Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-03-19

stop was made to collect the
scattered troopers, and while waiting
l used my glasses to survey the land.
Way up the river was more smoke,
and as it cleared away we could see
many mounted men riding to and fro.
Again the saddles were adjusted each
man loaded his carbine, and in line
we moved on. Not long afterwards a
woods and came in our direction. He
was one of Clusters party. Custer
had in the morning marched rapidly,
and soon was farther in advance than
it was possible for the wagon train to
go. Then he stopped in a small grove
of cottonwood trees. The horses
were unsad'dled and picketed out to
Craze, and most of the men went to
sleep. Along in the afternoon, about
the time our stragglers were attacked,
large number of Indians attacked
Clusters party.
From what we could learn of the
affair it came near being surprise to
Custer, but fortunately the Indians
were discovered just in time. While
some of the men formed a skirmish
line to stand off the warriors, the
others brought in the horses. Custer
was comparatively safe in the grove
so long as his ammunition held out.
The Indians, foiled in their attempt
to surprise the command and TO STAN
pede the horses, set fire to the grass,
and hoped to burn out the besieged
troopers, but the grass in tha woods
was not very dry and did not burn
rapidly, so this plan was a failure.
1t was this fire which, spreading down
the valley, caught us in its warm
embrace. have never been in such
a hot situation, and I hope I may
never again be either in this world or
in the next.
We had distanced the balance of
the left wing. If they started up the
valley they must have gotten lost, for
we did not see them again until night
Our approach caused the Indians at
tacking Custer to withdraw. When
we were near enough to Clusters
position to be distinguished from
hostile Indians, Custer is said to have
remarked, ''Ten to one that is Weston
and his troop in the lead" "a safe
bet, General" said Major Moylan,
'but there are no takers" This re-
mark, surely great compliment to
Weston and L Troop, was we'll
deserved.
When we halted there was not a
man who did not look as black as the
ace of spades; the smoke Of the burn
ing grass had stuck to our faces; all
had perspired SO much that we were
as wet as if we had been in the river
Perspiration was dropping from the
horses, and many leg was badly
sdnged while galloping through the
patches of burning grass. I crawled
on all fours far enough into the Vel
lowstone to get my head under water
1t felt as if ice had been packed
around me. The water itself was not
so very cold, but it felt so in QUIZ
overheated condition.
After waiting several hours, and
there being NO indications of the
wagon train, Custer retraced his steps
and near shutdown met the wagons
The veterinary surgeon and post
trader, as well as one trooper, were
missing. Searching parties were sent
out and the bodies of the two former
were found, but not that of the sol
der. They were covered with canvas
and carried along next day. Theil
burial was mentioned in the October
1904, number of the Cavalry Journal
A month later, when the expedition
was on dts return, a skeleton was
found near where the veterinary ant
trader had been killed. This wa.
, probably the missing soldier.
After this days experience there
was no more struggling, and ever,
! lone was on the alert to discover sign:
of Indians. We were now in :tht
, vicinity of a number of villages. Or
the 9Th, 9Th and 7th we passed severa
places where there had been larg,
!, camps, and also noted heavy train
!, coming from the north. On the Sth
number of large camp sites wer
:, passed, in some of which were aban
, doned articles OF value to the indians
TT was reported that rife had ais
been found. Less than twenty-fou
! hours had elapsed since some of thes
! camps had been used. On the after
Enooa of August 9Th, General stanle
!, ldirected Custer to take every mounte
man, including the Rec Indians, max
: La forced march and endeavor to ovel
!. take the villages. About three day.
rations were carried on pack animals
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