The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1923-07-12
HERE is A NEW VERSION OF GWSTER'S LAST FIGHT, WHICH
is TOLD BY JOHN RYAN, TOP SERGEANT UNDER MAJOR RENO

/ commissary and medical stores from tn
pack mules, behind which the Wounds
rapidly increased from 10 to 80. DR.. Port
er also spoke in the highest terms of Free
Gerard, who aided him during the battl
in making a couple of amputations, anC
gave him invaluable assistance in othe.
respects.
Gerard was the only man in the com
mand besides Porter having any medica
knowledge. DR.. Lord was killed will
General Clusters command, and DeWol
was killed in Reno's command on the
side OF the hill.
Mike Madden, a regimental saddler in
the Seventh cavalry, was with Reno's com
mand. He was one of the parties who
went down to get a camp kettle of water
from the river from where Reno's mer
were entrenched for the wounded, and or
the way down he was shot in the leg
and had to remain there quite a while,
and when he was rescued his leg had 10
be amputated.
offers Leg for Drink
The rumor was that in amputating
his leg he was given a drink of whiskey,
and when he was revived after the ampu-
tation, he told the doctor that If he would
give him another good drink he might
take the other leg off. Madden recovered
and was sent to department headquarters,
saddler sergeant to General Terry's head
quarters. Madden was a very large and
heavily built man, and one of the ~iolliest
men in the regiment.
After the wounded were put aboard the
steamer Far West" Capt. Grant Marsh
started with the wounded dow to Fort
Lincoln, opposite Bismark, which is now
the capital of North Dakota, making a
trip of 900 miles in "a hours, and delivering
the wounded at Fort Lincoln on the night
of July 8.
After being relieved of the care of the
wounded, we Travelled down the Big Horn
river to the Yellowstone and then to the
mouth Of Tongue river. Here we remained
a few days. At this place. General Terry
sent four mounted men with a dispatch
to General Crooks expedition in regard
to the Custer battle.
Two of those were Seventh cavalry men
and the other two were infantrymen on
a couple Of cavalry horses. They Travelled
at night, and in the day time hid in the
canyons and rayines. They struck Crooks
and were back again to General
Terry's amman in about six days.
Pick Up Buffalo Bill
When they returned William r. Cody,
better known as Buffalo BILL" and Texas
Jack, better known as "~Omahundra," came
back with them, and remained with Major
Reno's battalion during the balance of the
expedition. They would generally ride
along somewhere on the flanks of the coll
umns, or ahead with the scouts, and after
that expedition broke up they remained
with the Seventh and ate with Captain
mess during the balance OF the
trip. / was well acquainted with both
men.
About the 10th OF July we were Joined
by General Crooks expedition. We also
large reinforcements of infantry.
General Miles regiment, the Fifth in
came from Fort Leavenworth and
joined the command, and the Twenty-sec
ond infantry, General Otis regiment,
came from the department Of the lakes.
We also received endorsements of de-
tachments of other regiments to swell our
forces. as l understood, to between 5000
and 1000 men.
After the different expeditions were con-
into one, we started after the
and followed them on their trail
for several days, until we found that they
packs, and we knew that we were get
ting pretty close to them, as we would
pass more than one of their camps in
a days march.
head of the column on a raise of ground
back to the rear and see the body of
troops. 1t put me in mind OF sheridan's
cavalry division starting out on a cam
during the civil war.
Gain on Indians
1t appears that we were gaining ground
the Indians. Finally, they broke up
into small bands and crossed over, max
ing for the British territory. The com
mands went into camp and gave up the
pursuit. They broke up into small bands
in order that they might throw the troops
off Of their trail, and at SOM future time
they all assembled at a certain point.
Finally the expedition returned. Cen
eral Crooks Travelled back in the
of Fort Fetterman. General Glib
command went up the Yellowstone
to Fort Ellis, Montana. The infantry and
commands were loaded aboard
and sent down the Yellowstone
and Missouri rivers to their former sta |
lions.
The Seventh cavalry numbering about
300 men moved back to the Yellowstone,
and crossed ON to the other side, and near
the Assiniboine agency, where we met our
wagon train. We then marched down the
Yellowstone to the Missouri, and came
by easy marches by Fort Buford
and Fort Stevenson.
After a few days march, we arrived at
AS we marched through Bis |
in the early morning the saloon
the ~bull-whackers and the gam
blers, Of which there was a heavy sprink-
ling, turned out to greet the boys.
AS we were about to enter the town, |
the captain of my company gave strict
for the men to remain in their
places, also to keep the sets of tours
heads straight to the front and
no talking, but a great many Of the boys
turned their eyes to the left to greet
some of their old acquaintance.