The New York Herald Newspaper, July 8, 1876, Page 4

Biodon communicated to him the situation. Gen- | ‘wal Gibbon had, in obedience to orders from Gen- | wral Terry, moved down the Yellowstone to meet | aim at the mouth of Powder River, thus uncovering } the mouth of the Rosebud; but, as soon as Terry earned how matters stood, he directed General Qibon to order General Brisbin, with his cavalry, Back, to cover the Rosebud and to follow with the main column of infantry as soon as possible. Great @nxiety was felt lest the Indians had availed them- | Selves of the opportunity to cross to the north | branch of the Yellowstone, get the “bad lands’? and harass the troops, mape to Fort Peck agency and become good {ndians for the time. On the 2d of June General Gibbon reported to General Terry that the cavalry | bad thoroughly scouted the Yellowstone as far as the mouth of the Big Horn, and no Indians had crossed | it. It was now certain that they were in the net | Prepared for them, and on the Powder, ‘Tongue, | Rosebud, Little Horn or Big Horn rivers General ferry at once commenced feeling for them. | into or e3- COLONEL RENO’S SCOUTING PARTY. | Colonel Reno, of the Seventh cavalry, with six | | sompanies of that regiment, was sent up Powder River 150 miles to the mouth of Little Powder to | look for Indians and, if possible, to communicate with General Crook, who, it was thought, might have reached the mouth of the Little Powder. Reno reached the mouth of | Little Powder in five days, but saw no Indians and could hear nothing of Crook. He ‘was to have come down the Tongue, but by some mistake crossed to the Rosebud. He found at that point, just above where he came on the Rosebud, a very large Indian trail, about nine days old, and fol- lowed it a short distance, when he turned about, crossed over the divide to Tongue River and re- | ported to General Terry what he had seen. It was now known no Indians were on Tongue River or Powder River, and the net had narrowed down to Rosebud, Little Horn and Big Horn Rivera. CUSTER'S MARCH. General Terry, who had been waiting with Custer and the steamer Far West at the mouth of Tongue River for Reno's report, as soon as he heard it ordered Custer to march up the south bank to @ polut opposite General Gibbon, who was encamped om the north bank of the Yellowstone. Terry, on board the steamer Far West, pushed up the Yellowstone, keeping abreast of General Cus- ter’s column. THE JUNCTION WITH GIBBON. General Gibbon was found in camp at the mouth @ the Rosebud, quietly awaiting developments. A | consultation was had with Generals Gibbon and Cus- | ter, and then General Terry definitely fixed upon | THE PLAN OF ACTION. Tt was believed the Indians were on the head of the Rosebud, or over on the Little Horn, a divide or ridge only fifteen miles wide, separating the two streams. It was announced by General Terry that General Custer’s column would strike the blow, and General Gibbon and his men received the decision without a murmur. THERE WAS GREAT RIVALRY between the two columns, and each wanted to be in At the death. General Gibbon’s cavalry had been in the field since the 22d of last February, herding and Watching these Indians, and the infantry had been in the field « They had come (v regard the Yellowstone Indians as their peculiar property, and have worked and waited five months until the Indians could be concentrated @nd Generals Crook and Terry get into position | to prevent their escape. The Montana col- mn felt disappointed when they learned that whey were not to be present at the final capture of the great village, but General Terry's reasons for according the honor of the attack to General Custer were good ones, First, Custer had ali cavairy and could pursue if they attempted to escape, while Gibbon’s column was half infantry, and in rapid marching in approaching the village, as well as in pursuing the Indians after the fight, General Gibbon's cavairy and infantry must become separated and the strength of the column be weakened. Second, General Custer’s column was nu nerically stronger than Gibbon’s, and General Terry desired the strongest column to strike the Indians; so it was decided that Custer’s men were, as usual, to have the post of honor, and the oficers and men of the Montana column cheered them and bid them God speed. On June 21 General Custer encamped at the mouth of the Rosebud, on the south bank of the Fiver, and General Gibbon at once broke up his camp om the north bank and marched up the Yellowstone. On the next day, June 22, at twelve o'clock, Cus- ter anrounced himself ready to start, and drew out 1 the mareh since early last March. Is COLUMN. % consistec of the whole of the Seventh United Mates cavalry, twelve companies, having fourteen SMivers, and biankets, with one hundred and eighty- ve pack mules loaded with fifteen days’ rations of dacon, sugar, coffee and short forage. Genera! Ter- fy reviewed the column in the presence of Gen- | trails Gibbon and Brisbrin, it was pro- | Bounced by all in splendid condition. The Were in the best of spirits, and mounted on the finest horses that could be bought in the East. General Custer, dressed in a sult of buckskin and mounted on 4 magnificent blooded mare, rode proudly at the head of his regiment, aud looked every inch a soldier. The last goodby was said, the Officers clustered around General Terry, their idol- ized department commander, for a Snal shake of the hand, and, in the best of spirits, filed with high hopes, they galloped away to Weir death. General Custer lingered behind « litte for General Terry's instractions, and, with a grip Uke iron aud a “God | bless you,” Terry turned back to the buat. Custer was proud of bis regiment, but bis face ‘Wore @ ead expression teen years, and | never saw Custer so nervous and gad as he was whea we last met. DISPLEASURE OF THE PRESIDENT Weighed heavily ob bis mind and had much to do with his untimely death. The very las: month of the Rosebud was Mr. Kellogg, the Hrmarp | correspondent, who Was moudied ona mule and had BS pair of canvas saddle bags in Which were stored paper and pencil, sugar, coffee and becon sutcent / to last Afteen days He sat ou the right of General Gibbon, watching the review, and rode away after | Custer, General Terry calling him back to say good by. Teaw poor Kellogg on the boat the aight be fore the troops marched and he was busy aul after | QwEbre elock writing up his despatches and get- | Ying his ratious ready for the journey. Ata litte | ser midnight, June 21, | went ont on the deck ihe steamer to smoke a cigar, and Kellogg came out A few minutes afterward and sail he was through | ‘with his writing awl ready for the forwarding on tomorrow. Hie talked along time about the cam paige, and Was full of hope that they might during | and men I have known bim for six- I fear the me Isaw at the | Litde Horn, | Lieutenant McIntosh, | them, | hor the coming march overhaul the Indians and have a good fight. GENERAL CUSTER STARTED on the 22 of June, at twelve o'clock, marched about fifteen miles, and encamped on the Rosebud. On the 23d the trail discovered by ¢ At turned off from the Roseoud nel Reno was found and followed, | and led over the divide to the Lite Hern, The NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, JULY 8, 1876.—TRIPLE SHEET. | down the bank into the water. As soon as the | soldiers reached the hill overlooking this ford they | the ford, scouts reported @ village on the Little Horn, and | j Custer pushed out, marching all night. On Sunday morning, June 25, the scouts reported the village only a few miles ahead, on the north bank of the and immense numbers of Indians swarming out of it. One of the scouts, @ half breed Sioux, Michael Boyer, told Custer the village was the largest he had ever seen in the West. Clouds dust were rising the Indian town, and masses of horsemen were seen by & of over dense growth of timber and bushes. The bank of the river opposite the village was abrupt and overhanging the stream, with high, con- jest hills in the background, bluff was twelve feet high and almost perpendicu- lar. In many places the was level and stretched down like a beautiful lawn to the timber which ran to the water's edge. CUSTER'S BATTLE. As the troops raised the crest of the hills on the opposite bank a singular sight lay before them, Be- low was the village, its white tepees stretching for miles along the stream. Riding rapidly over the plain a scout came back and said the INDIANS WERE RUNN ING, | and Custer immediately told Colonel Reno to go | ahead and pitch in and he would support him. Reno was given seven companies, the bulk of the regiment, while Custer reserved five companies for his person. Colonel Rexo went ahead with three companies, Captain French, Captain Waylan and ‘The regiment had been travelling along ‘the right bank of the stream, and down its waters; the village was on the left bank of the river, and the river bank was covered out and | | away for miles with lodges, and on the plain hundreds | of horsemen were galloping about, apparently in the wildest confusion, Clouds of dust rose over the different bodies of Indians, rendering it impos - sible to number them, Only now and then, when & few ponies shot out of the cloud, could the Indians be seen, and apparently then GOING TO THE REAR. The report soon spread that the Indians were retreating, and General Custer, after ordering Reno over the river above the village, ordered Captain Keogh, Captain Yates, Captain Thomas Custer (a brother of the General), Lieutenant Smith and Lieu- tenant Calhoun, with their companies, to keep on | down the right vank of the river until they came to a point opposite the village and below It, and then cross overand charge the village on the flank. It was evidently Custer’s intention to attack the village at both ends and have the forces work toward each other, Having ordered the attack above, Custer placed four companies to be held in reserve and to guard the pack trains, and, turning over the com- mand of the reserve to Captain Benton to be sent to Reno in case he needed them, Custer with the flve companies galloped down the ridge to cut off the In- | dians. As he dashed forward he raised his hat, and the soldiers cheered lustily. This was THE LAST SEEN OF CUSTER or his men until they were found dead and horribly mutilated. RRNO’S MOVEMENTS. We must now recount the movements of Reno. In obedience to Custer's orders he had crossed the river above the village, and was advancing upon it. Little resistance was made to his crossing, and but few Indians showed in his front as he deployed on the plain between the river and the bluff—the val- ley stretched down to the village, which was about four miles distant, and Reno advanced in column of companies. The valley was a little over a mile wide, and the companies met with no serious re- sistance in their front for a considerable distance. | The first intimation of great danger was the appear- ance of masses of Indians on the bluffs on the flank of the left company. <A heavy fire was opened from the blu, and at the same time the In- dians charged in front. Oficers. and men behaved with great gallantry, driving back the charging foe. But the fire from the bluffs was so heavy that Reno's men were forced over toward the river. Reno ordered the companies into the the timber, and dismounted the battalion, They were formed on the edge of the woods, under a lit- | tle depression, to fight on foot. The Indians charged across the plain and made every effort to dislodge the white men from the timber, but were repulsed time after time. They charged both on ponies and on foot, but were driven back each | thme with heavy Joss, Reno soon, discovered that the Indians were working around to his rear and had entered the timber above | him, and between him and the reserve. The order was given to mount and charge through the timber toward the reserve. The Indians had already be- come so strong that it was found impracticable to dislodge them, while mounted, from behind the bushes and trees, and the command again dis- mounted and charged on foot. The Indians were every moment getting thicker between the com- panies on the river bottom and the reserve on the hill, RENO RETREATS. Colonel Reno ordered bis men to mount and cut their way through. A wild scramble for life now began. It was every one for himself. Indians every side rose up and fired at the flying horsemen, and hundreds mounted on swilt ponies pursued the soldiers, easily enough com- ing up with the heavy American horses, It was a hand to hand fight, one trooper often having as many as five Indians after him. The troops used their revolvers at short range, emptying an Indian saddle at every shot. At the fors{ about a mile distant, a strong force Indians - was found holding it. But the troopers dashed over crossed the river, and began to ascend the high bank opposite. It was a mere Indian trail leading up the face ofa bald hill. The Indians rallied and, taking shelter in the bushes about the ford, opened a deadly fire on the soldiers as they forded and ascended the opposite bank. on of SLAUGHTER AT THE FORD. On account of the narrowness of the ford a great crowd soon collected about the crossing and became vere; and into this mass of men and The of inf Lieutenant Hodgson fell while gailantiy endeavoring to get his men across the stream. Todgson had already crossed the ford himself and was ascending the opposite bank when jammed »s the Indians fired at short range, loss re was fearful. | his horse was shot and rolled down the bank with him. Detaching himself from the fallen animal he grasped the stirrups of a passing soldier to help | himself up the bank, and had nearly reached the top when @ shot struck him and he fell back, roling dismounted and opened fire on the Indians to cover the crossing of their comrades. The reserve, which had been left with the pack train, was now re- ported coming up and soon occupied the hill above ‘The Indians who had crossed the river both above and below the ford CHARORD THE HILL, but were repnized, and began to draw off. As soon as the collected Captain Benton, commanding the reserve, ordered Captain Weir to push his company along the crest of the hill, on the right bank of the river, and see if he could find Custer, who had gone in that direction with the mmand was | five companies. Captain Weir pushed out about a mile, fighting heavily, when the Indians became so strong im his front and on his flanks that he sent word to Captain Benton that if he advanced any further he feared he would be cut off and sur- rounded, and Captain Benton at once ordered him back. He returned with difficulty, but succeeded | in bringing off his company with a loss of On the side, where the village stood, the land | five men, Colonel Reno, seeing large bodies of In- dians on the plain, ordered the men to put their animals in the ravines and lie down behind the crest of the little ridges that extended in all directions. ‘The Indians kept up a brisk fire, but it was evident that the masses had gone off somewhere, and Colonel Reno looked for a sudden attack in some other quarter. Two hours went by and there was no news from Custer. All wondered where he had gone or what he could be doing. Another hour and then Colonel Reno became anxious about Custer and his command. He was about to try and advance up the ridge to look for Custer, but had so many wounded it took a whole company to carry them. While he was debating what was best to be done, and waiting to hear from Custer, he saw large bodies of Indians coming up the valley, and soon a terrible attack began on his position, The men had dug RIFLE PITS as well as they could in the hard ground and were very imperfectly sheltered. The Indians charged on foot and by a tremendous effort attempted to rout the soldiers, The fight for a few minutes was desperate in the extreme, and almost | hand to hand, some of the Indians, who were evi- dently unarmed or out of ammunition, throwing stones by hand at the soldiers. Reno’s men stood firm, and, after &@ desperate struggle, the Indians fell back a little. Two or three more efforts were made to carry Reno's position, but without success, and then the Indians drew off to hills completely covering them on every side of the command, A large body at one time got into a ravine close by, and Colonel Reno ordered Captain Benton to charge them out of it with his company. The men sprang out of their rifle pits and with a cheer dashed for- ward, the Indians breaking and running at their ap- proach, ‘ RENO'S POSITION DOMINATED. It was now discovered that two or three small hills near by were higher than the one occupied by Reno and commanded tt. On these hills the Indians gathered and poured ina galling fire. One of the hills overlooked the corral, and from it the savages shot down scores of fine horses and mules and killed and wounded eleven packers who were with the pack train. The fighting closed at nine o’clock, when it became too dark to see to shoot. But at dusk the Indians were on all the hills'‘tf the ravines and the command was completely surrounded. The soldiers WORKED ALL NIGHT to strengthen their position; but the ground was very hard, and they had nothing to dig with except their butcher knives, hands and tin plates and cups for shovels, At daylight on the morning of the 26th the battle was renewed. The Indians opened with @ tremendous fire and deafening warwhoop. The hills were black with them, and their number was variously estimated at from 2,000 to 4,000, while Reno’s command at that time did not number over 400 men, one-third of whom had to protect the horses and pack animals and were in a great measure of no use in resisting an Indian assault, and the situation was desperate in the extreme. FIGHTING FOR WATER, In the afternoon the sun became very hot, and the men, who had been without water for thirty-six hours, were almost’ famished. The horses showed signs of perishing and the wounded begged piteoualy for water. It was full 200 yards down the hill to the water's edge. Every inch of the ground was com- manded by Indian sharpshooters, and a line in the Umber on the oppoaite bank of the narrow river. Colonel Reno determined to get water at all hazards, and a number of canteens were gathered. While one company took the camp Kettles and canteens another chatged down the hillside and engaged the attention of the Indians while the kettles were filled. The dash was made and the men went bravely to the river and dipped up the water, while a heavy stream of fire was kept up over their heads. It was a brave deed to carry a camp kettle to the river and fill it; but it was done, and sufficient water for present use was obtained. Five men fell in the charge to get water. At nightfall the Indians drew off, and Colonel Reno ordered the river front of the camp to be cleared in order that water for the animais might ve had. The work was done, and all the animals were watered and a good supply for next day's dse obtained. The wounded were suffering terribly, Dr. De Wolf having been killed early in the action, Jeaving only one surgeon, Dr. Porter, to attend to the wounded, over twenty of whom were in bad condition, and but few supplies of any kind on hand to relieve their sufferings. Every one wondered what had become of Custer, and many thought he had been cut off and gone down to the Big Horn to join General Gibbon’s coluinn, which was expected to be at the month of the Little Horn, only. twenty miles distant, on the 26th, THE BATTLE RENEWED. On the morning of the 26th the Indians renewed the attack fiercely. They seemed to regard it only asa question of time, but were unwilling to walt until the men ran out of supplies or died for want of water, For miles back the country was fall of In- dians to cut off any who attempted to escape, and | not even a courier could be «got through their lines, The fighting continued on the 26th from six o'clock till noon, when the Indians began to leave, and about two o'clock a great commotion was observed in the villages. Lodges = were | pulled down and Indians in crowds of hundreds hurried out of the valley and wild hills. Until dark the stampede continued, but was con- ducted in so orderly a manner as to jead Colonel Reno to believe they were only removing their vil- lage to get fresh grass for their immense herds of animals, At nightiall Colonel Reno's front was totally free from Indians, and the command passed @ quiet night. On the morning of the 27th not an In- dian was tobe seen. This hasty departure was, of course, due to their knowledge of Gibbon’s advance with infantry. Many of the men found dead on Custer's field were horribly mutilated, and most had their skulls smashed by stone mallets. This was the work of the squaws, who swarmed to the battle field robbing and mutilating the bodies of the dead and killing the dying and wounded, There were in Custer’s regi- ment when he went into battle 585 men and twenty- six officers. Of these forty men were killed with Reno and fifty-one wounded. With Custer were ubout 240 men in the battle, and 210 dead bodies were found and buried. It is believed not a single man or officer who was with Custer escaped. BODIES RECOGNIZED. The bodies of the following officers have been found and recognized:— General George A. Custer. Captain Miles Keogh. Captain George Yates. Captain Thomas Custer. First Lieutenant and Adjutant William Cooke. First Lieutenant Algernon E. Smith. First Lieutenant Donald McIntosh. First Lieutenant James Calhoun. First Lieutenant James E. Porter. Second Lieutenant Benjamin H. Hodgson, Second Lieutenant John J. Crittenden, Assistant Surgeon Lord, U.S. A. Acting Assistant Surgeon DeWolf, The bodies of Lieutenant James G. Sturgis and Lieutenant M. V. Harrington have not yet been recog: nized, but they are undoubtedly killed, Lieutenant Crittenden was a son of General Thomas Crittenden, of the Seventeenth infantry, United States Army. The Lieutenant was the General's only child. I can- not send you the names of the wounded, but all the officers except those mentioned are living and well. AS soon as I can get the necessary data I will for- wari additional particulars of this, the greatest In- dian battle ever fought, and most disastrous to the whites, The Sioux had 4,000 men on the field, and could not have lost less than 400 warriors. General Custer and bis men sold their lives dearly, and will be remembered while a Sioux lives. NARRATIVE OF A SCOUT.- In the way of additional particulars of the great Indian battle, I send you the story of a scout who was cut off from Reno's command. Bismarck, D. T., July 7, 1876. George Herendon, a scout sent by General Terry with General Custer's column, relates the following as his experience in the recent battle. He was sent by General Terry trom the mouth of the Rosebud, with General Custer’s command, to carry de- spatches from Custer to Terry:— STORY OF. THE Scour, We left the Rosebud on the 22d of June at twelve o'clock ; marched up the Rosebud about twelve miles and encamped for the night. On the morning of the 23d we broke camp at five o'clock and con-/ tinued up the Rosebud until nine o'clock, when we struck a large lodge pole trail about ten days old’ and followed it along the Rosebud until toward evening, when we went into camp on the trail. On the morning of the 2th we pulled out at five o'clock and followed the trail five or «six miles, when we met six Crow Indian scouts, who had been sent out the night previous by General Custer to look for the Indian village. They said they had found fresh pony tracks and that ten miles ahead the trail was fresher. General Custer had the officers’ call blown and they assembled around him, but I'did not hear what he said to them. The scouts were again sent ahead and moved along at a faust walk. We moved at one o'clock, and, while the officers were eating their lunch, the scouts came back and reported that they had found where the village had been quite recently. They moved again, with flankers well out to watch the trail and see that it did not divide, About four o'clock we came to the place where the village had been apparently only a few days before, and went into camp two miles below the forks of the Rosebud. The scouts all again pushed out to look for the village, and at eleven o’clock at night Custer had everything packed up and followed the scouts up the right hand- fork of the Rosebud. THE VILLAGE DISCOVERED. About daylight we went into camp, made coffee, and soon after it was light the Scouts brought Custer word that they had seen the village from the top of a divide that separates the Rosebud from Little Horn River. We moved up the creek until near its head, and concealed ourselves in a ravine. It was about three miles from the head of the creek where we then were to the top of the divide where the Indian scouts said the village could be ween, and after hiding bis command General Custer, with a few orderiies, galloped forward to look at the Indian camp. in about an hour Custer returned, and said he could not ‘see the Indian vil- lage, but the scouts and a half breed guide, “Nuch Bayer,” said they could distinctly see it some fifteen miles off. While General Custer was looking for the Indian village the svouts came in and reported that he had been discovered, and that news was then on its way to the village that he was coming. Another scout said two Sioux war parties had stolen up and seen the command; and on looking in a ravine near by, sure enough fresh pony tracks were found. Custer had “officers’ call” biown, gave his orders and the command was put in fighting order. ‘The scouts were ordered forward and the regiment moved at a walk. After going about three miles the scouts reported Indians ahead, and the command then took the trail Our way lay down «@ little creek, a branch of the Little Horn, and after going some six miles ‘we discovered an Indian lodge ahead, and Custer bore down on it at a stiff trot. Incoming to it we found ourselves in a freshly abandoned Indian camp, all the lodges of which were gone except the one we saw, and on entering it we found it con- tained a dead Indian. From this point we could see into the Little Hora Valley, and observed heavy clouds of dust rising about five miles distant. Many thought the Indians were moving away, and I think General Custer believed so, for be sent word to Colonel Reno, who was ahead with three companies of the Seventh regiment, to posh on the scouts rapidly and head for the dust. Reno took a steady gallop down the creek bottom three miles to where it emptied into the Little Horn, and found a natural ford across Little Horn River. He started to cross, when the scouts came back and called out to bim to hold on, that the Sioux were coming in large numbers to meet him. He crossed over, however, formed his companies on the prairie in tine of battle, and moved forward at a trot, but soon took a gallop. The vale | many were killed when the command left the | ber. Justas I got out my horse stumbled and fell ilialieacaedibantgioe ley was about three-fourths ofa mile wide. On the left a line of low, round bills, and on the right the river bottom, covered with a growth of cottonwood trees and bushes. After scattering shots were fired from the hills and a few from the river bottom and Reno’s skirmishers returned the shots, he advanced about a mile from the ford to aline of timber on the right and dismounted his men to fight on foot, The horses were sent into the timber, and the men formed on the prairies and advanced toward the Indians, The Indians, mouated on ponies, came across the prui- ries and opened a heavy fire on the soldiers, Alter skirmishing fora few minutes. Reno fell back to his horses in the timber. The Indians moved to his left and rear, evidently with the intention of cut- ting him off from the ford. Reno ordered his men to mount and move through the timber. Just as the men got into the saddle the Sioux, who had advanced in the timber, fired at close range and killed one soldier, Colonel Reno then commanded the men to dismount, and they did so, but he soon ordered them to mount again and moved out on to the open prairie. The com- mand headed for the ford, pressed closely by Indians in large numbers, and at every moment the rate of speed was increased, until it beeame a dead run for the ford. The Sioux, mounted on their swift pontes, dashed up by the side of the soldiers and | fired at them, killing both men and horses, Little resistance was offered, and it was A COMPLETE ROUT to the ford. Idid not see the men at the ford, and do not know what took place further than: @ good and I was dismounted, the horse running away after Reno's command. I saw several sokiiers who were dismounted, their horses having been killed or having run away. There were also some soldiers mounted who had remained behind, 1 should think in all there were as many as thirteen soldiers, and, seeing no chance to get away, 1 called on them to come into the timber and we would stand off the Indians, Three of the soldiers were wounded, and two of them | so badly they could not use their arms, The soldiers wanted to go out, but I said no, we can't get to the ford, and, besides, we have wounded men and must stand by them. The soldiers still wanted to go, but I told them I was an old frontiersman, derstood Indians, and, if they would do as I sald, I would get them out of the scrape, Which was no worse than scrapes I had-been in before. About halfof the men were mounted, and they wanted to keep their horses with them, but I told them to let the horses go and fight on foot. We staid in the bush abont three hours, and I could hear heavy firing below in the river, apparently about two miles distant. 1 did not know who it was, but knew the Indians were fighting some of our men, and learned afterward it was Custer’s command. Nearly all the Indians in the upper end of the valley drew off down the river, and the fight with Custer lasted about one hour, when the heavy firing ceased. When the shooting below began to die away I said to the boys, “Come, now is the time to get out.” Most of them did not go, but waited for night. I told them the Indians would come back and we had better be off at once. A NARROW ESCAPE. Eleven of the thirteen said they would go, but twostayed behind. I deployed ‘the men as skirmish- ers and we moved forward on foot toward the river. When we had got nearly to the river we met five Indians on ponies, and they fired on us. I returned the fire and the Indians broke and we then forded the river, the water being breast deep. We finally got over, wounded men and all, and headed for Reno’s command, which I could see drawn up on the biuts along the river about a mle of. We reached Reno in safety. We had not been with Reno more than fifteen minutes when I saw the Indians coming up the valley from Custer’s fight. Reno was then moving his whole command down the ridge toward Custer. The Indians crossed the river below Reno and swarmed up the blur on all sides. After skirmishing with them Reno went back to his old position which was on one of the highest points along the ‘biugs, It was now about five o'clock, and the fight lasted until it was too dark to see to shoot. As soon as it was dark Reno took the packs and sadcles off the mules and horses and made breastworks of them. He also dragged the dead horses and mulcs on the line and sheltered the men behind them. Some of the men dug rifle pits with their butcher knives and all slept on their arms. At the peep of day the Indians opened a heavy fire, and A DESPERATE FIGHT ensued, lasting until ten o'clock, The Indians charged our position three or four times, com- ing up close enough to hit our men with stones, which they threw by hand. Captain Benteen saw a large mass of Indians gather- ing on his front to charge, and ordered his men to charge on foot and scatter them. Ben- teen led the charge and was upon the Indians be- fore they knew what they were about, and killed a great many. They were evidently much surprised at this offensive movement, and I think in desperate fighting Benteen is one of the bravest men I ever saw in a fight. All the time he was going about through the bullets, encouraging the soldiers to stand up to their work and not let Indians whip them. He went among the horses and pack mules and drove out the men who were skulking there, com- pelling them to go into the line and do their duty. He never sheltered his own person once during the battle, and I do not see how he escaped being killed. The desperate charging and fighting was at about one o'clock, but firing was kept up on both sides until late in the afternoon. SUPPERING OF THE MEN, 1 forgot to state that about ten o'clock in the fore- noon, and soon after Benteen made his charge, the | men began to clamor for water. Many of them had not tasted water for thirty-six hours, and the fighting and hot sun parched their throats. Some had their tongues swollen and others could hardly speak. The men tried to eat crackers and hardtack, but could not raise enough saliva (o moisten them. Several tried grasa, but it stuck to their lips, and not one could «pit or speak plainly. The wounded were re- ported dying for want of water, and a good many sol- diers volunteered to go to the river to get some or perish in the attempt. We were fighting on the biudts, about 700 yards from the river, and a ravine led down from the battlefield close to the river's edge. The men had to run over an open space of about 100 yards to get into the head of the ravine, and this open space was commanded by the Indians on the bluits. The soldiers, about Mity strong, dashed over the open plateau and entered the ravine. They rushed down it to the mouth and fonnd it closely guarded by @ party of Indians posted in the timber across the river. The wate! could be approached to within abont thirty feet under cover; but then one had to, #tep out on the river bank and take the Indians’ fire, The boys ran the gauntlet bravely, Some would dash down to the river with camp ket tles, fll them, and then take shelter im the bend of the ravine, behind — the rocks, and whose canteens were filled and carried up the hill. Before all the men and wounded were supplied one man was killed and six or seven wounded in this desperate attempt, One man had the bone of his leg shattered by @ ball, and it hag since been amputated. About two o'clock the Indians began drawing off, but kept skirmishing until late in the afternoon, and near dark all drew off. We now got water for the animals, many of them being almost dead, and they were put out to graze on the hiliside. CHANGE OF POSITION. In the evening Colonel Reno changed his posl- tion and fortifled the new one, it being higher and stronger. than the old one. We expected the Indians would renew the attack next day, but in the morning not an Indian was to be found. Every one felt sure that Crook or Terry was coming to our relief, and Colonel Reno sent out runners. About ten o'clock the glad intelligence was received that General Terry, with a large column of troops, was moving up the valley, six miles distant, and the head of his columa soon came in sight, In reply to questions, Mr. Haynden said :-— I went in with the scouts on the left of Reno's line. There were about sixty of us, thirty-llve being Ree Indians, six friendly Stoux, six Crows and the rest white men. I saw Bloody Knife, a Ree scout, throw up his arm and fall over, and I think he was killed. The two cavalry soldiers I left onthe timber when I went out IT have’ no doubt were killed, as they have not been seen since. LIEUTENANT MINTOSH, I saw Lieutenant McIntosh soon after he fell. He had his horse shot under him early in the action, and at the time he was killed he was riding a sob dier's horse. He was shot on the river bank while riding back to the ford. LIRUTENANT HODGSON. I saw Lieutenant Hodgson also, His horse was shot and he was wounded. His horse fell into the river near the opposite bank of the ford, and to help himself up the steep bank Hodson caught hold of a horse's tail and had got up the bank when an Indian sharpshooter picked Lim om, Custer's packs were with the rear, aud the Indians did not get any of them. Neither did they get any mules. Most of Custer’s horses were shot in the action, and 1 do not believe the Indians got over 100 animals by the fight. — TORTURED AND MUTILATION. I think some of our men were captured allve and tortured. I know the colored scout Isaiah was, for he had small pistol balls in his legs from the knees: down, and I believe they were shot into him while alive. Another man had strips of skin cut out of his body. Hordes of squaws and old, gray-haired Indians were roaming over the battlefield howling like mad. The squaws had stone mallets and mashed in the skulls of the dead and wounded, Many were gashed with knives and some had their noses and other members cut off. The heads of four white soldiers were found in the Sioux camp that had been severed from the trunks, but the bodies could not be found on the battlefield or in the village. Our men did not kill any squaws, but the Rees Indian scouts did. The bodies of six squaws were found in the little ravine. NUMBER OF THE INDIANS. Ithink the Indian village must have contained about 6,000 peuple, fully 3,000 of whom were warriors, The Indians fought Reno frst and then went to fight Custer, after which they came back to finish Reno, The same In- diaus were in all the attack. 1 think the Indians were commanded by Sitting Bull in person. There were eight or nine other chiefs in the field. ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE MAS. SACRE. Cmcaco, July 7, 1876. The following account of the Custer massacre has been received here:— Stoux Exerxprtios, | Mourn or tux Big Hoxx, July 1, Via Bismarck, D, T., July 6, 1876. Long before the arrival of this despaich you will have heard of the tragedy which has been enacted here, The ghastly detail would sce to court obliv- ton, if it were in the nature of things passible to forget or cloak them up. At noon on the 22a day of Juno, General Custer, at the head of nis fine regiment of twelve veteran companies, left camp at the, mouth of the Rosebud to follow the trail of a very large band of hostile Sioux leading up the river and westward in the direction of the Big Horn, The signs indicated that the Indians were making for the Wesiern branch of the last named river, marked on the map as the Jattle Big Horn. At the same time General Terry, with Gibbou’s command of five companies of intantey, four of cavalry and the Gatlin battery, started to ascend the Big Horo, aiming to assail the enemy in the rear, The march of the two columns was so plan asto bring Gibbon’s forces within co-operating distance of the anticipated acene of action by (he evening of the 260m, In this way only could the infautry be made available, as it would not do to encumber Custer's march with foot soldiers, On the evening of the 24th Gibbon's com- mand was landed on the south bank of the Yellow. stone, bear the mouth of the Big Horu, aod om the 25th was pushed twenty-three miles over a couniry #0 rugged that the endurance of the men was tasked to the uttermost. ‘The infantry theo halved for the night, but the Department Commander, with the cavairy, advanced twelve miles further to the mouth of the Little Big Horn, marching until midn ght, in the bope of opening communication with Custer, NEWS OF CUSTER'S FIGHT, ‘The morning of the 26¢h brought the intelligence, com- municated by three badly (rightened Crow scouts, of the battle of the previous day and its results, The sory ‘was not credited, because it was not expected that an attack would be made earlier than the 27.b, and chiefly because no one could believe that a force such as Cus. ter commanded could have met with disasier, Still the report was im no way disregarded. All day Jong the toilsomo march was plied, and every eye bent upon a cloud of smoke resting over ‘the southern horizon, which was hailed as a sign that Custer was successiul und had tired the village, it was only when night was tailing that the weary troops lay down upon their arms, The iniantry had marched twenty-nine miles, The marci of tho next mora. ing revealed at every step some evidence of the con- flict which had taken place two days betore, ON THE BATTLE GROUND, Atan early hour the head of the column entered @ plain hali a mue wide, bordering the leit bunk of the Little Big Horn, where hud receatly bev an immense Tndian Village extending three miley along the stream, and where were still stunding funeral iodges with horses slauxbtered around thew, and containing the bodies of nine chiefs. Tae ground was strewn every- where with carcasses of horses, cavairy equipmen' besides buffalo robes, packages of dried meat and weapons and utensils belonging to the Ine dians, On this part of the field was found the clothing of Lieutenants Sturges and Porter, pierced with bulletaand « bloodstained gauntlet belong