Evening star., 1930-06-22
It all The Indian host.

Each soldier took 100 rounds for his carbine,
and "a rounds for his pistol, and at a sharp
trot the doomed battalions set off on their ride
into the jaws of death.
About o'clock, when Custer and Reno joined
forces again, they had ridden nine miles and
were still three miles from the Little Big Horn.
Here and there were evidences of Indian occu-
patton, and scout, climbing to higher ground,
saw a small body of Sioux in swift retreat.
The news confirmed Clusters belief that the
Indians were flying before his approach, and
with swift decision he ordered Reno and his
command to cross the river in pursuit, saying
that he himself would follow in support of any
charge.
When the two men parted, it was never to
see each other again in life. Reno, fording the
river, saw only a great dust cloud-Chief Calls
clever plan to conceal his strength; and as he
advanced this cloud parted before the swift
charge of hundreds of Sioux. Instead of meet
ing and breaking the charge, however, Reno
dismounted his men and led them into cump
of timber, at the same time rushing courier
to Custer with word that the Indians were in
force before him.
From every side poured the shouting Sioux,
led by Gall, bravest and craftiest of all the
Indian host. Beaten back to the heart Of the
timber, and realizing that ammunition
giving out, Reno called an order for his men
TO mount. but while the words were still on
his lips, the redskins burst into the clearing and
Reno's face was Spattered by the brains of the
scout that stood beside him.
Losing his head completely, the frantic COM
mander now shouted conflicting orders, and
spurred forward to the open. Most of his bat
talon followed him, but IT men were left
behind.
Red men and white raced to the river in one
indistinguishable mass, shooting hacking, wrest-
ling and even they drove their horses
through the water, Sioux and soldiers locked
in terrible death grapples
Struggling up the far slope, Reno hastily
formed his survivors on high ground and turned
to meet the Indian charge. For a moment
their lives hung in the balance and then as if
in obedience to orders that Reno could not hear,
the Indians turned suddenly and rode away to
the north, stopping only to butcher the IT
white men left in the timber.
1t was this slaughter that Capt. Benteen saw
as he topped a hill about a mile away from
Renos position. ride Of IL miles had
vinced him hat there were no Indians in that
part of the country to which Custer had sent
him and, turning back, he rode hard to rejon
the command At the spot where Custer and
Reno had separated he met sergeant, carry
ing a message from Custer to hurry up the
pack trains and a mile further on, another
rider came spurring across the plain.
"Benteen. Come on, Big village. Be quick.
Bring packs" This was the order that he read,
and in amplihcation the messenger told that
the Indians were in fight, and Custer was pre-
pairing to deliver a charge.
Hurrying his men forward, anxious to be in
at the DEATH Benteen reached high ground only
to witness the massacre of the II unfortunateS
who were trying to race from the timber to the
river. Learning of Reno's whereabouts from a
Crow scout, he led his command to the hill
where the remainder of the battalion was dig
ging at the finty earth with knives and spoons
desperately trying to throw up some cover.
'EWHERE is custer9" This was Benteen's
first question, bat Reno could not tell.
1t was now 4:30, and they had parted at 80.
Down the river, undoubtedly. He had not
crossed, and during the retreat heavy firing had