destroyed,
not man escaping. The following
shows the condition of the troop after
the fight:
Killed, three officers and thirty-six
enlisted men who were with Custer.
Wounded, with Maj. Reno's COM
mand. four enlisted men, one fatally.
Uninjured, with Renos command,
eleven enlisted men.
On detached service at Fort Lincoln,
six enlisted men.
On detached service at supply camp,
Powder river, eight enlisted men.
The troop was commanded in this en-
gagement by Capt Tom Custer, who
was among the killed.
After this battle the troop was en-
gagged in various scouting expeditions
for some time, after which it was re-
turned to Fort Lincoln, to be sent on
another expedition against Indians
down the Missouri river, returning to
take station at Fort Totten, D. 7.
Guarded Stages In 1877.
In 1877 it again proceeded to Fort Lin
coin for the purpose of performing
guard and escort duty in connection
with the Bismark and Deadwood stage
line.
In 1879 the command was engaged
much of the time in scouting in Da~
kota and Nebraska, being absent from
it's station most of the year. During
the next two years the troop was sta
toned most of the time at Fort Meade,
d. T., and had little field service until
1882 when it again took the field In
connection with Indian troubles. Dur
ing the remainder of this year and the
three following years the troop saw
little field service, being most of the
time at Fort Meade.
Nothing more of especial interest &C.
ours in the history of the troop until
| $780, when it was again on the march
and joined the regiment which was
|
the "Ghost Dances were in progress.
An engagement with the Indians oc-
| Cured at Wounded Knee Creek, re-
sulting in heavy loss to the Indians
and a loss to the regiment of two Of
| ficers and thirty-fve enlisted men
killed. Scouting duty for some time
| followG1 this engagement, after
which the command was ordered to
Fort Riley. the train being wrecked
en- route, and one officer and seventeen
men injured.
Left Savannah in 1898.
In 1923 the troop was ordered to
| Texas with other troops of the regi-
ment and performed duty in connec-
| ton with the suppression of the Cara
instruction, after which station was
changed to Fort Hancock, Tex, and
| later to Fort Grant, A. T., where 1t re-
manned until the fall of 1898 when the
regiment was assembled at Huntsville
and later proceeded on the transport
Manitoba, from Savannah to Cuba, be-
ing stationed at Pinar del Rio, for
some time and later at Havana, reach
ing the United States and going into
camp at Chickamauga Park, Ca,
where 1t has since remained.
The troop has a good baseball team,
having won the pennant for the pres
ent season in the regimental league
which is represented by a team from
each troop.