The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1922-02-10

American history may always Cla0"
sify Major Reno az q coward for his
failure to 60 to the assistance Of Gem
eral Custer and his force mastered
In June. 1875, but this classification
is grievous injustice to brave man
and an able military leader, in the
opinion Of Tom Newcombe, veteran
scout and trapper, who helped bury
Custer and his men. Newcombe, vino
is Is years old, but AZ alert and Wig
orous as many men are at. 80, stopped
In Butte last week en- route to Hell
ena. where he was called on a mining
venture.
The historical incident, recently
given new interest by moving pic
ture play filmed on the famous Gus
ter battlefield and in which Major
Reno was portrayed as rank cow
ard, embraces facts known to New
combe at first hand.
1T was an utter impossibility for
either Major Reno or Major Benteen
to 60 to the assistance Of General
Custer" said the Butte visitor.
All Over Soon
I'm the first place, the fight which
annihilated Custer and his men was
over almost az soon as It began. In
this connection, while at q reunion
years ago. I asked Chief Gaul, who
led the Indians participating, how
long the massacre took. He replied:
While the fight lasted the sun stood
STILL BY this he meant that the fight
was over 50 quickly that no change
in the position of the sun was no.
ticeable.
The True Facts
Here are the true facts in con-
nection with the memorable battle.
Custer was in charge of a regiment
lof the Seventh cavalry. Following
trouble In the Black Hills they were
looming down the Little Big Horn
river. Renegade Indians from all
over the northwest, from distant
points even in Canada, had been as
sembling at the call of Chief Gaul Of
the Sioux all summer. I have Chief
0aul's word for it that the forces
Opposing Custer numbered approx
mately $4,000. They we're drawn
from all of the tribes of the Sioux
!Blackfeet, Piegans, and in fact, from
fleet, all of the dissatisfied OUTLAW
tribes of the northwest.
From runners, the Indians knew
of the position and strength of al
1.-THE United States forces, and the,
were determined to make a stand
They thought they could stand Of
the United States army, and the!
came pretty near doing it, too.
Divided His Forces
THE Little Big Horn was running
full and Custer found it impossible,
to cross 1t, so when near the sit
of the subsequent massacre, he div
ided his regiment into three batta
lions, sending one battalion unde
Reno about 10 miles up the rive
and a second under Benteen fiv
miles up. The scouts were all wit
Benteen, so Custer was surrounde
almost before he knew of the proxi
nifty of the Indian band. A skirm
ish line, which he had thrown out
was slaughtered almost instantly
monuments now marking the spot
i where the men of this line fell. Til
: Indians were plentifully armed wit
= Winchester rifles, most of whic
q were the model 70, q weapon whic
!. was popular with the Indians. The
y closed in ON Custer and his bant
t and It. was all over in q very brie
i time.
t I'm the meantime Reno, who wa
i to cross the river and come down th
= other side, couldn't effect a crossinl
and he started back toward Benteel
Benteen and his men got across an
d were engaged by the Indians. Reu
% came down and followed Benteen.