Evening star., 1930-06-22


lay his advance until Gibbon could come up,
the idea being to have the two reach the Little
Big Horn at the same time about June 26
1t the morning of June % that
George Custer and his 7th Cavalry set out for
the Rosebud gallant a band sat
saddle, the dashing leader a figure of romance
in his fringed buckskins and floating yellow
curlS Only 81, few lives had been more packed
with color and splendid achievement Leaping
into the battle of Bull Run, a mere boy, he
was a brigader general Of volunteers at "a.
And not even Sheridan played a dra-
matte part in the closing days of war for it
was Custer who herded Lees battered legions
into the hopeless positions that led to sur
render.
GENT West in 1866, he had made himself the
great outstanding figure in the Indian wars.
crushing the savages in battle after battle,
harrying them over mountain and plain, care
less of Summers heat and Winter billiards.
In 1876, therefore, when the War Department
decided upon a vigorous campaign to round
up Sitting Bull and his macontentS it fol-
lowed naturally that brilliant Custer-the
Yellow Hair of Indian fame-should be as
signed to command of the Eastern division.
Even as he rejoiced, however, grim, implacabIe
President Grant issued order removing him
from his command and forbidding him to take
part in the expedition.
The poorest judge of men that ever lived,
unhappy Grant was surrounded by thieves
from the very start of his administration and
nowhere was corruption more rampant than
in the War Department. Custer, hot-headed
and outspoken waxed increasingly furious as
he watched his men sicken and die from rotten
food and saw the junk rifles and cartridges
that were sent him. Bitterly attacking these
conditions, well as the thievery of the Iu-
dian agents. even a court-martial and Suspen-
sion of Office for year had not been able to
make him hold his tongue.
1t seemed Cutsers hour of triumph when
the House impeached Secretary of War Beknap,
bringing forward plain evidence that he had
been silent partner in the corruptions of In
dian agents, but there still President Grant
to reckon with. Stubbornly refusing to admit
Belknap's guilt, Grant turned his anger upon
all who testified against his friend, and when
Custer appeared before a congressional COM
mittee, and told the truth as he knew it. he
struck instantly and hard
Custer ordered to stay at home and
Gen Terry put in charge of the Indian cam
paign, and although the strenuous intercession
of Sherman and Sheridan Custer the right
to accompany the expedition, it was only as
second in command 1t must have been with
a feeling Of relief, therefore, that Custer left
Terry behind and struck into the Montana
wilderness on his own hopeful of some chance
for bold stroke that would retrieve his for
tunes
Striking the Indian trail on the Rosebud
River, Custer followed like a hound on the
scent, and by the night OF the gath, found that
it led over the divide into the valley of the
Little Big Horn While Terry had ordered
that the pursuit be delayed until a iuncture
could be effected with Gibbon and his 400 men,
Custer had been given leave to use his dis
cretion, and all of his experience pointed to
the necessity Of quick action.
1t was never the habit of the Indians to
give battle, and the one hope of bringing them
to bay was by a surprise march. Custer did not
there a thousand
Indians, at the most, nor were there telegraphs
to tell him that Crook had been soundly
whipped just one week before by Crazy Horse,
and that the Indian village was even then
shouting its JOY and beating the drums of con-
fidence
men through the pitch-black night, his plan
being to gain the divide, hide in the rocks
throughout the day, and attack the village at
dawn. Ten weary miles were made and at
sunrise the fateful morning of June rs,
the Grow scouts mounted high point, and
returned with the report that the encampment
of the Sioux lay in the valley some Is miles
away.
ITVEN with his telescope, however, Custer
could not the village In any event.
the plan for a surprise attack was brought to
an end, for it soon became known that Sioux
scouts had discovered the presence of the COL
umn. and Custer now decided to ride forward
swiftly on the chance that he might get in a
blow at the village, if village there was
Plungng down into the valley, he halted his
men at noon and still doubtful that the scouts
had seen an encampment of any size, resolved
to divide his command in such manner as to
form net Maj. Marcus Reno, with 112 men,
was swung to the left Capt F. w. Benteen,
with some $50 men, ordered still further
to the left, at sharp angle, and Custer HIM
self went forward on the extreme right, leaving
m iardf fha train