Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-03-08

So
ross Where Cavalry LEADER Ell

when going into action when the
conditions of warfare made music
permissible, and which to this day
is the Seventies regimental air.
might sound gohst-like in the ears
of those seated in high places at
washington, but it made no more
than passing impression, if that.
Many Pauper
Cemetary Receives Better Care.
And what Of this National ceme-
terry" and the care it receives today
at the hands Of this great govern
ment? In many a pauper cemetery
throughout the land greater care is
given to the last resting places of
the unknown dead who deserve moth
ing from their country. Desecrated,
violated, and sadly neglected, the
spots where the brave men of the
Seventh fell show too well the marks
of vandals' hands practically unhin-
dered and unguarded by the United
States government, although the en-
trance to this, the last resting place
of hundreds of American soldiers,
bears the words National Cemetery"
in bright gilt over the entrance to
this hallowed ground.
1t was while passing through Mon
tana less than four weeks ago that
an Idle word dropped by passenger
in Pullman car gave me indication
of the manner in which the govern
ment is so shamefully neglecting the
spot where so many fell in defense of
the flag. I decided to visit the place.
and ascertain if the stories were true
or merely exaggerations, as such
tales sometimes are.
The Custer battlefield is situated
seventy miles from Billings, Mont,
and about three miles from the Grow
Indian Agency, on the Little Big
Horn river. I arranged to leave
Billings at o'clock in the morning
on little jerk-water train of the
Chicago. Burlington & Quincy rail
road, which passes within a few
miles of the battlefield, and three
hours later, while it was yet pitch
dark, to reach the Crow Indian
Agency. After breakfast at the lit
tie hotel kept by former sergeant
of the United States army who caters
equally to the white men employed
at the agency and to Crows who
| work on the reservation, and daylight
having arrived, drove to the battle
ground.
In so far as the site is concerned,
| none nobler or more appropriate
could be asked for. Situated on the
sloping hills which extend back from
| the Little Big Horn river, and more
than two miles from that stream, is
the National Cemetery" where lie
the bones Of so many of the nation s
dead. Not all Of those who fell at
the hands Of the Sioux and Northern
Cheyennes are buried in these
grounds, for the bodies of Gen. Gust
er, whose actual rank at that time
was that of Lieutenant Colonel !;
Capt. Tom Custer, Capt. Miles Keogh,
Boston Custer, a relative Of Gen.
Custer, but civilian, and some ofic-
ers were later disinterred and taken
to Arlington Cemetery or elsewhere,
and buried. but stones mark the
spots where they fell.
The beautiful valley of the Little
Big Horn stretches away for miles
until lost in the distance, while be-
yond rise the majestic, snow-capped
mountains Of the Little Big Horn
range. which extend for more than
100 miles until lost to view in the
hazy distance. AS / stood and gazed
at the scene the thought came that
no grander stage setting could have
been devised for the tragedy which
startled the nation. The morning
was beautifully bright, with the won
derfully clear atmosphere of the west
Not vestage of snow was to be seen
except on the distant mountain, and
the blue sky was only fiecked here
Iand there by fieecy clouds. The ST.
lence was absolute. save when broken
| by the occasional chirp OF a cricket
the note of a bird. or the whistle Of
q distant freight train. Here was
peace, but In fancy one could hear
the fierce shouts and demoniacal
war cries Of the thousands OF enraged
and bloodthirsty Sioux and Cheyennes
as they circled around the band Of
men In blue knowing that they had
their enemies trapped this time and
i that many white mans scalps would
soon be In their hands.
Hitchins my team at the entrance
OF the Nationai Cemetery, I up.
preached the two-story stone house