Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-11
Fifty Years Ago
I'm The Star

p
contain the stories Of the Custer
-, Massacre. The fight In
Inc Custer which Gen. George A.
1Fas..nr. Custer and his command
: SAe' were overwhelmed at
Little Horn River took place on the
18th OF June, 1876, but the news of
the disaster did not reach the East
for several days. In The Star Of
July s, 1876, IL the following:
A disastrous fight at Little Horn
proves that the troops of the Regular
Army have no mean foe in the hos
tile Sioux. Heretofore our Indian
campaigners have acted on the no.
ton that one soldier was capable of
successfully contending with from
10 to 20 Indians, and the most sue
cessful of our officers have made 1t
a rule, after a brief slSirmish, to
charge down upon the savages, who
almost invaribly fed and abandoned
the contest. So successfully has
this style of tactics been employed
that heretofore 1t has been taken
for granted that no force of Indians,
however large, would stand their
ground against an impetuous charge
OF cavalry. Unfortunately. in this
deplorable affair at Little Horn Gen.
Custer seems to have acted on this
theory. The war with the hostile
Sioux has now become q serious bust
ness. The loss of IL commissioned
officers and more than 500 men must
convince our general officers operat-
ing against the Indians that more
caution il necessary. Most Of the
Sioux are armed with improved fire.
arms and the result at Little Horn
shows that they know how to use
them to advantage. OF course, the
hostile savages are doomed to ulti-
mate destruction, but in accomplish
ing this It is desirable that our own
loss should be as light as possible.
1t is unfortunate that I'm this contest
1t must be conceded that the savaRes
are fighting for their rights and for
a portion of their country, the Black
bly, dispossessed by the whites. 1t Is
quite possible that the late success
Of the hostile Sioux may induce the
friendly members Of that powerful
band to join them. in which case the
war must be bloody and prolonged
one"
In the Senate on the 5th OF July.
1875. Mr.. Sherman introduced joint
70 Comnl.ta In. resolution declar-
Az OVnnPASte INC ing that the Sen
Momumanf ate and House Of
r e p esentatives
In Congress assembled "in the name
of the people thank Almighty God for
Ills safe guidance through the century
Just closed and acknowledge their de.
pendence upon His divine will: and
whereas, to George washington. first
In war, first in peace and first in the
hearts Of his countrymen' and to his
compatriots Of the Revolution much
- due therefore the two bodies in the
name OF the people will complete the
Monument to his memory in the city
or washington, and the committees on
public buildings Of the two houses are
directed to report the proper legisla-
tion necessary to carry this into eff.
feet. The resolution was unanimous
~ adopted. It was later adopted by
the House, and thus the work Of COM
pleting the Monument, which had
been Tor many years in an unfinished
state. was At last begun.
Criticism Of Gen. Clusters tactics in
the battle Of Little Horn quickly fol.
Clusters disaster. In The star Of
Tactics, lowing si Z: 49, 8 ne 20,
The belief gains ground that Gus
ter made his precipitate attack in dis.
obedience to orders, without waiting
for the cooperation OF Gibbons and
TerTy's infantry, and that his action
was the result Of irritation in being
superseded by Terry. with whom he
was not in harmonious relations. AS
stated by q correspondent OF the
Graphic, Custer was jealous Of the
rapid promotion Of the New Haven
lawyer. who had climbed to an I'M
usual height I'm the Army without the
benefit Of q West Point education, and
during his four years of service under
him IN the Department Of Dakota
there has been q lack or cordlality be-
tween them Custer has been inclined
10 ignore Terry, and Terry has firmly
insisted on maintaining bis rights.
The last feather which eeens - have