Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-08-15

Crazy Horse, who watched every move
from his place of concealment, what
ms adversary proposed to do. He had
sent three troops under Major Reno
TO cross the river and follow the bed
OF the stream down and deal with any
nostlleS ON that side. He had sent
Captain Benteen with three other
troops across to swing in a large semi
circle and then come in, driving be-
fore him any hostiles in that region.
With the five remaining troops Custer
stayed on the right bank. The three
forces, reuniting, intended to round up
the hostlleS in the narrow valley and
a~nnihilate them.
Clusters Fatal Error
Custer had simply played into the
n OF Crazy Horse. The Sioux
strategist's insurmountable advantage
lay in the fact that he had exact in
formation as to the strength and dis
position OF Clusters troops, and had
correctly surmlSed his plan Of battle.
while Custer was completely in the
dark concerning his adversary.
On reaching the crest of the bluff
Custer saw the deserted wigwams on
the bank OF the stream below. He
knew the hostIles were near, but the
small number Of tepees led him to UNI
derestlmate their numbers. With his
i've troops he rode boldly down the
slope of the bluffs toward the stream.
Our narrator indicated this by moving
the tWigs representing the five troops
remaining with Custer after the di-
vision Of his force.
Then raising his hands to his mouth.
our relator uttered a piercing aye
hee-yahl" That was the Sioux wal cry.
hcun hnard on TnIinr xtoI1 - - "a
could be heard for three miles. Grasp
ing a small handful of ashes from a
ravine directly in the path of Clusters
approach, the narrator scattered them
rapidly in front of the troops, making
a trail downstream. The troops fol-
lowed the trail of ashes.
That was the trick that sealed the
fate OF Custer. Crazy Horse had or
dered about so braves to ride up from
M OF the ravines, fire a volley and
flee pell NELL down the valley. As he
had anticipated, the troopers dashed
after them-and to their destruction.
Ashes Tell Grim Tale
When the troops were well into the
Valiey, with the stream on one side
and the bluffs on the other, our mar
rator picked up the ashes from each
ravine and shouting Sioux, Sioux!
Cheyenne, ~Cheyenne!" scattered the
ashes IN a semi-circle about the five
tWlgs which indicated the troons.
Shouting and striking his palms to-
gether with a great noise. he scattered
and broke the tWigs. Finally he ceased
his shouting and clapping and raised
his right hand to indicate that the
battle was over, his story finished and
Custer and his force dead to a man
IL officers, 247 enlisted men, five civil
ians and one Indian scout. One young
Crow scout, called Curley, got away BY
Heelng before the battle really began.
Ii was perfectly clear to us what had
happened; We had fought Crazy Horse
only ~ days before this recital, and
eight days after Custer had fought
him / was still nursing a cash in my
head. 1t required little imagination to
see Custer, with his yellow hair flying
to he wind, leading his men in pur-
suit OF the decoys. Then an ear-split-
ting "Aye-hee-yah!" A veritable tidal
wave Of Sioux and Cheyenne pouring
down the bluffs. Outnumbered five.
maybe ten, to one-cut off from the
front, the rear and the river sides
Custer was driven against the bluffs
and annihilated. Then the women
came out to scalp and mutilate the
bodles-all except Clusters; an Indians
tribute to a brave man.
Were Not Surprised
Crazy Horse had attempted exactly
the same tactics with us. He had failed
because, in the first instance, our
scouting had been as good as his. There
was no surprise. We knew where he
was and had a good idea of his num-
bers. This prevented our commander
from dividing his force, if he ever en-
tertained any such intention. Neither
was he deceived by the strategic re-
treat by which Crazy Horse, after his
first assault had failed, attempted to
lure us into a trap as he had lured
the impetuous Custer.
Having finished with Custer we per-
suaded the narrator to tell us what