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


they had seen tepeeS.
scouts. along with Charlie Reynolds.
Bloody Knife and others, and take the
trail and follow It, He struck the trail
and followed it at a rapid pace on the
23d and oath of July. At this point
the trail left the Rosebud and headed
toward the Little Big Horn. AS the
march had been very rapid, the horses
were tired and camp was made, Willie
preparations to start by 2 o'clock in
the morning to cross the divide which
separated the two streams was de-
termined on.
AT O'Clock the regiment was again
on the move. with the scouts ahead,
and by daylight they had crossed the
ridge The command was keeping in
the ravine or canyons out of sight and
moving as quietly as possible. The
scouts in advance came back and re-
ported to General Custer that they
had seen tepees, or Indian lodges,
which was true: but, as it afterward
turned out, the tepees which the scouts
had seen were three or four tepeeS
that had been put up for smallpox pa
tients away from the main Indian vii
lage.
General Custer divided his command
into three parts taking five companies
himself, Major Reno with five compa-
MES and Colonel Benteen with two
companies. to bring up the rear with
the pack train. Major Reno was or
dered to march straight on to the Lit
| tie Big Horn. while Custer would move
obliquely off to the right. making Il de-
| tour of some seven or eight miles and
striking the Little Big Horn at what
| he supposed would be the lower end
| Of the Indian village, while Reno was
| to strike it from the upper end. Gus
| ter was to work up the river and Reno
| down, while Reno was TO keep on COM
ing down the river until he joined with
Custer. and Benteen was to follow up
| with the pack train.
| AS near as we know. Reno struck the
| Indians little before Custer did, and,
of course, he, as well as Custer, was
surprised at the immense size of the
| village. There were ten times more
! Indians in this village than was indi-
| Gated by the Indian trail which they
4 had been following up the Rosebud. 1t
| is a fact that the Indians whom they
were following had just at this point
| and at this time joined the main band
] of Indians in camp on the Little Big
| Horn The principal chiefs among the
| Indians. of course. were Sitting Bull
i Gall, Crazy Horse, Rain-in-the-Iace
/ Little Big Man, Grass and many others
4 At first the Indians were taken com
i pletely by surprise, for they were Sc
numerous that they had failed to keep
scouts out at the usual distance, and
Il Reno's attack was the first that they
saw Of the soldiers Reno, instead OF
charging, held back when he saw the
immense numbers in front-his heart
indeed. failed him, and, abandoning
audacity, which is tile true motto OF
the cavalryman. though he failed tt
recognize it at this time, he dismount
II ed to fight on foot In his first charge
he was repulsed, and, as near as
have been able to learn. it was only 8
weak one, not on account of his Off
GERS or men, but it was the lack OF
1 faith and confidence in himself thai
took away the vim and dash that The
/ charge should have had
Rene, in looking over the situation
h preferred defense in preference to at
tack. He recrossed the Little ,Bi,
Horn and took up a position on ashill
where he dilly dallied around unit
the Indians, taking courage at his ap
parent weakness, made the fight OF
him all the fiercer. Most of the mel
that he lost were lost while crossin,
the Little Big Horn in retreat, SO as t,
get into the bluffs on the east side.
Major Reno. although having goot