Year: 1876

wanted doctors and medicines, and canvass
to shelter the wounded from the sun, and
wished to have his wounded men helped
down into the valley. He would have
moved them several hours before, as he
felt that the Indians were gone and help
was near, but thought it better to avoid
even the possibility Of having to move them
twice.


They we're all got down before night, but
it was then too late to move bis camp, and
he passed another night there But in the
cool air of night the odors were less unen-
durable.


In the morning Colonel Reno with his
command marched down the ridge to Gus
ters battlefield, about five and q half miles
distant.


Such is the story of our arrival here-too
late to help Custer, but happily in time to
save the remnant of his heroic regiment.
Lieutenant Hodgson fell while gallantly
endeavoIing to get his men across the
stream. Hodgson had already crossed the
ford himself and was ascending the opposite


bank when his horse was shot and rolled
down the bank with him. Detaching him
self from the fallen animal he grasped the
stirrups of q passing soldier TO help himself
up the bank, and had nearly reached the
top when shot struck him and he fell
back, rolling down the bank into the water.



Many of the men found dead on Clusters
feld were horribly mutilated, and most had
their skulls smashed by stone malets. This
was the work OF the squaws, who swarmed
to the battlefield, rObbing and mutila5ing
the bodies of the dead and killing the dying
and wounded.


In an editorial on the subject the Chicago
Tribune says:


1t is hard to criticise such gallant mau
and brilliant soldier as Custer. but the dis
patches from the scene Of conflict, and the
statements of his superior officers. all 90 to
show that by his rashness and ;mpetuosity
he made most disastrous blunder, which
not only involved hia own life, but sacrificed
the lives of nearly 800 gallant officers and
men. and allowed the Indians to escape.
Had he followed his Instructions not to
fight the Indians until General Gibbons
column came up, in twenty-four hours the
Indian war might nave been ended Now it
will probably take a years time, an expendi-
ture of millions of money, and q sacrifice of
still more lite before the savages are sub
dued. He neglected all precautions OF
safety by declining to take with him the
additional force which Terry offered and
the battery of guns which was also rendered
him. He violated the orders of his superior
by not taking the trail which was laid ont tor
him, and then, acting upon an error of judg-
ment, striking the whole Indian force, in-
stead OF waiting until the next day. He
acted independently of the general plan
of the campaign, and made it an individual
campaign upon his own risk, and lost.


Says the New York Graphic:


As Terry kindly says in his report Gus.
ter need not be censured, for she gave his
life for his fault" But it is quite certain
that he made his prscipitate attack in dis
obedience to orders, without waiting for the
cooperation of Gibbons and Terry's IN
tantry. and that his action was the result of
irritation in being superseded by Terry.
with whom he was not in harmonious reia-
tions. As a correspondent of the Graphic
showed yesterday, Custer was jealous of
the rapid promotion of the New Haven
lawyer who had climbed to an unusual
height in the army without the
benefit Of West Point educa-
ton, and during his four years ser
vice under him in the department of Da-
kOta there has been q lack of cOrdiality be-
tween them. Custer has been inclined to
ignore Terry, and Terry has firmly insisted
on maintaining his rights. The last feather
which seems to have broken down Clusters
patience altogether was his degradation
from the command of the Yellowstone ex-
pedition to the charge of his own regiment
He could not brook this, especially as he be-
lieved it to be the result of his praising Nc
Clellan as the ablest General of the war
and going to Washington as q willing wit
ness against post thievery. All these con-
sideratiOns seem to have impelled him to
disobey orders. elude Terry at last, and
snatch the flowers of promotion and glory
from the nettle of peril.