The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1923-07-05

river Major Reno Joined the command with
his six companies. During Reno's 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
United States infantry, Gibbons W regl-
ment, some Crow, 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 - or 10
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
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 322
of those men.
We made a short march of about Is 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 i'm
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 aftpr 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 and the
Indians probably got them We
rode down into a rayine 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 thlng
for a cavalryman to do on campaign.
1t appears that General Custer and some
of the scouts had gone ahead and got some
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 q
hearty breakfast first and for our Dill OF
fare had raw bacon, bareback and colo
water, which we relished very much
Here General Custer split the regiment
that he took Immediately under his COM
IHand consisted of Troops c, commanded
by Capt. Thomas W. Custer, the generals
brother; Troop !, commanded by capt;
Myl eap " ee aeeeg ". Yaf { + Troop eGn L., ee@,
handed by First Lieutenant James car
houne, General Clusters brother-ln-law
Troop E., commanded by First Lieut.. Al
Of three troops in command of Major
A. Reno, consisting OF troops NJ,
commanded by Capt. James ID; French;
Troop G, commanded by First Lieutenant
Capt. Myles NOLAN. The third battalion
was commanded by Capt. Frederick w.
consisting of his own Troop a;
Troop K, commanded by First Lieut.. ia,
ward S.. Godfrey, and Troop u, commanded
Thomas w. Weir.
About $50 pack mules constituted the
pack train under an escort of capt. Inomas
w. McDougal with his own Troop u, also
4 detachment from each of the other. II
companies under the command OF b1rst
Edward G. Mathey of Troop M.
This pack train followed Clusters tran,
md later joined Reno's battalion on the
bluffs, which was very fortunate, as we
almost ran out of ammunition.
Find Indian Lodges
We then rode over the divide. Lieuten-
int Hodgson, who was assigned as ad1u-
ant to Reno's battalion, rode from front
% rear of the battalion, giving orders to
'ide a little off from the preceding COM
lany, so that we would not raise a large
lust cloud, which would warn the Indians
# our approach. -
After crossing the divide, we moved
through a small valley, and around
he foot of the bluff. We saw a Few aDan,
lodges with the fronts OF them tied
ln, and it appeared that General Crooks
Command had an engagement on tne sew,
with some of those Indians, and
s some of their chiefs were killed, their
'odies were put in these lodges, wnlch &C,
for the fronts of them being tied
p, although we did not know Mimi, What ru they
Lad preparations made to charge that camp
linking it was an Indian camp. When we
his little valley. and see objects ahead of
IS. We could not tell whether they were
indians or buffaloes.
At this point 1 understand that Custer
ave the command to Reno to overtake
hose Indians and he would support him,