The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-26
TODAY IN HISTORY
Custcr's Last Flight.
SUNDAY, JUNE &c, 1910.

Cen William A. Custer was one OF the
most notable cavalry officers developed
during the War OF the Rebellion. IL was
his fortune to be In the thick Of the
conflict within few days after leaving
the training school at West Point, and
from that time until the day Of his
death his life was llled with strenuous
work and stirring adventure, in which
he was frequently exposed to deadly
peril. His whole career was with the
mounted arm OF tho service, and in that
he was remarkably successful.
The closing chapter or his Ife, which
came with what is known in history as
Clusters Last Fight" which occuri ed
on June 26, 1875, was a tragedy, but he
died like soldier i'll summing up fhc
character OF the man q biographcr gays:
Truth and sincerity. honor and bravery.
piety and temperance. were the main
spring OF Custer, the man."
For a number OF years after the Civil
war Custer had been engaged in Indian
lighting on the frontier OF the United
States. Many OF these engagements
were among the most thrilling in the
history OF Indian warfare in this coun-
try. Ills last battle was that of the
Little Big Horn river. which occurred
thlrty-four years ago today.
The expedition which led UP to this
famous battle was started on May II,
when General Terry, his officers, OF
LETT Fort Lincoln. Dakota. Every one
realized that the campaign was likely 10
be a decisive one. 1t was planned to
strike the Indians a serious blow-one
from which they could not recover
The advance was begun under favor
able conditions, and the Little Big Horn
mountains were reached on June %, and
the Indian village located. a slight ac-
cident gave the red men warning. No
body knows exactly how the battle of
Little Big Horn was fought. The state
ments made afterward by tho Indians
were contradictory. but they all agreed
tnGt clusters appearance WAS n great
surprise. The best evidence shows that
the Indians closed In on both right and
left and placed Custer at once on the
defensive, Closer and closer the coil
tlghtened around that plucky band. one
AFTER the other OF the troopers fell. the
horses were stampeded. the ammunition
ran low, no messenger had been able to
or@ak through the lines and the NOR
tallCy among the officers was heavy.
Then Custer had his troops fire two
volleys in succession, the usual cry for
help: 1t was heard In Reno's camp. its
slgnihcance was understood. but no help
tragedy. The Indians closed In from all
sides led by the cruel chiefs. Crow Klne,
Gail, Crazy Horse and Rain in the Face,
IL was hand-to- hand fight. 1t was $50
against 1000. Grouped about Custer were
twenty or thirty desperate men. They
Fought with their leader they fought for
their leader, until the last man Law dead.
nor an American officer or soldier lived
70 lesl me tale OF Clusters Last Fight"
Never in the history of the world was
the bravery. devotion TO duty and perfect
discipline OF troops a,ter illustrated AL
most without exception the bodies OF the
men were found just where they had
fought Each company was in the place
assigned, troopers in line and their off,
GERS In position. They fought n losing
battle, but they fought without linch-
Ing; they were killed. but not dlsgraced