The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1923-07-05
HERE is A NEW VERSION OF CUSTER'S LAST FIGHT, WHICH
is TOLD by JOHN RYAN, TOP SERGEANT UNDER MAJOR RENO

came in sight of this camp the commits
stoned officer Of the guard had orders to
Join his company, while the command OF
this guard fell to my lot. l had orders to
keep an account of the number of horses
and mules that played out. ! helped TO
shoot As horses and So mules which were
used up on that day and could not keep
up with the wagon train.
A Costly Expedition
If those animals were left on the prairie
they would recuperate, and the Indians
would get them, and probably use them
in raids on the settlers. We also burned
up the wagons, cut up the harnesses and
destroyed them, and saddles and brides
belonging to the dismounted men. This
expedition cost the government a great
many thousands of dollars.
Some years afterward, while stationed In
Kansas, and when we were about to be
relieved from duty in that state, to pro-
coed to the southern states, we were re-
lieved by the Sixth United States cavalry
regiment on its way from Texas passed
through the whole of the Indian territory
and southern Kansas, and finally arrived
at Fort Hayes, having travelled over a great
many miles of Clusters trail on its march,
which was quite noticeable on account OF
the remains of Clusters burned wagons
In 1869, after coming off of the winter
campaign with General Custer, we were
stationed at what was known as Camp
Near-Fort-Hayes," on Big creek, in the
vicinity of Hayes City, on the line of the
Kansas Pacific railroad, doing the usual
drilling and scouting.
We were recruiting up after our long
summer and winter campaigns, a large per-
centage of our horses having been used up
by a number Of horses which were turned
over to us from the Nineteenth Kansas
volunteer cavalry, commanded by Colonel
Crawford, ex-governor of Kansas, and
which regiment was with us on a part of
that winter campaign.
Deserters Steal Horses
We also lost a great many men by de-
sertion and a great many of those deserters
stole many of our best horses.
The men were almost destitute of cloth
ing, our trousers being patched with
seamless meal bags. A large number OF the
hats belonging to the men were made of
the same material. The legs of our cavalry
boots were pretty well scorched and burn
ed from standing around the camp fires,
and as substitutes we used leggings made
pieces of tents
A number of men had to use WOODEN
blankets in place of overcoatS, especially
companies who lost their overcoatS on
Nov. 81, 1868, known as the battle of the
Washita, already referred to. Those over
coats were captured by the Indians, and
you can talk about ragamuffins in this
part of the country on a Fourth of July,
but they could not begin to compare with
The Seventh cavalry when coming off that
campaign.
In 1870 we were stationed at what was
known as Camp Sturgis, on Big creek,
in the vicinity of Hayes City, do
ng the usual scouting and drilling. Here
we received a large number of recruits and
lorSeS.
In 1871, 1872 and a part of 1878 we were
n the southern states with General Gus
after what were known as the XXX
the moonshiners and the White Leag-
lers, in North and South Carolina, Ala
)ama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Ken
.ould tell many an interesting scory, which
have not space at the present time to do.
Sent to Dakota
In 1878 the regiment assembled at Mem
his, Tenn, and then proceeded by boat
nd rail to Yankton, Dakota territory:
he Missouri river, for some 500 miles,
'assing the different lines of forts and In
ian agencies, and finally arriving at Fort
tice, Dakota territory. Then after lying
n camp for a short time with other troops
t Fort Rice, an expedition was organized
Inder General Stanley to explore the bad
and the Yellowstone valley. We par
with General Custer on that ex-
edition, in the battle of the Big Horn, and
he battle of Tongue river, and the battle
f Pompey's Pillar.
In 1874 We were engaged with General
ulster exploring the Black Hills, on what
yas known as the Black Hill expedition in
Dakota.
In 1875 we were engaged in suppressing
utbreaks at the different Indian agencies
long the upper Missouri river. During
be summer of 1875 the Indians had been
depredations on the settlers,
be ranchmen, and among the friendly Ind
ms. The winter of 1875 We were stationed
t Fort Rice, Dakota territory.
In 1876 another expedition was organized
t Fort A. Lincoln, to go against the Ind
ms, under command of Gen. Alfred Terry,
Tho commanded the department of Dakota.
[y company started with two other com
anies from Fort Rice, Dakota territory,
nd went to Fort A. Lincoln, under com
land of Capt. r. w. Benteen, and went
ito camp. Other troops assembled from
he different forts, and troop K came dir
It from the southern states.
Start on Way
General Custer was called ava from the
to Washington on some business per-
lining to the army, and was detained at
Washington for some time against his
ishes. He finally returned in time to take
,mmand of his own regiment, the Seventh
lvalry. under General Terry. This expe-
ition consisted of II companies of the
eventh United States cavalry, numbering
oout 80 commissioned Officers and 700
len a battalion Of infantry composed of