The National tribune., 1910-11-03
THE 7TH U. S. CAV.
It's Stormy History for .Four Year.

Editor National Tribune: VIII you
not give short sketch of the 18th L.
5. Cav. from 1872 to 1876? This was
Gen. Clusters regimcnt.-B. Frank
Whitehouse, Frederick, S. d.
In 1872 the 7th L. s. Cav. had. been
scattered thru seven States in the South
serving rs constabulary to aid the Off
GERS in the reconstruction policy. The
threatening attitude Of the Sioux in Da-
kota called for cavalry and the 9TH was
sent tbither Gen. S. ID. Sturgis. the
Colonel of the regiment, was assigned
10 duty at st. Paul. Mimi, and Mai.
Reno with one squadron was detailed
for escort duty with the Boundary Com
mission. The rest of the regiment went
TO Yankton, and then under Lieut.
Col. Custer reported to Gen. Stanley
at Fort Rice, where it was assigned to
duty in protecting the surveyors of the
Northern Pacific Railroad. The column
left Fort Rice June "a, and Aug. Gen
Custer had a fight with 900 Indians
near what was afterwards Fort Keogh
and drove the Indians from the field
by charge. The next day the Indians
killed the Sutler, veterinary surgeon, and
one enlisted man. Aug. II the Indians
attacked the regiment while in camp
on the Yellowstone, but were driven off
and then pursued eight miles. The
regiment lost one officer and two men
wounded and one man killed. The In
dian loss was 40 killed and wol>led
Gen. Sheridan had recommended the
establishment of n large military post
near the base of the Black Hills to
hold the Sioux in order. In June, 1874,
Custer went out from Fort Abraham
Lincoln to reconnoiter the country, and
spent so days in this. In September,
1874. six troops under Mai. Lewis Mer-
rill were sent to the Department of
the Gulf, where they remained until the
Spring Of 1876. Then all the troops
Of the regiment We're concentrated at
Fort Lincoln to join Terry's column
against the Sioux. The column left
Fort Lincoln May IT, and June % the
trail of a large body of Indians was
discovered on Rosebud River, and Gus
ter was sent with his regiment TO fol-
low this. The scouts reported that a
large camp had been discovered in the
valley of the Little Big Horn. In or
der to prevent the escape of the In
dians Custer decided to attack at once
and divided his regiment into three
squadrons, one Of five troops which he
commanded, and the others Of three
troops each, to be commanded by Reno
and Benteen. Reno was given the ad-
vance, while Benteen was sent off to
the left and south. Reno attacked
first the greatest collection of Indians
that had been seen within the memory
VI IidiI, anu WAS iDIctu Ddth Oh 10
the hills Then the Indians turned their
whole force upon Custer, who had made
an attack from the other side and 9 900
warriors equipped with the best maya
zine rifles surrounded the detachment
and speedily eXtermnate2 ii. Custer
had with him II officers and 191 en-
listed men. All of these were killed, as
well as Second Lieut.. Crittenden, Act
ing Asst Surgeon DeWolf, Custer's
brother and nephew, and Scout Rey-
nolds. Reno lost two officers and 46
men killed, and his Surgeon and Scout
Forty-four enlisted men were wound
ed. The Indians renewed their attack
on Reno, but were driven off and final
ly retreated. On the morning of June
q Gen. Terry came on the battlefield
and discovered Clusters fate. The In
dians dispersed and Sitting Bull with
the larger part o. them moved across
the line into Canada. After some furth-
er operations against the Indians the
regiment except Troop G, concentrated
at Fort Lincoln, and May !, 1877, left
there to join in the operations against
the Nez Perces. Sept. 13, 1877, the Nez
Perces were Overtaken and a fight fol-
lowed, in which three enlisted men
were killed and Capt. French and 10
men wounded. Sept. 30, 1877. the reg
iment had a severe fight with the In
dians in the valley of Snake Creek, and
finally, Oct. 4. Chief Joseph surrender
ed with all his peOple.-Editor Nation
al Tribune.