Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-23
GENERAL GEORGE A cgSmI
FRud A clYn VAR YBofocRARH

Sergt. ONeill said: "On the other bank OF
the river there was small strip OF lever
bottom The troops formed on this ana
kept the Indians in check While they as
cended a cut in the bank and reached
point on the steepest bluff along the river.
The Indians tried to follow them, but now
they were at great disadvantage, for the
troops could shoot down upon them as tne'
attempted to climb up the bank.
TT was at this time that Capt. Benteen
with three troops, who earlier in the day
had been sent on scouting expedition
further up the river and another troop
which had accompanied the pack train,
came I'D and Joined Reno. This made seven
companies now under Reno, who was sur
rounded on all sides by Indians and who
had all he could do to defend himself
At this time Custer must have been two
miles or SO away fighting for his life. An
attempt was made to open communication
with Custer. but the Indians swooped down
upon the two companies sent in his direc-
ton with such numbers that it was with
difficulty that they got back In my opin-
ion one-half of the lighting Indians were
thrown against Custer and the other half
against Reno. and when Custer and his
band were killed they all swarmed around
Maj Reno's command. The top Of the hill
held by Reno at this juncture resembled
three sides of a fort. The ground sloped
gradually away from the top, and the In
dams had to run up the incline before their
fire could be effective. Reno had the adj
vantage of having his back to the wall. as
it were, but the Indians continued charging
until dark.
When our quartet decided to- make
break from the thicket in the hope OF
reaching our command the moon was shin
ing, but as it was hazy it did not shed a
bright light. We had not had anything to
eat or drink since 5 o'clock in the morning
and our threats were parched. While I was
in the fight my foot caught in vine and /
fell face down, striking my nose with
such force as to make it bleed profusely.
Not being able to give it attention at the
time the blood ran down my throat and
nearly choked me. 1 thought l would die
of thirst before l could reach water.
I'VE had not advanced far from the
thicket when a CHASTITY sight met our eyes
dead bodies of soldiers cut and hacked
with knives. When half way to the river
We a band of ten or more mounted
Indians approaching. but they turned off
and passed to our right. When we reached
the river we got the first drink we had
had for hours. using my large SLOUGH hat
for a dipper. We thought it the sweetest
water We had ever tasted.
y
In our rear we could see and hear great
circles of Indians engaged in war dance
around piles of burning wood and brush,
which showed their forms distinctly as they
jumped around. some fourshing weapons
lND.-a bot oI, f~~r thn
awfully weird appearance of those savage
people in the delirum of excitement and
abandonment yelling and shouting as diff
ferent ones related exploits of the day.
We afterward learned that they had the
heads of three of our comrades, which
they partly burned in the fires.
I'VE thought from the actions of these
Indians that they had been victorious dur
ing the day. and as We had not heard any
firing since dark, We did not know but what
our command had retreated when darkness
came on. We did know that it behooved US
to get across the river, but to ford that
swift and deep stream was another thing.
We finally found a place where we could
cross what We believed to be the river but
discovered that it was divided at this point
by an island and that We were on the
island. with a stili river between us and
the bluffs which We desired to gain. In
moving along the other stream looking for
place where We could ford We were star
tied by voice which hailed u.s. and in
Indian asked who We were and where we
were going. The half-breed scout and in
terpreter turned back. and we saw no more
of them until We reached camp the next
night.
The captain and.I kneeled down in the
tall grass. for to have run would have
been to expose ourselves in an open space
where they could have shot US down.
Our stopping within fifteen yards of them
seemingly frightened them, as they evil
IDENTIFY thought more were coming to our