The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-12-18

OF courage and acquainted
with Indian life, thus described the
horrors of the battlefield as he saw
them in company with officers of Cen
eral Terry's command two days after.
Capt. Calhoun's company had the
advance and met the Indians near the
river. He had evidently been ordered
to hold his ground against the savage
onrush as his company had dismount-
ed and were found dead in company
formation with Calhoun and Lieut..
Critenden in place at the rear.
Capt. keogh and his men fell as
they stood fighting on a rids" tlaif I,
mile beyond Calhoun, and three-uuar-
tiers of a mile beyond Keogh we found
the spot on which Custer and his TWO
brothers and the gallant souls with
him had gone dow to a glorious
death while Reno and $50 men heard
the indian wal song and answered
not.
Capt. Yates and company sank
in their own blood around Custer, and
n Captain Smith and his men and
part of Captain Tom Clusters COM
pany net a similar fate in a seeming
ly bold dash down the slope to gain
the timber on the river. Their bodies
were scattered along a deep ravine
through which they fought like
heroes"
I 1t was on the strength of Girard's
statement that the writer wrote to
General Sheridan giving him the
facts. upon which General Sheridan
ordered Reno court marshaled, and
upon the evidence presented to the
court Reno was dismissed from the
service for c%owardice, and this ought
son who was the coward in the fatal
encounter.
Custer and his men died heroical-
ly fighting not over three miles from
where Reno and $50 men were hold
ing a hill unmolested, and within
hearing distance Of the struggle be-
tween Custer and his savage foes.
Mr.. Robinson says Reno was ten
miles disant and could have rendered
no aid. AS before stated Reno was
not v e three miles away and could
hear the firing for three hours. Reno
was stupefled with fear and cowardice
and he allowed his gallant chief to go
down without an effort to save him.
Had Reno charged with his full
force after Benteen and McDougal
came up, there is little doubt but the
Indians would have retreated, be-
cause the squaws and children we're
in full retreat when Reno retired
from the timber.
Mr.. Robinson says Reno could not
have got half way to Custer before
Custer and his 263 men we're wiped
out. Clusters command was not
wiped out" until near shutdown, said
Chief Gaul to the writer at Bismark,
when he was returning to Standing
Rock with Sitting Null form Canada.
{, Chief Gaul was the real leader in the
fight and as fine a looking Indian as
we eve saw. Reno could have reach
ed the Indians around Custer in
thirty minutes had he so desired, and
we regret that Mr.. Robinson should
get these historical facts so badly
mixed.
Had Reno fought as Custer fought,
or1 ho1 p1~%0o~ 1905
ders the battle of the Little Big Horn
might have proved Clusters last and
'reatest Indian victory.
The writer v discussed the bat
tie with Benteen, but many times
with Captain McDougall and Weir,
both splendid soldiers. They we're
not free in speaking of Reno, but we
have seen tears we'll up in the eyes
of gallant Tom Weir as he spoke of
the terrible slaughter.
The writer had a talk with Rain-in-
the-Face at Standing Rock after he
became a good Indian and was on the
police force. He did not claim that
he killed General Custer or Captain
Tom Custer, although he in common
with the circling Indians, fred as they
all fired to kill anyone in sight.
Gen. Custer had one bullet in the
head and one in his breast and was
not mutilated. His brother, Captain
Custer, who arrested Rain-in-the-Face
for killing the sutler of the regiment