The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-06-19
DETAILS OF
CLUSTERS LAST
STAND RELATED
Continued from pare one)

CONTINUED from page one.)
hc was permitted To go into the
Indian campaign in the relatively
subordinate rank of Lieutenant
Colonel Of his old regiment the 7th
Cavalry. As browning insult all
soldiers were required to cut their
hair before the summer campaign.
an order which many thought to he
directly aimed at Clusters famous
golden curls which were regarded
with awe by tho hostiles.
Was Custer in the mood to run
risks If he thought them necessary
to retrieve his lost prestige? Did
he disobcy his orders? Did he use
bad judgment. in dividing the small
force against AN unknown number
Of the enemy, Did he put too much
trust in Clusters luck?" Could Reno
have saved the day? The debate has
ragged for fifty years.
The Departments Plan
il was the plan Of the War depart
men. to have General Terry from
Fort Abraham Lincoln in Dakota.
Crook from Fort Fetterman in Wyom-
ing and Gibbon from Fort Ellis in
Montana unite and crush the hostile
JoT'pSs liz t,vUu VI "SIS
The great Chief Gall. Crazy Horse,
Jnkpaduta, Sitting Bull and Hump.
L In Terry's command were twelve
troops Of the 7th Cavalry under
Custer; two companies Of the 18th
Infantry and one Of the goth; 4 Aric-
kara scouts, also 80 wagons, } Cat
ling guns and on beef herd. The
Etteamcr Far West under Captain
Grant Marsh was TO follow with sup
|plics.
b a sense Of forcboding hung over
|4hc little pioneer outpost on that
sunny May morning in 1876. Mrs.
custer and her sister in-law, Mrs.
calhoun, and the paymaster accom-
|panicd the cavalcadc to the first
nights camp where tho men were
paid off on the march in order to
avoid a spending orgy in town. This
money was found intact in many
cases some weeks later on the slain
bodies lying on the blood soaked
lplain of the Little Big Horn, or
"Grcasy Grass"
General Gibbon and General Terry
joined forces on the Yellowstone
where, after a conference, it was de-
cidcd to have Gibbon proceed up the
Yellowstone and Custer up the Rose
bud, turning west to reach the Big
Horn at the same time. With Custer
were 81 officers, 53l men. five white
scouts including Charlie Reynolds,
Mitch Bouyer and Frank Girard, Is
Rec scouts and 2 Grow scouts; Gus
tcr's two brothers, Captain Tom and
Boston, his nephew Auto Reed and
Mark Kellogg, reporter for The
Bismarck Tribune and New York
Herald. whose journal Of the march
is in the possession OF a Bismarck
resident.
Custer Divides Forces
As the detail crossed the divide be
tween the Rosebud and the Little
Big Horn scouts reported huge In.
dian camp. In fact the whole Sioux
nation, perhaps $4,000 people. was en-
campcd. After consultation with
his staff Custer divided his forces
ordering Major NJ. A. Reno to strike
northwest: Captain +. w. Bcptcen t.
the west and south to cut off pos
sible retreat and Captain I. NJ. Nc
Dougall to guard the pack train
Custer himself, with the remaining
troops, expected to cross the river
and strike north.
They moved slowly toward the Big
Horn until June "a. That evening
when the guidon pole blew dowr
three times the Rec scouts forctold
disaster and rubbed themselves with
sage for protection. The next morn.
ing, disrcgarding the warning abou,
the Indian camp, with no knowledge
Of their overwhelming numbers, Gus.
ter sent Reno to the upper CAM
while he struck ut the lower one.
The result is history. Clusters gal.
liant squadrons were shot down ant
mutilatcd. Two bodies alone es-
capped dissertation, that of Custer, un
recognized with his shorn locks, but
spared because he carried the paper.
Of chief, and that Of Captain M. w
kcogh whose Agnus Del, which hs
wore about his neck, the Indian.
recognized ms powerful medicine
There was but one survivor Of this
rocking shambles--Comanche, Captain
kcogh's horse, wounded by shot ans
arrows, stood by the body Of his deat
MASTER.
Under the direction of Genera
Terry the bodies were identified ant
were later buried where they lay
with the exception Of Custer, VIII,
lies in Arlington cemetery. and O
the officers. ncnO's troops, which
were pcnncd in wood four miles
away. suffered casualties and wer,
brought back down the Yellowston,
and Missouri rivers to the fort o,
tarpauiin covered grass mattresses
by the steamer Far West under tn
careful guidance Of Captain Gran
Marshl
story Creates Sensation
On July fourth, as the Centcn
NAL Exposition opened in Philadel
phiu to celebrate one hundred year
of American independence. the victim
Of savagcry started down the river
The news story Of the Custer dcbacle
filed by telegraph to the New Yorl
Herald by Col. L6unsberry, then edi
tor Of the Bismarck Tribune, made |
tremendous sensation. -.
Public sentiment demanded repris
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