Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-03-17


CASTOR seemed to have completely lost
soldierly intelligence The Indians, as
was afterward learned, were COM
pletely taken by surprise. and the great
war chief. Gall, personally directed the
attack on Reno and was making prep
arations to surround him on the hill,
evidently unaware of Clusters proxim-
ity on the other side of the village.
This shows what could have been done
had Reno charged onward and kept
this greatest CT the war chiefs occu-
pied instead of thus permitting him
to Leave a few men to threaten Reno,
while he concentrated his warriors on
the other side of the village against
Custer. A messenger to Benteen from
Custer. ordering him to "come on quick
and bring the packs" had caused that
gallant officer TO hasten. but, overtak-
ing Reno, who outraHlled him. he was
ordered to join his demoraliZed forces
and was compelled to obey. The lat
ter thought that the two commands
combined, which numbered 400 men,
would soon take measures to get into
action. But the appeals of such Of
ficerS as Benteen, Weir, French and
others to lead OH were without avail.
The last seen of Custer as he start
ed into the ever to be remembered bat
tie of the Little Big Horn was when
he went over the ridge and waved his
hat in salute to the other commands.
Custer, making Il wide detour to fall
on the rear of the village, or what he
thought was the rear, Immediately
struck very strong band of Indians
led by Chief Gall.
They had crossed the river at point
where they were concealed by u large
ravine and got on Clusters flank. and
so astute had been Chief Calls ar
| engagements that he found himself at
| tackled in front and ON all sides. Gus
! ter'S first charge was successful until
he saw the immensity of the village.
| He saw that 1t was Il city instead of Il
village. There being a high hill Il half
mile back from the Little Big Horn,
| Custer decided to take this as a stand
point. He sounded the recall and tried
| to make this hill. He had 10 turn his
back while doing so. The Indians are
never SO brave as when they get any
ones back to them. On their retreat
to the hill half of his men were killed.
The rest took up positions, but the In
dams, being so clated at killing so
many of his men from the Little Big
Horn up to the. hill and the failure of
Reno to attract the Indians continual
~ coming down the Little Big Horn,
almost all the fighting Indians concen-
trated on Custer and fought him TO
death
Fighting desperately to gain point
higher up. no doubt, he was, however
compelled to dismount his men and
act ON the defensive Unable to adj
vance or retreat and probably unwill
ing to do so, he must have based his
actions on the diversion that the either
commands would make. Steadfastly
believing this from later Indian ac
counts. they fought coolIy, hoping and
expecting for re-enforcementS which
never came. bet succeeded in keeping
up the fight for some time. The In
dams, we'll armed and in overwhelm
ing numbers. circling and riding a
| Spctus kept up Il CONTINUOUS anu tI
fective fire, while skirmishers ant
marksmen crawled through the grass
picking OF officers. In the meanwhile
Reno was still lying on the hill, al
though they could hear the reports o
firearms below. and uotwithstandin:
that Benteen, Weir, French and Others
continued their appeals and that thu
ecEoing volleys cried for assistance h
remained there until all was silent. tn,
Indians eventually killing Custer ant
every one of his gallant band. Reno
: was kept annoyed by the savages unit
the arrival of General Terry and Glib
bons command. while on the SECOND
day the Indians set fire TO the grasses
to cover their movements With smoke
and drew off. Afterward visit to tn
battle scene told the story of Custer
last battle. showing that every one ha,
: ut least done his duty and. though de
feated. was not disgraced. They al
died in the proper military formation
every officer ut his post and every mai
in line. Clusters body was found. and
although all the others were mutilate'
g or scalped. his body seemed to hav
:, been untouched except by his dealt
$ wounds, this being a tribute from tn
2 savage foe to his courage and gallan
2 try. His brother, Captain Tom, ant