The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-01-03


aeld. ] was there in Wyoming the
other day and picked it up"
Il had two of them" he continued. but Colonel
Godfrey, from Fort Walla waIa, in to see me
only this morning and L gave one to him II brought
back sad times to him, too for when I told him ne
could have ne put his lips and cried. That's
uncommon thing for soldier TO do. We had long
talk this morning. The colonel know, was in the
Custer Tight
But i thought said ], 'that every white man in
that battle killed"
We'll, as far clusters command goes, you are
got away. de was crow Indian scout named Cur
But. YOU see. when Custer left Fort Lincoln in
Dakota the head of the Seventh cavalry, he soon
divided the command into three divisions. And at
the battle of the Little Big Horn MS command was
stfl divided one division was under Reno another
under Benteen and the third he himself led. The
tre command consisted Of 900 men, but Custer himself
How did il happen Well il was like this: The
Indians had been put on reservations. They did not
like it, They had been used to going anywhere they
pleased, and they much preferred hunting buffalo to
eating beef which the government furnished them
They simply made a kick for freedom, and it was
custer was sent after them Reno's division first
found trace Of the enemy. Then the whole command
followed the trail Custer saw several camps few
miles apart lie thought tnat laey We're ol1erent
camps the tribe But il afteTWaTd turned out,
when it late, that they the camps of
eFal tribes IWelFe TO hteen thousand INDIANS We're
the war path; of warriors there $500 3000
You see when the Indians 90 10 they carry their
taInlhes ATOMS women ana cniiafeh ana all II ulee
is attack the BUCKS keep the enemy back while
so you see Indian fights go usually by surprise
They take place early in the morning Scouts find
forced night marching the command comes up so as to
make a sunrise attack
expected for two days-Custer called his officers to-
gether and asked their advice. This was something
.scaped bas goire IL he ttIIed And Mitch an In
dian scout said Colonel Godfrey; You look; to-
morrow we have heI-uv-er fight
he M ed mast en-. of
the pack mules got behind. soldier detailed to
go back after the mule He saw as he drew near
Indian breaking open the mules pack with a toma-
hawk. This the first enemy seen The soldier
came back Custer and told him. Custer then said
to Reno and Benteen; We must advance at once or
they'll hear OF and get away.
so Custer goes in advance. FSom the brow of
hill he could in the valley of the Little Big
Horn river the camp of the Sioux.
The river runs to the west The valley is about
mile wide At the edge of the valley on the north side
rise up rather steep bluffs cut in places by ravines
Custer advanced toward the village. lie Kept on
top of the bluffs and back not to be seen He
moved swiftly He ordered Benteen TO fouoy ana
hlno BACK MN uP Keno ne t0d 10 get Gown INTO
Ahe valley of the Little Big Horn and attack the In
Reno Went forward He crossed the river. He
advanced. Then every bush became an Indian yelling
and pumping lead at his men Reno got scared. He
dered his men to disinount then to mount and to dis
mount again. He got ratified He lost his hat He
der beside him fell Then Reno jumped on his horse
and lit out for the river and the bluffs some OF his men
We'll what do YOU think of Reno2' I asked
For publication" replied the major. Il would
that be Indian fighter but private opinion
IS that he a damn coward.
You See if Reno had pressed forward. as Custer
had planned. things would been different. The
whole force would have Centered the village.
st was the Indians all lit in Custer. who then
about four miles ahead
''Benteen and his division by this time had
up and rested the bluffs. await orders
from Custer. who ahead.
Reno and his men. riding the steep
ranku7eut in retreat One of Renos Ieutenants came
up ana shook hands with Colonel Godfrev-who was
with Benteen-and said: Godfrey. I'm glad to you
we had a big fight and they licked us Reno had
The divisions under Benteen and Reno waited
on the bluffs The indians had withdrawn from that
part of the field. Down in the valley the viii
Iage hundreds of warriors riding to at a
rapid pace. What it ali those bluffs did
not know
The Indians were preparing attack upon Gus
ter. He had passed the head of ravine which led