The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-12-17

| thAe SomCtAAhG ldu SOuC WIOuS. L III
Indians now spread the alarm an(
quickly sprang to arms. To quote
from RenO's own report to the Wal
Department: II could not see Gus
ter or any other support. and at the
same time the very earth seemed 4
grow Indians, and they were runnirc
toward me in swarms, and from al
directions. The result was that h
\ grew undecided and attacked n q
half hearted manner. and not vi !
the headlong dash that Custer had
expected.
But there was nothing half-heart 4
about the Indian attack. Gatheri, 3
fboldness from Reno's INDIGESTION. til ey
hurled themselves upon him, throw
ing him back up the river bank in a
growth Of small timber. at the same
time pouring in CALLING fire that
dropped many of his men dead OF
wounded. Fearing that he would be
annihilated here. he abandoned his
attack and led his men in a wild
dash for safety across the river to-
ward the bluffs where Custer had
last been seen. BY good fortune he
CHANGED to strike wide pass leading
from the river up between the bluffs.
and through this his demoralized
command went laundering up toward
the hills above. found this pass so
steep that dismounted to lead my
pony, but it is safe to say that there
was no dismounting when Reno's
men went surging up through 1t in
headlong retreat Quiet and lonely
enough it is today, but one can i'm
agine the pandemonium that reigned
here when hundred perspiring
troopers came spuring up through it,
their foaming horses kicking up chok-
Ing clouds of dust, and thousand
yelling savages swarming in the rear.
Out of that mad throng, one man, an
army surgeon, turned to face the red
tide behind, and today a solitary
grave stone standing midway up the
slope, tells the story of his heroism.
! 1t reads, -. M. DeWolf, Asst. Sur
geon, Fell Here June 25th, 1876"
On up the pass, on the summit of a
bare hill, there is seen today a
trench two feet deep with bank Of
earth in front sweeping around the
crest of the hill in the shape of a
horseshoe. 1t was here that Reno
halted his perspiring command, hav-
killed and wounded. Just at this
time he was reinforced by three hum
dred men coming up from the rear,
which probably saved him from an
initiation. Dismounting his men, he
sent the horses down an adjacent
gully; today a pile of bones marks
the location of the horses, many OF
them having been killed by the fire
of the Indians. Throwing themselves
to the ground, his men encircled the
hilltop, replying to the fire Of the
Indians, who now swarmed around
them.
The attack however, gradually sub
sided, most Of the Indians Withdraw
ing and galloping off in thesdirection
Custer had taken. Soon heavy firing
was heard in that direction, and they
knew that it could only be Custer
engaged with the Indians. Reno has
been severely criticised for not has
tening to join him at this time. Even
tually, the story goes q don't know
how true the firing slackened per-
ceptibly. and then two heavy volleys
rang out in quick succession. All
felt that this must be Custer calling
for help, and Reno's officers implored
him to let them charge to the rescue;
but he positively refused to leave ms
position. AS the day declined, the
distant firing gradually died out;
then the Indians came racing back
over the dusty hills and once more
furiously attacked Reno. Holding the
position he did, he was now able 70
hold off; but not until darkness Tell
did they abandon their fierce on
slaughts and go galloping down TO
their village in the valley.
Scarcely had they regained their
camp when they burst into WHO
.revel which has perhaps never Deen
eoualled in the annals OF the sioux
nation. For miles the broad valley
g'owed with their fires and resounded
with the shouts and yells OF the scalp
dance. The bloOd-curling yells came
mn distinctly to the beleagured gar,
rison on the dry hilltop, but they ala
not realize the terrible significance
~ it-did not know that the red war
riors were beside themselves with JOY
and were celebrating their Victory
over the dreaded Custer, VINO al ina.
moment was lying dead with all ms
men on the hills three miles away.
All night long the pandemonihm
reigned, the sleepless white men Oh
the hin stoiling away caring for their
wounded and barricading for the at
tack they knew would come at Day
break
1t came at the peep OF dawn.
Swarming up out of the valley, the
entire force of warriors now sur
rounded the little band OF four Hmm
bred as If TO crush 1t by sheer force
of numbers. Reno, in his report der
CARES that there were number OF
white men with the Indians. To use
his own words: 1--WE could see as
the day Frightened, countless hordes
Of them pouring up the valley from
the village and scampering over the
high points toward the places desig-
mated for them by their chiefs, and
which entirely surrounded our posi-
ton. They had sufficient numbers to-
completely encircle us, and men were
struck from opposite sides Of the lines
from which the shots were fired.
think we were fighting all the Sioux
nation, and also all the desperadoes,
renegades, haIf-breeds. and squaw-
men east OF the Rocky Mountains.
they must have numbered at least
49, u l.. .{<xr~