Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-23

until he was retired in 1904, he was In
continual service under the Stars and
Stripes, and 1t is of that period of his life
that he speaks with the greatest pride
and happiness.
A Diary and n sabre.
His diary contains an accurate and de-
tailed account of the entire service, and
although he prizes 1t next to the saber on
the wall OF his little room (and more about
that saber later, he permitted its use for
the purpose of verifying the facts of his
story, and certain extracts from 1t will
be of interest to every one
Referring to the battle of the Little Big
Horn and the incidents that led up to It..
nothing can be more concise than his own
words which are reproduced here directly
from his own entry;
1--WE were at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Da-
kota Territory, and 1t was the first time
in years that the Seventh cavalry had been
united. General Terry and staff arrived
and the general took command about May
IL, 1876.
General Custer came from Washington,
but did not have much to say, for at that
time he was in trouble with General OPresi-
dent) Grant But ne had the spirit.
1.-THE troops for this expedition consisted
of twelve troops of the Seventh calvary.
four companies of infantry. ten or fifteen
Indian scouts and twenty-five or thirty
civilians. We took the field May II at $50
a. m. Boots and saddles was sounded and
at a. m. stand, horse and mount. Then
we passed in review and bade farewell to
our friends. and though the band was play
ing The Girl Left Behind Me- It seemed
much like a funeral procession. Later It
played Clusters favorite tune. "Garryowen."
After leaving the post the march was taken
up in columns OF tours, route step. General
Terry and stan in front. followed by Gen.
eral Custer and staff (Mrs. Custer rode on
the left of the generaD. That day we
made Little Heart river and camped for the
night After pitching camp assembly was
sounded q was a buglerl and we fell in for
payment. II was a pretty sober crowd and
everybody felt the position We wore In.
Some made deposits of their money and l,
for one, put $50 with the paymaster. Next
morning general call was sounded at $3.50
boots and saddles at Z. and we took mp the
march again. But the paymaster and poor
Mrs. Custer went back to Fort Abraham
Lincoln, and it proved to be the last fare
we'll for her and the general"
Marching After sitting Bull.
The diary narrates several days of tire
less and ceaseiess marching and under date
of May % holds the following tncidert;
I'VE camped on the banks of the Little
Missionary in the bad lands. and while OF
this place the chiefstrumpeter detailed me
as mounted orderly for headquarters; but
as II was not my turn refused to do tho
duty, and after some words the chief trum-
peter had me tied up on the picket lines
for two hours (strung up by the thumbs).
I reported It to my captain, who told Gen
eral Custer. He sent for me and said he
would have it Investigated as soon as we
got back TO quarters"
More DAYS OF marching. with traces of
Sitting Bull and his terrible Sioux every
where evident NIL the next few pages OF the
diary. and then comes the advent into
camp OF Bowyer who finally guided Custer
tn the enemy.
''He came in and went to General Custer
as soon as we would permit. ssying:. Gen
eral, give myself up am deserter
from Sitting Bulls camp The general
questioned him and then wanted to hire
him. but he said II was no Use. cause Sit
ting Bull had placed a reward Of 100 ponies
on his head. But the general told him II
they took him they would have to take US
all. and not to be afraid. He then con-
scented TO go. and after the contract was
made he said he would guide us 70 Sitting
Bull In three or four days. After this news
spread through the camp every one looked
gloomy. and Colonel Ksogh made his will"
Several days OF dreary. heart-breaking
marches are recorded. with a hot sun and
dusty plains as constant sources OF dis
comfort to the men. Then the diary pro-
ceeds to the events just preceding the en-
gagement:
General Custer mounted his horse at 5
a. m. June q. and started up the Rosebud.
followed by two sergeants; one carried the
regfnental standard and the other the
generals headquarters nag. This was the
signal TO mount eve were not allowed
TO sound the bugles). Next day we passed
through many Indian camping place. in
one OF which We found the scalp OF a
white man. Here we halted. one OF the
scouts having reported the discovery OF q
large fresh camp. About this time the