Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-02-28

Vic obOAy "a lid lllllllAll6 ChRClAS1ASC.
He was removed along with the wound
ed of Reno's command to a hospital at
Fort Lincoln, where he remained for
five months recuperating from his
wounds. Subsequently he drifted back
to Montana, and while employed on the
ranch of Charles d. Hard, located near
Helena, in 1879, he related some of the
narrowing details of his contact with
the fighting red devils, who an hour or
two later or that hot Sunday after
noon, annihilated the entire immediate
command Of the gallant cavalry leader,
Custer.
John Laefarr was tall and fine look
ing. His head was covered with snow
white hair, although he was only 90
years OF age. He was cOnpactly built
and stood about six feet high. He left
Fort Lincoln in the early part of 1876,
employed as a packer for Clusters little
band. Laefarr'S spirits were affected
by the stirring music of the military
band. AS the troopers waved goodbye
to the women who remained at the fort,
and the martial TUNE Of Garry Owen"
filled the air with its inspiring strains,
the packers were enjoying the exper-
fence filled with the same high hopes
that were entertained by the fighting
troopers that shortly they would re-
turn, brilliantly and VIGOROUSLY, from
the field of conflict somewhere on the
Yellowstone or n of it's tributaries.
The packers were not informed Of
the movements anticipated by the reg
ular troopers. Their duties confined
them largely to necessity of unpacking
and packing as the march toward the
Yellowstone river proceeded. Reach
ing Fort Buford, a clearer conception
of the responsibilities devolving upon
Clusters command was gained. Gen
eral Alfred H. Terry, then in command
of the field operations, and who ac-
companied Custer to the mouth of the
Rosebud river where a conference vas
held with General Gibbon, who had
come from Fort Ellis, near Bozeman,
and Grant Marsh, skipper on the Far
West, carrying the supplies, was much
concerned as to the plan of battle.
Major Reno had been dispatched to
take a circuitous route that took him
up Powder river and back. He report
ed sighting a trail that was deep and
wide, indicating a westward trend to-
ward the Big Horn mountains.
On June 10, Custer crossed the
Tongue river near its mouth or his
way toward the west. He realized that
he was in Indian territory. On the east
bank, where the city of Miles City
now stands, there was unmistakable
evidences of what must have been a
large Indian village. Three days later,
on the afternoon and night of June
%, the conference to map out the mil
itary maneuvers was held at the mouth
of the Rosebud. Major Reno had made
his report. The following morning Glib
bon moved west, accompanied by Cen
eral Terry, on the north side of the
Yellowstone. Custer started on his
last march up the Rosebud. Captain
Marsh proceeded up the Yellowstone,
entered the Big Horn at it's mouth and
pushed up past the mouth of the Little
Big Horn and returned and anchored
there to await further developments.
After three days of steady marching
Custer divided his troops. Whether
this "a a wise move or not, the mat
ter has been left to military strate-
gists who have yet to render a decision
that meets with general approval and
which is acceptable in the light of the
subsequent events that followed.
John Laefarr was not concerned
about military strategy. He and his
companion packers were enjoying the
thrill of being in and close to the .
ing forces that were confident Of the
outcome Of whatever might happen.
Laefarr's job was to unpack and pack
up again. He whiStled and sang while
employed at his work. There was
something blithesome about the man.
ner of the troopers. Reno was some
where to the left and MacDougal was
a little further south with the larger
pack train and was instructed to come
up when he heard the noise Of the
conflict. But Reno, according to his
instructions, had crossed the Little Big
Horn and attacked the head of the vii
lage of confederate Indians, and was
forced to give ground and take refuge,
after re-crossing the stream, on a hill
top. MacDougal had come up and
joined him. Reno was held there while
Custer damned right into the heart
and strength of the Indian fighting
forces. Within three hours on that
Hateful afternoon Custer had fought his
last fight, and all of his immediate
followers died with him.
Just before, and possibly a little af-
ter the big fight began, Laefarr and
six companion packers, about two or
three miles distant, were also attacked
by a detached band of fighting red
men. The packers were to follow in
as the anticipated success of the con-
flict would allow. 1t was apparent that
Custer intended to rest on his laurels
and camp that afternoon on the site
of the Indian village that had been
previously seen across the river.
When the Indians attacked the seven
packers, they Immediately scattered.
An instant later Laefarr's horse vas