Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-02-08

"-i' N'NiN- nNi ing lne leit bank Of
the Little Big Horn. the stalwart
+ troopers under Bcno's command cazed
up the steep BLUM t0 wave farewell 10
their comrades disappearing 90 the
right Last off aiI Custer halted his
horse an instant. sulolcttod AGAINST
the blue Sky. and swung his hat be-
fore squirting ont of sight
The plan of battle was most simrle
and direct 10 involved a nearly sim
ultancous attack upon The vast Indian
VILLAGE from below and above. success
depending altogether unon the u~omrt
cooperation Of the separate detrch-
ments. Scarcely bad Clusters slender
column of horsemen vanished across
the summit before Rcao's command
advanced trottar down the valley.
The Arikara scouts I'm the lead. They
mad been chosen Co strike the FIRST
blow. to force their way into tho lower
village. and thus 90 draw tho defend
Ing warriors to their front. while Gus
. ter's men were 90 charge upon tbe
rear
halfuiie a mile Bcno's troops
rode. with no sound breaking the S.
f lence hut the pounding of hoofs the
uuN.c OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS Then. round
ing sharp projection OF earth and
Fpck. che scattered lodges cf thc In
dian Filaee already partially revealed
Co those in advance. the riders were
brought to sudden bale hv fierce
cracking az rides from rock and m
vine. Men zen curs'uc. and the f-ieht.
cnet horses 6werved. their riders
strugglns madly with ;heir mounts
the column thrown into momontorv
confusion. but the surprised cavalry
men, qlaUlng beneath The hot tire
poured iuto chem. rallied Co the shouts
of their officers. and SWUNG into a
slender battle front. stretching ont
their Thin limo from the bank az tho
river to The sharp upuft of tho u.osf
ern o.uds. Scarcely 800 white troor
ers waited to stem CAS- best they mirht /
that fierce onrush OF 1900 battle /
crazed braves.
t.or an almost breathlcss space those
mingled hordcs Of Sioux and Chov.
enncs hcsitatcd to drive straight home
their dcath-blow. They knew those
silent men in the blue shirts. knew
they died hard Upon that slight
pause piyotod The fate OF the day:
upon 60 hung the lives OF those other
men riding boldly and trustfrllv across
the sunNt ridges above. "Audacity.
always audacity." that is tho accepted
motto Tor cavairyman. And De the
cause what it may Dr. was here that
Maj. Reno failed. In that supreme in-
slant Dee was ruuty OF hesitancv.
doubt delay. Ue chose defense I'm
preference 90 attack. daufcd where hc I
should have acted. The observing
savages. gathering courage from his
apparent weakness. burst forth I'm ro-
sistless torrent against the slender 1
unsupported line. turned his flank by
one fierce charge. and hurled the 4
struggling troopers back with a rush .
into tho narrow strip OF timber border q
ing the river.
The whole narrow valley seemed Co !
swarm with braves. they poured forth I
from shcitering couleos and shaGowei /
rayiues. they dashed down in count
less numbers from the distant village. !
Custer. now far away behind the
blufs. and almost beyond sound OF /
the firing. was utterly ignored Every
savage chief knew exactly where that
column was. but 10 could wait It's turn .
In lcaderless effort Go break away /
from that swift gathering Gordon. be
fore the red remorscless folds should I
close tighter and crush them 20 death. A.
the troopers. half OF them already dis .
mounted. burst from cover In an en-
deavor 20 attain the shelter OF the
BLUFFS. The deadly Indian rifles
famed in their faces. and they were .
hurled back. a mere fleeing mob
searching for nothing in that moment
or terror but a possible passageway !
across the stream. Through some
rare providence of God. they CHANGED
TO strike the banks al a spot where
the river proved fordable They
plunged headlong in. officers and men /
commingled, the Indian bullets churn-
ing up the water on every side. The
loss in that wild retreat (Which Reno
later called a CHARGE was heavy.
the effect demoralizing. but those who (;
escaped found a spot well suited for
defense. Even as they swung down 4
from OF their wounded, painting horses
and flung themselves fat upon their
faces to sweep with hastily leveled
carbines the river banks below. Ben
teen came trottng calamity down the
valley 20 their aid, hiE troopers fresh /
and eager 10 be thrown forward on
the iring-line. The worst was over.
and Ike maddenad lions. the rallied
soldiers Of the Seventh, cursinS their
folly, turned TO strike and slay.
line Of skirmishers was hastily
thrown forward along the edge OF the
blum, while volunteers. urged by the
agonized cries of the wounded, en-
deavored vainly TO procure q supply
OF water from the river. Again and
again they made the effort, only to be
driven back by the deadly Indian rife
IRE. BY three o'clock. although the
majority OF the savages had departed
down the river. enough remained to
keep up a CALLING FIRE. and hold Reno
strictly on the defensive.
AS the men lay exposed to the con.
tinuous shipping fire. above the sur
rounding din were borne 10 their ears
~.