Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1939-07-14

George A. Custer, commanding the
Seventh cavalry, was wiped out
with his entire immediate COM
mand of PIP men in a savage fight
with warning Sioux and Cheyenne
Indians along the Little Big Horn
river, southeast of present-day
Hardin. Events leading up to and
following that historic battle,
which must 60 down as the great
est ever fought between red men
and white, are recounted in the latest
work written on the Custer fray, an
incident which has absorbed western
historians for the last six decades.
This work is the book, 1.-The Custer
Tragedy" written by Fred Dustin Of
Saginaw, Mich, author and researcher
on Indian lore, who visited the battle
field site last August and was present
on the spot where Charley Reynolds,
noted scout with Clusters forces, fell
in the massacre.
Dustin's book. in its comprehensive
treatment of factors which brought
about the battle as well as the in
led to the massacre itself, easily shows
the results Of the 80 years Of study
and research which the author spent
in compiling the work. The book Is a
photographic work of which a limited
edition of only 200 copies was printed.
Book Is Detailed Study
The Dustin work is detailed study
of events which eliminated with that
tragic day of June Is. 1876. along
by the historical records and official
reports relating to Clusters last stand
on Monument hill.
On a scouting expedition, Maj. Mar
Gus Reno reported discovery of the
trail of large Indian party leading
Seventh cavalrymen were ordered to
follow the Indian trail. while column
of 400 men under Gibbon. was to
proceed south along the Big Horn river,
so miles to the west. Both forces were
to time their marches SO as to meet
in the vicinity of the Little Big Horn
valley on June 26.
Night March Ordered
Scouts brought word to Custer on
the evening of June "a that the In
dian trail led into the Little Big Horn
valley and Custer ordered a night
march to draw closer to the foe On
the morning of June IS, scouts again
brought word the Indian camp was
near.
Custer then decided to divide his
force into battalions. One was assigned
to Reno. Another battalion was under
command of Capt. F. w. Benteen.
Major Renos column marched down
middle branch of small tributary of
the Little Big Horn now called Reno
creek. Clusters command followed close
ly to Reno's right and rear. Benteen's
men were ordered to the left to a
line of high bluffs about four miles
distant.
Custer and Reno followed opposite
banks OF the creek for about nine miles.
AT 2:15 p. m. on June Is, the two COL
umns encountered a deserted Indian
camp, a lone tepee left standing. Scouts
then brought word that the Indians
appeared in flight about five miles
across the river and down the Little
Big Horn valley: Reno,s column was
tinued along the large Indian trail.
Tells Of Last Stand
With the two forces separated-Reno
to be besieged by a large force of In
dams and later Joined by Benteen and
Custer riding off to his death and un-
dying eIyag fa me account of Clusters
ment hill is told in Dustin's "The
"AS to living witnesses, there was
none left to tell the whole story that
| ended on monument hill except the
victors, and for SO years they MAN.
penetrable.
| "Of those who rode with Custer
four Crow scouts survived-White-
Man-Runs-Him, Curly, Hairy Moe
casin and Goes Ahead. OF white SOL
diers we have complete evidence that
Serg. Daniel Kanipe OF Thomas Clusters
troop G and Trmpeter John Martin
Of Benteen's troop, the latter detailed
as orderly trumpeter to Custer, were
sent back with orders. Two other SOL
diers, Peter Thompson and James Wat
son. privates In Tom Clusters troop
advanced to the point where they were
found by the Rec scouts both OF theiI
Reno retired to the hill. they Joined
Author Refutes sEyewitnessess
ABIDE from Kanipe. Thompson, Wat
H. - g. A. -