The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-05-08

Another View Of Sergeant Flanagan
and Curley the Scout.

TO THE NEW York HERALD Your
statement that Sergeant Jimmy Elan
nagan bore a message from General
George A. Custer to Major Reno at tho
battle OF the Little Big Horn. evidently
ordering him to his rescue. is not in
accord with the account given by Gem
eral E s. Godfrey. retired. a troop
commander under Major Benteen. unless
Flanagan Is referred to when General
Godfrey tells OF Benteen's meeting at
water hole with the pack train. under
Captain McDougall, which was in the
rear OF Clusters force.
Not long after leaving the water
hole" says General Godfrey, "a SER
geant met him with an order from Gus
ter to the commanding officer Of the
pack train to hurry it up. The SER
geant was sent back to the train with
the message; as he passed the column
he said to the men We've got 'em.
boys From this and other remarks
we inferred that Custer had attacked
and captured the village. Shortly after
ward we were met by a trumpeter bear
ing this message, signed by Colonel
Cook: Benton. come on. Big village.
Be quick. Bring packs with this post
script, Bring packs"
Hearing shots. Benteen moved forward
at q gallop. expecting to encounter the
Indians driven back by Custer. In
stead he saw Reno engaged with the
Indians on the bluffs, having been de-
feated in the valley and driven across
the river into the hills. The two COM
mands united and about two hours later
were Joined by the pack train. with
which 1t is reasonable to suppose Elan
nagan remained, as he--if this sergeant
were he-escaped Clusters fate and is
net mentioned again.
Reno and Benteen remained on the
BLUFFS. Heavy firing was heard down
the river. During that time.'' says
General Godfrey. the questions We're
being asked, What's the matter with Gus
ter that he doesn't send us word what
we shall do?' Wonder what we're stay
ing here for7 60, thus showing some
uneasiness; but still no one seemed %
show great anxiety, nor do know that
any one felt any serious apprehension
but that Custer could and would take
care Of himself.
''Some of Reno's men had seen b party
Of Clusters command. including Custer
himself, on the bluffs about the time
the Indians began to develop in Reno's
front. This party were heard to cheer
and seen to wave their hats as If to
give encoura cement, and then they dis
appeared behind the hills or escaped
further attention from those below. 1t
was about the time OF this incident that
Trumpeter Martini left Cook with Gus
ter's last orders to Benteen."
As for Curley, the Crow Indian scout,
probably your correspondent misundsr-
stood him when he quoted him as saying
he rode ito Fort Keogh, at the Rosebud,
eighty miles away, where additional
reenforcements might possibly be Sc
cured" Fort Keogh was not in exist
ence until at least six mouths after the
fight. 1t was named in honor OF Cap
tain Myles Keogh, who was killed with
Custer. 1t is not on the Rosebud, but
at the junction Of the Tongue and the
Yellowstone. Moreover, as Custer well
knew, the only available troops were
then on their way up the Big Horn
oAs~SAr SSAASA0AS ASAAS dAus NApDou u
join Custer on the Little Big Horn where
they arrived the night. after he was
slain. $3.50 s <f
Whatever the case twenty-five years
ago. Curley is certainly not ostracized
by the Crows now for alleged cowardice
at the battle. He lives within a few
miles Of the Crow agency. IL a man OF
prominence in the tribe. and some eight
or nine years ago was sent by them
to Washington to present certain mat
tiers to Congress and the Indian Bureau,
and made an eloquent address before the
Committee on Indian Affairs H. H
WASHINGTON. May 6.