Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-25
ANNIVERSARY OF
CUSTER MASSACRE
General E. S. Godfrey Will Make
Memorial Address on Historic
Battlefield Today.
HOPES TO CORRECT THE RECORD

Billings, Mont, June 24.-Custer's
massacre on the battlefield of Little
Big Horn near here is to be recalled
tomorrow by the fortieth anniversary
of the historical event, according to
completed arrangements of commit
tees i'll charge OF the celebration. Cen
eral F. S, Godfrey, survivor of Gus
ter's famous Seventh cavalry, is to
give the memorial address and read
brief message to the people of the
northwest from Mrs. George A. Gus
ter of New York, who is unable to
be present at the celebration.
The historic battlefield has been
arranged as near like it was on the
memorable Sunday, June Is, of forty
years ago An Indian village of about
$50 tepecs has been pitched and be-
tween 1000 and 5000 Indians are
ready to take part in the celebra-
tion.
1t is hoped by the committees OF
Billings and Hardin, Mont, and
Sheridan, Wyo., who are in charge
of the arrangements, that the me-
mortal of the massacre will dispel
many of the MISUNDERSTANDING rela-
tive TO the famous battle that have
existed for many years. 1t has been
pointed out that Custer really wore
his hair cut short in his campaign
against the Sioux, whereas invari-
ably he is pictured by artists and de-
scribed by writer's as wearing long,
yellow locks. General Custer also is
almost universally depicted as wear
ing saber. There were no sabers
with the Seventh cavalry on the ex-
pedition.
History Of Battle.
y In the spring of 1876 the Sioux be-
came restless and took up the war
path. Their depredations led to send
ing an expedition, commanded by
General Terry, against them. He left
Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota, May
IL, 1876, with command consisting
OF the Seventh cavalry, companies
from the Sixth and Seventeenth regi-
ments of infantry and long wagon
train. The command marched over
land the entire distance, the infantry
and wagon train being left behind to
form supply camp at the mouth of
the Powder river. The cavalry, with
pack mules, continued.
At the mouth of the RosebId, on
the Yellowstone, Terry's column met
General Gibbon, who had come from
the west with six companies Of the
Seventh and four troops of the Sec
ond cavalry. From here, on June %,
Custer, with 800 men, was sent for
ward to the Little Big Horn to at
tack, should he deem advisable, a
camp of Sioux. Custer covered the
distance of 100 miles in three days,
and learning that the Indians were
ahead, prepared to attack, he divided
his command, giving Reno three COM
panies. Benteen three and retaining
FIVE himself. He detailed Captain
McDougall, with one company, to act
as rear guard. n#5
Reno and Benteen went forward.
The former almost Immediately en-
gagged the Indians in overwhelming
numbers and retreated to the crest
of Reno's hill, four miles from the
battlefield. Custer, instead of sup
porting Reno. as he had originally
planned, passed around him on the
east side OF the stream and was furi-
ously attacked by large body of
Sioux He was surrounded on =
ridge and his whole command was
wiped out in less than two hours
after the fight started. Reno and
Benteen fought the Indians the rest
Of the day and until Terry and Glib
bon arrived during the afternoon OF
the third day,