The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-16

were the Sioux, 1t would have been
folly under ordinary circumstances for
them to resist the big force sent to
overawe them. The plans of the gov
eminent were to swoop down upon
the hostiles In three columns-one
under General Terry from the east.
one under General Crook from the
south and the other under General
Gibbon from the west. This practical
~ would surround the Indians pre-
venting their escape in any direction
but the north. and pursui. would be
easy Terry's column was the strong
est. and included the famous Seventh
Cavalry. which General Custer COM
manded No one doubted Clusters
courage, but some persons have ques-
lItioned his judgment. He had been
suspended for year for cruelty
to his men in former campaign and
was under a cloud when this one open
ed. Eager to wipe out the stain. anx-
ious to win the good opinion of Cen
eral Grant, his old chief, who had cen.
sured him at the time of suspension,
he exercised less caution than was
wise. Crook had been delayed by hos
tiles Terry had moved up the yell
lowstone as far as Rosebud, where he
fortified his camp. From this camp
Custer rode forth on June %. 1875,
with the Seventh Cavalry, intending
to go to the north OF the Indians and
drive them down the Little Big Horn
and into the clutches OF the strong
force moving from that direction
| He came upon the main trail OF the
/, hostiles on June %. and followed it In
to the valley OF the Little Big Horn.
/ r t1a ba II Ia W. 1n6
| into trap That there was going
|! to be fight he was certain. but he
was confident Of his ability to crush
| the force he would encounter. More
determined to cut off the hostiles than
| to hold all his command together. he
!; sent Major Reno with three troops to
cross the river, scout for the enemy
! and attack the Indians from the west.
Poor Custer! Not long after Reno,
with 1873 troopers, had departed, Gus
| ter came suddenly upon the camp OF
the Sioux. He had only ais officers
4 and men. The indians numbered thou
1 sands. Every move Custer had maze
! from the day he left, Rosebud had been
watched by the savages. Every pre-
! paration had been made for driving
/, him into the trap. When Custer came
4 upon the Indians he did not hesitate
] a minute The charge was sounded
4 and soon Indians and white men We're
in struggle to the death. The de-
tails Of that fight never VIII be known
Z, for not one man of all the BIS whites
I lived to tell the tale. How long they
4 fought can be estimated only The
bodies of 314 Of the 315 were muttlat-
4 ed by the Indians. Clusters body was
!: spared.
he Rudio was with Reno. Within
q few hours Of leaving Custer and be
i fore he could get to the west OF the
'iLittle Big Horn Reno was attacked
/. He. too. was let into a trap. CRAFTY
\ fighters are those Sioux. Reno man
the troops dismounted in order tc
fight on foot, the horses. Tor bettel
Il protection. being placed among IN
trees. The Indians sent party arount
! to enter the wood from the rear =
s kill the horses. Some OF the animal
Y had been slain before this new DANCE
4 was discovered. Then Reno gave or
) ders for the troopers to make rus
4 into the woods mount and dash 70
= higher ground, But when the mo-
4 endeavored to carry out tho orde
!, there were not enough horses to q
], around. Those VINO could reach morse
y jumped into saddle, and then; led .
: Reno made glorious run throus
5 the ranks Of the Indians, raced 70 !.
nearby elevation, and then hnrrledl
S intrenched themselves. But Llauten
/ ant De Rudio and fifteen other me
We're left in the woods. there pom
$ no horses. for them to mount.
Reno, when -he had opportnnltS '
look over his little force, found I'm
' in addition to the men left p ~
1 woods he had lost three officers an
s twenty-nine men killed and aeYe
!, I wounded,
!. De Rudio and the fifteen In the Woon
! were In desperate plight. They Wsf
), surrounded by perhaps 1000 indian
De Rud!o took command or the litll
: force. He formed his men ina e,fei
so they could fight to the host ndvul
tage,g Their ammunition was shof
they had no water or food and tho
VI Ewere outnumhered 100 to I, l'lHhi
ling from behind trees, never shoot
ing except when the shot was sur
to count. the little band fought on dok
~