Year: 1877




| Lieutenant General Sheridan has just received
important statement concerning the Custer
from Colonel Wood, commanding the Cheyenne Agency
post IL less than the story OF Red Horse, sub
chief Of the Minneconjoux Sioux who assisted at this
memorable light Tho story comes from
which the interpreter states may DO depended upon
as trustworthy.


nosriLEs suKRESDERIxG.
II appears that on the 25th ut go Sioux, belong
ing to the Minneconjoux, Sans Arcs and Two Ket-
ties bands arrived at the Cheyenne Agency from
the main hostile camp Tongue River and
surrendered, giving up their and
all their horses-some 800 In number The principal
mon Of this party Red Horse, Spotted Elk and
White Eagle. The former, upon coming IN at the
Agency, told Colonel Wood that ho and his people
wanted to behave themselves IN future, and then,
upon close questioning, told what ho knew Of the
battle wherein Custer's command was annihiated.
LOCATION or THE MAIN CAMP
Following Is his story OF tho battle of 'Greasy
Grass Creok," Little Big Horn


On Greasy Grass Greek was the main camp of the
hosslea Al that time was OF tho head council
men in that camp. THE Uncapapas, Yanktonnais and
and santees camped northeast OF mo, on the
right facing the battlefield.


THE INDIAN PHALANx


The Minneconjoux, San Arcs, Two Kettles and Brules
formed the centre On tho left 10 the were the
Ogallaias and Cheyenne. On the morning OF attack
myself and several women about a mile from
camp gathering wild turnipS suddenly ono Of tho
women called my attention a cloud of dust rising in
the neghborhooc Of the camp soon discovered that
troops were making attack We ran for tho camp,
and when got there was sent for at to
TO the council lodge. l found many OF the
councilmeu already there when arrived. We had no
consult another what action we should
| M mmedia all FIJI
Indian TO get his horse and arms; for women and
children their horses and get out tho way
and for young men to 60 and meet tho troops Among
| the latter oflcer who rodo horse with four
! white feel.


| BRAvEsr THE


The Indians have fought great many tribes OF peo
pie, and very bravo ones, too, but they all say that
| this was tho bravest man they had ever met.
don't know whether this man was General Custer or
not. Some say II was. I saw the man IN tho fight
several times but did not his body. II said he
was killed BY a Santee Indian who still holds his
horse. This officer wore large brimmod hat and a
buckskin coat In speaking OF him the Indians call
him the who rode the horse with four whte feet
There wore two men Of his description looking
very much alike, both having long yellowish hair.
lit Is believed that General Custer's hair cut
parativeIy short at the timc Of his DEATH


Some time before this fight canpcd tho
Rosebud; but moved, crossed over and struck
tributary OF Greasy Grass Creek following 1t down 10
It's mouth. We then crossed Greasy Grass Creek and
went into camp on the bank. An Indian started
to go TO Red Cloud Agency that day, and when a few
miles from camp he discovered dust rising. He turned
back and reported that largo herd of buffalo was ap
| preaching camp.


TRACKING THE HosTILEs.
| The day very warm, and a short time after he
| reported this the camp was attacked by troops who
had followed trail down the tributary and crossed
Greasy Grass Creek littlc above where we did and
above the mouth of this tributary They attacked the
| upper end of the camp where tho Uncapapas were.
The women and children fed Immediately down
| Greasy Grass Creek little way and crossed over.
The troops set fire to the lodges All the warriors
then rallied and attacked this command in an over
wheming force and drove them in confusion across
the creek They forced them place below
where they first crossed Tho creek was vcry high
and swift and several Of the troops drowned.
THE TROOPS coRRALLED
After driving this party back the Indians corracd
them the top Of n high hill and held them thcre
until they saw that the women and children in
danger OF being taken prisoners by another party Of
troops which just then made its appearance below.
The word passed among the Indians like a whirlwind
they all started to attack this party leaving
the troops the hill From this hill to the point
Wnerc troops Wefo seen OClOW IL
all tho way with The exception Of the small tributary
spoke OF before As soon as We had finished this tight
all went back to massacre tho troops tho MIL
Alter skirmshing around awhile we saw the walking
soldiers coming. These troops making their ap.
pearance was the saving Of tho others
Tho attack was made on the camp about noon. The
troops. appears, wcrc DIVIDED one party charging
right into camp. We drove them across tho creek
When attacked tho other party swarmcd down
on them and drove them in confusion


QUARTER


No prisoners taken. All wero killed. Mono
left alive, for few minutes These troopers
used very few OF their cartridges took gun and
couple OF belts of dead Out of one bel. two
cartridges were got; out OF the other, hve 1t was
with tho captured ammunition and arms that VIC fought
the other body OF troops II they had all remained
together they would have hurt US very bad.
The party killed made five different stands Once
VIC charged right in until VIC scattered tho whole OF
them. fighting among them hand to hand. One band
OF soldiers were right In the rear OF Whom they
charged fell back and stood for ono moment facng
each other Then the Indians got courage and started
for them in solid body. wc went but little dis.
tancc when spread out and cncircled them. All
the tmc could their officers riding In front and
near them, shouting to their men. II was In this
charge that most OF the Indians were killed.


INDIAN LOSSES


We lost 1856 killed and 100 wounded. We finished
up this purity right there in the ravinc.
General Sheridan Is of opinion that s'Red Horse,
meant say that 1870 killed and 100 were wounded
during the entire engagement not In any ono par.
ticular charge.


Tho troops up the river made the rst attack by skr
mish,ng. little whilc after the fight commenced
with tho other troops below the village While the
latter fight going posted somo Indians 10
prevent the other command from forming junction
Some Of the young mon took tho clothing on the dead
and dressed themselves In IT, There wero several mon
among them who had citizen clothing. They then
went up and attacked tho other command in that way
Both banks OF the very steep and difficult of
ascent Many OF the troops killed while crossing