The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-07-06

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 expedl-
ton under General Gibb0n, 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 own regi.
ment, some Grow, Snake and Blackfeet
Indian scouts, and the famous Diamond K
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 10 or II
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 322
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 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 day.
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 10
have 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 18th.
Lose Some of the Packs
AS we marched very rapidly, some of
the packs became loosened so we cut the
ropes and let them 90. One pack belonging
to my company was among them ana tne
Indians probably got them afterwards. we
rode down into ravine and went temper
arily into camp without unsaddling the
horses. We simply dropped down, threw
the bride rein over our arm and went 10
Sleep which was not an uncommon tnlng
for a cavaryman 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 lno lai
camp. After Custer came back the OH
GERS were called and he gave directions
about the battalion formations. we ate
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 battallon
that he took Immediately under his com
mand consisted of Troops c, commanded
by Capt. Thomas W. Custer, the genera
brother; Troop |, commanded by capt;
Myles W. Keough; Troop E, commanded
by Capt. George w Yates; Troop l., com
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 command or Major
Marcus A. Reno consisting of Troops NJ,
commanded by Capt. James H. brencn
Troop G, commanded by blrst b leuteIa ~.
Donald Mcintosh: Troop A, commanded by
Capt Myles NOLAN. The third battalion t2I
was commanded by Capt. FREDERICK ".
Benteen, consisting of his own troop "a
Troop K, commanded by First Lieut., "a "a
ward s. Godfrey, and Troop II, colnnanueu
by Thomas w. Weir. .,., -
About 100 pack mules constituted the
pack train under an escort OF capt. Inonas
W. McDougal with his own IIoop 70, aiS9
a detachment from each of the other II
under the command OF blrst
Lieut.. Edward G. Mathey of Troop NJ.
This pack train followed Clusters tran,
bluffs, which was very fortunate, as we
almost ran out Of ammunition.
Find Indian Lodges
We then rode over the divide. Lieuten-
ant Hodgson. who was assigned as adJu-
tant to Reno's battalion, rode from front
to rear of the battalion, giving orders TO
ride a little off from the preceding COM
pany, so that we would not raise a large
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 few aban,
Toned lodges, with the fronts of them tied
up, and it appeared that General CROOK
had an engagement on the sev,
,nteenth with some of those Indians, ana
IS some of their chiefs were killed, their
bodies We're put in these lodges, which ac-
counted for the fronts Of them being tied
Up, although we did not know what they
obtained at the time, and / think Custer
lad preparations made to charge that camp
linking it was an Indian camp. When we
yot as far as that we could look down
his little valley, and see objects ahead of
is. We could not tell whether they were
indians or buffaloes.
At this point / understand that Custer
rave the command to Reno TO overtake
hose Indians and he would support him,