Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-23
SERGEANT TT 0'NElLL

but at the edge of the village mounted
Indians were riding about in every direc-
ton. Gen. Custer ordered Mai Reno to
take his battalion-three troops-across the
river and attack the camp. My troop was
III Reno's battalion. We marched down an
old dry creek bed which ran into the river,
then crossed. When within 100 yards of the
Indians formed in line of battle, and
when within 500 yards of them the Indians
opened fire. Then the battle of the Little
Big Horn was begun
AS the Indians came out to meet US
in great numbers. and as we could not
see from whore We We're how many were
in the village, it was apparent that 1t
would be impossible to charge through them
with only 100 or 40 soldiers-the extent of
our forces. The officers, therefore, decided
10 act on the defensive when the order was
given to dismount. The horses were placed
Il few yards in the rear, being held by each
fourth trooper. The lire again being
formed, we began firing. The main body
of Indians seemed to be about 1000 yards
from us, but great numbers mounted and
shooting at were within 800 yards
Gen. Clusters command advanced in the
same direction as ours on the opposite side
of the river and. when the fight was begun,
half apart The general and his command
disappeared behind a high bluff and that
was the last we saw of them alive. Hav-
ing reached point where We could see the
extent of the village, we found it was over
two miles long. Our right rested against a
thtcket, the left extending about 200 yaros
across the open plain but Maj. Reno seeing
the danger of being surrounded wheeled
the line, placing our backs to the river
Discovering a ditch in our rear where the
river once had run. we were ordered to lie
on the edge of its bank. A hot fire was
kept up. and the fighting became terrific
The Indians charged up close. delivered
their fire and then fell back TO reload
They then began to fire in great num-
bers on our left, where they could deliver a
hank fire. Fearing a charge on our left
flank. II was decided by our officers, after
a hurried consultation, calling to one an
oth-r from their positions in line TO fall
back to position where We could the
better defend ourselves, as we were losing
many men and horses, The order was given
TO mount. While this order was being
executed our firing had practically ceased
and the Indians pressed in us in such
great numbers that We're obliged to
charge with our 1870 or l+0 troopers through
500 Indians whose numbers were swelling
every minute by others from the village
Tie troops cut their way through, losing
many men and horses. The troops took
the shortest route to the river being mixed
up with the Indians. all the way riding side
by side. The Indians attempted to pull
troopers from their horses, the latter in
turn striking at them with their carblnes
Reaching the river the soldiers plunged
their horses into the water many of the
Indians jumping in after them. but some
of the soldiers reached the opposite bank
first. dismounted and delivered a hot fire
on the Indians. which kept them in check
for time
1t was while in the midst of the In
dams during the charge when the retreat
toward the river was being made that nv
horse was shot from under me- The Indians
seemed to form "A solid mass as we started
To cut our way through them. They We're
shooting and yelling like demons. The sol
diers, on the other hand. were pouring a
fire OF bullets into the Indians. IL was a most
terrible man-to-man conflict. Troopers
horses and Indians falling. killed or
wounded. rider!ess ponies running loose
and a terrific firing of guns at the time
j was dismounted combined 10 give me tn,
worst moment l ever experienced in my
life.
My first thought was to run after my
command, but that impossible II
was 300 yards to the thIcket from which
point the retreat begun. and it oc-
CURED to me that my only safety was In
that direction. so l ran for the brush
Several others had been dismounted like
myself. all of whom l suppose were killed
| saw at least six in the act of falling
One poor fellow was shot in the body, .ant
while falling was shot in the head.
heard the fatal shot strike. and I was sc
near TO him that l had 10 jump aside els
he would have fallen upon me. AS
rushed toward the thicket some OF the
Indians riding by fired at me, but fortu
nately missed their mark. Upon reachins