The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-07-05


river Major Reno joined the command with
his six companies. During Renos scout he
ran across the Indian trail, so reported TO
General Terry upon his return: General
Custer formed a junction with the expedi-
ton under General GibbOn, consisting OF a
battalion of four companies of the Second
United States cavalry, commanded by Maj.
Brisbin, with six companies of the Seventh
ment, some Grow, Snake and Blackfeet
Indian scouts, and the famous Diamond X
wagon train, from Bozeman. After being
Joined by Reno's battalion there were 10
days rationS issued to the men, and one
half forage drawn for the horses.
Held Grand Review
Each company was issued about 70 or Is
pack mules, laden with rations, forage and
ammunition, carrying several thousand
rounds of pistol and carbine ammunition.
Each company was provided with one Ara
pahora.
The forenoon of June % we had orders
to get ready for a grand review, which we
expected would soon take place. We got
everything in readiness, as far as possible,
and at noon the Seventh cavalry, number
ing a little over 600 men, passed out Of
camp and passed in review before General
Terry, General Gibbons and General Gus
ter. This was the last review for about 80
of those men.
We made a short march of about 10 miles
up the Rosebud river and went into camp
early. We had orders that no trumpets
should be sounded, and to build very small
fires, which were to be extinguished inn
mediately after leaving camp. This was
done by throwing earth over the fires.
This was done also to prevent prairie fires.
On the morning of June % we were up
early and made a long days march. We
were on a large Indian trail and we passed
several of their old camps on that days
march.
We were up early on the morning Of
June "a and made another long days
march, passing several Of their old camps,
and marching until after dark. We were
rapidly closing up on the Indians. We
went into camp supposing that we were to
have a good nights rest. About the middle
of the night the officers went around from
man to man and woke them up. We had
orders to saddle up again and we marched
until Just before daylight on the 25th.
Lose Some of the Packs
AS we marched very rapidly, some of
the packs became loosened so we cut the
ropes and let them go. One pack belonging
to my company was among them ana Lne
Indians probably got them we
rode down into a ravine and went temper
arily into camp without unsaddling the
horses. We simply dropped down, threw
the bride rein over our arm and went to
sleep, which was not an uncommon thing
for a cavalryman to do on campaign.
1t appears that General Custer and some
of the scouts had gone ahead and got some
information Of the presence of the Indian
camp. After Custer came back the Off
GERS were called and he gave directions
about the battalion formations. We ate a
hearty breakfast first and for our bill OF
fare had raw bacon, bareback and cold
water. which we relished very much.
Here General Custer split the regiment
up into three battalions. The battalion
that he took Immediately under his com
mand consisted of Troops Z, commanded
by Capt. Thomas w. Custer, the generals
brother; Troop /, commanded by capt;
Myles W. Keough; Troop F., commanded
manded by First Lieutenant James Cal
houne, General Clusters brother-in-law ;
Troop e, commanded by First Lieut.. Al
genon e. Smith. He gave another battalion
of three troops in mman OF Major
Marcus A. Reno, consisting of Troops Nj,
commanded by Capt. James I'll. French
Troop G, commanded by First Lieutenant
Donald Mcintosh Troop A, commanded Dy
Can't. MyIes NOLAN. The third battalion
was commanded by Capt. FREDERICK W
Benteen, consisting of his own troop "a
Troop K, commanded by Fist Lieut.; 6d1
ward S. Godfrey, and Troop u, commanded
by Thomas w. Weir. 49,
About $50 pack mules constituted the
pack train under an escort OF capt. Ihomas
w. McDougal with his own Troop b, also
a detachment from each of the other II
companies under the OF bHst
Lieut.. Edward G. Mathey of Troop ".
This pack train followed clusters tran,
and later Joined Reno's battalion on the
bluffs, which was very fortunate, as we
almost ran out Of ammuhltlon.
Find Indian Lodges
We then rode over the divide. Lieuten-
ant Hodgson, who was assigned as adJu.
tant to Reno's battalion, rode from IroHe
to rear of the battalion, giving orders to
ride a little off from the Preeeding t e0ms
pany, SO that We would not raise a arg
dust cloud, which would warn the Indians
of our approach.
After crossing the divide, we moved
down through a small valley, and around
the foot of the bluff. We saw a few aban,
doned lodges, with the fronts of them ted
up, and it appeared that General CROOKS
m had an engagement on the sew
enteenth with som Of those indians E,11 / tb aaq
bodies were put in these lodges, which ae-
counted for the fronts of them being tied
up, although we did not know what they
contained at the time, and think custer
had preparations made to charge that camp
thinking it was an Indian camp When we
got as far as that we could look down
this little valley, and see objects ahead OF
us. We could not tell whether they were
Indians or buffaloes.
At this point | understand that Custer
gave the command to Reno to o~Yertake
those Indians and be would support niH'