East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-11-09


tant saw Reno's soldiers galloping
wildly up the steep slope of the hill.
Rcno's charge had falled-instead
Of riding straight down through the
length of the village and meeting
Custer, he had gotten only so rods,
fire from Indians who held their
ground. He wedged them back. but
his horses. already overridden. refus-
ed to 80 on, and the charging troops
were simply carried out of the woods
into the open. and once there they
took to the hills for safety, leaving
behind dead. one-third of their force.
Clusters quick glance realized the
Of charging alone into
a mass of Indians, who were exult-
ant and savage in the thought of VIC
tory. Panic was not for them. They
were armed with Springfield rifles,
while the soldiers had only short
range carbines.
The bugle ordered a retreat, and
Custer's men rode back to the top of
the hill--with intent to Join forces
with Reno.
But Reno was hopelessly cut off.
Determined Sioux filled the gully that
separated the two little bands Of
brave men.
Custer evidently thought that Reno
had simply withdrawn TO reform his
troop, and that any moment Reno
would ride to his rescue.
Custer decided to hold the hill. The
Indians were shooting at him from
long range, occasionally killing a
horse. He told off his fours and or
dered the horses sent to the rear
The fours led their horses back to-
ward where they had left their pack
mules when they stopped for coffee at
8 o'clock.
But the fours had not gone half a
mile when they were surrounded by a
mob that just closed in on them.
Every man was killed, and the horses
galloped off by the squaws and chill
dren.
Custer now realized that he was
caught in trap. The ridge where
his men lay face down was half
mile long and not more than 20 feel
across at the top. The Indians were
everywhere-in the gullies, In the
grass, in little scooped-out holes. The
bullets whizzed above the heads o.
Clusters men as they lay there, flat
tening their bodies in the dust.
The morning sun came out, dazzling
and hot.
It was only o'clock.
The men were without water anC
| without food. The Little Big Hori
danced over its rocky bed and SHIN
mered in the golden light, only half
mile away, and there in the cool
limpid stream they had been conf
dent they would now swim and fish
the battle over. while they proud,
held the disarmed Indians, agains
General Terry's coming.
But the fight had not been VOL
and death lay between them and wa
ter. The only thing to do was to awai
Reno or Terry, Reno might come a
any time, and Terry would arriv
without fail at tomorrow's dawn-h
had said so, and his word was tn
word of q soldier.
Custer had blundered.
The fight was lost.
Now 1t was just a question of endur
ance.
Noon came, and the buzzards begal
to gather in the azure.
The sun was blistering hot-ther
was not a tree, nor bush, nor
green blade of grass within reach.
| The men had ceased 10 joke an
banter. The situation was serious
Some tried to smoke, but their parch
ing thirst was thus only aggravated
they threw their pipes away.
The Indians kept up an occasiona
shooting They were playing with tn
soldiers as cat plays with a mouse
The Indian Is a cautious fighter
he makes no sacrifices In order I
win. Now he had his prey secure.
Soon the soldiers would run out
ammunition, and then one more da!
or two at least, and thirst and fatigu
would reduce brave men into oil
women, and the squaws could rush
and pound them on the head wit
clubs.
The afternoon dragged along u
awful length-time dwindled and dav
died.
At last the sun sank, ball Of fiji
in the west.
The moon came out.
Now and then Sioux would cree
up into a shadowy view, but sh'
from a soldier would send him bac
into hiding.
Down in the cottonwoods II
suuaws made campfires and we
5 holding a dance, singing their SOM
b. of victory.
Custer warned his men that slet
was death. This was their secof
e sleepless night, and the men were 4
verish with fatigue. Some babbled
3 strange tongues, and talked with 81
e ters and sweethearts and people wi
Q were not there-reason was totterin
With Custer was an indian boy,
years old. "Curley the Crow" Gust
n now at about midnight told Curley
s strip himself and crawl out among t
: Indians, and IL possible, get o
d through the lines and tell Terry
n their position. Several of Custe,
men had tried to reach water,
n none came back.
Curley got through the lines-i
o boldness in mixing with the India
and his red skin saving him. He to-
ry-