The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1904-10-08

the bucks keep the enemy back while
the squaws take down the tepees and.
scatter.
$50, you see, Indian fights go usually
by surprise. They take place early in
the morning. Scouts find out where the
Indians have their village. Then by
forced night marching the command
comes up so as to make a sunrise att.
tack
"The night before the battle which
was then not expected for two days
Custer called his officers together and
asked their advice. This was something
he had. never done before. As the Off
GERS left the bivouac one Of them re-
marked to friend; Clusters scared
he's going to be killed. And Mitch, an
Indian scout, said to Colonel Godfrey:
You look; tomorrow we have hell-uv-
err fight
And so it was. On the following
morning, June 25, 1876. the command
marched until half-past ten o'clock.
One Of the pack mules got behind. A
soldier was detailed To go back after
the mule. He saw, as he drew near, an
Indian breaking open the mules pack
with tomahawk. This was the first
enemy seen. The soldier came back to
Custer and told him, Custer then said
to Reno and Benteen: We must adj
vance at once or they'll hear Of us and
get away
$50 Custer goes in advance. From
the brow of hill he could see down in
the valley of the Little Big Horn river
the camp of the Sioux.
1.-THE river runs to the west. The val
ley is about mile wide. At the edge
Of the valley on the north side rise up
rather steep bluffs, cut in places by ra-
vines,
Custer advanced toward the village.
He kept on top of the bluffs and back,
so as not to be seen. He moved swiftly.
He ordered Benton to follow and kind
o. back him up. Reno he told to get
down into the valley Of the Little Big
Horn and attack the Indians.
Reno went forward He crossed the
river. He advanced. Then every bush,
became an Indian yelling and pumping
lead into his men. Reno got scared.
He ordered his men to dismount, them
to mount, and to dismount again. He
got ratified. He lost his hat. He emp
tied his revolvers and threw them
away. Al soldier beside him fell Then
Reno jumped on his horse and lit out
for the river and the bluffs, some Of his
men following him, others remaining
hidden in the brush.
"Well, what do you think Of Reno?" I
asked. #5s
For publication" replied the major.
II would say that he was no Indian
fighter, but my private opinion is that
he was a damn coward.
"You see, If Reno had pressed for
ward, as Custer had planned, things
would have been different The whole
force would have conferred on the viii
lage. AS it was, the Indians all lit on
Custer, who was then about four miles
ahead "Benteen with his division, by
this time had come up and rested on the
bluffs He was to- await orders from
Custer whoaWas ahead. Reno, and his
men came riding up the steep embanlz-
1nent in retreat. One Of Reno's lieu
tenants came UP and shook hands with
Colonel Godfrey, who was with Ben
teen, and said: Godfrey, I'm glad to
see you. We had a hard fight and they
licked u.s. Reno had killed three Off
GERS and twenty-nine men.
"The divisions under Banteen and
Reno now waited on the bluffs. The IN
dams had Withdrawn from that part of
the field. Down in the valley toward
the village hundreds of warriors were
riding to and fro at rapid pace. What
1t all meant those on the bluffs did not
know.
1.-THE Indians were preparing an at
, tack upon Custer. He had passed the
head of ravine which led down to the
river valley-he had fallen into the trap.
He was separated from the rest of the
/ command several miles. Between him
! and them was this chasn. Chief Gall,
with his band Of Sioux, went up the ra-
vine, which was to the east of Custer.
Crow King and Crazy Horse led their
warriors against him from the west.
Custer was surrounded by at least
twenty-five hundred Indians. When.
the Indians attack, you know, they do
50 lin q circling fashion. They ride
round and round, sideways to the en-