Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1886 — CUSTER’S LAST FIGHT. [ARTICLE]

CUSTER’S LAST FIGHT.

Chief Gall, Who Commanded the Hostile*, Describes the Terrific Slaughter. Soldiers Killed While Fighting in Line Against a Vastly Superior Force. The tenth anniversary of Custer's last fight, which will bo a gloomy page in American history, was appropriately celebrated by a few of the survivors of that dreadful June day. A special correspondent telegraphs as follows from the scene of that dark and dreadful tragedy: Early in the day the great Sionx Chief Gall went over the entire field and described in an intelligent and straightforward manner the exact place in which Custer's command was destroyed. Curley, the Crow scout, who was in reality the only survivor of all who marched into the valley of the Little Big Horn with Custer, was also present, but Gall turned his back on Curley, and said: “He ran away too soon in the fight.” Gall is a powerfull, fine-looking specimen of the red race, 46 years old, and weighs over two hundred pounds. He first appeared relicent, and was inclined to act sullen, but when he stood on the spot which formed the last sight of Custer on earth his dark eyes lightened with fire, ho became earnestly communicative, and he told all he knew without restraint. His dignified countenance spoke truthfulness, and there is little doubt that the true history of that dreadful day is at last made known. Gall’s narrative was as follows:

“We saw the soldiers early in the morning crossing the divide. When Reno and Custer separated we watched them until they came down into the valley. A cry was raised that the white men soldiers were coming, and orders weie given for *the village to move immediately. Reno swept down so rapidly on the upper end that the Indians were forced to tight. Sitting Bull and I were at the point where Reno attacked. Sitting Bull was big medicine. The women and children were hastily moved down stream where the Cheyennes were camped. The Sioux attacked Reno, and the Cheyennes Custer, and then all became mixed up. The women and children caught the horses for the bucks to mount them; the bucks mounted and charged back Reno, and checked him, and drove him into the timber. The soldiers tied their horses to trees, and came out and fought on foot. As soon as Reno was beaten and driven back across the river, the whole force turned upon Custer and foughUhim until they destroyed him. Custer did not reach the river, but was met about half a mile up a ravine, now called Reno Creek. They fought the soldiers and beat them back step by step until all were killed.” [One of Reno’s officers confirms this by saying: “After we were driven back to the hill where the stand was made, there was an interval of over an hour that we had no fighting. This gave us an opportunity to shelter our horses in a ravine and partially intrench ourselves.” It was probably during this interval of quiet on Reno’s part that the Indians massed on Custer and an - nihilated him.] “The Indians ran out of ammunition and their arrows they fired from behind their horses. The soldiers got shells stuck in their guns and had to throw them away. They then fought with little guns— [pistols]. The Indians were in couples behind and in front of Custer as he moved up the ridge to take position, and were just as many as the grass. The first two companies, Keogh and Calhoun, dismounted, and fought on foot. They never broke, but retired step by step until forced back to the ridge upon which all finally perished. They were shot down in line where they stood. Keogh’s company rallied by company and were all killed in a bunch.” [This statement seems borne out by the facts, as thirtyeight bodies of Keogh’s troopers were found piled in a heap.] “The warriors directed a special fire against the trooper who held the horses, while the others fought. As soon as a holder was killed, by moving blankets and great shouting the horses were stampeded, which made it impossible for the soldiers to escape. Afterward the Boldiers fought desperately and hard, and never surrendered. They fought strong—they fought in line along the ridge. As fast as the men fell the horses were herded and driven toward the squaws and old men, who gathered them up. When Reno attempted to find Custer by throwing out a skirmish line, Custer and all with him were dead. When the skirmishers reached a high point overlooking Custer’s field, the Indians were galloping around and over the wounded, dying, and dead, popping bullets and arrows into them. When Reno made his attack at the upper end he killed my two squaws and three children, which made my heart bad. I then fought with the hatchet” —which means, of course, mutilating. “The soldiers ran out of ammunition early in the day. Their supply of cartridges was in the saddle-pockets of their stampeded horses. The Indians then ran up to the soldiers and butchered them with hatchets. A lot of horses ran away and jumped into the river, but were caught by the squaws. Eleven Indians were killed in Reno Creek, and several Indians fell over and died. Only forty-three Indian# were killed altogether, but a great many wounded ones came across the river and died in the rushes. Some soldiers got away and ran down a ravine, crossed the river, came back again, and were killed. We had Ogallalas, Minneconjous, Brules, Tetons, Uncpapas, Sioux, Cheyennes, Arapahoes, and Gros Ventres. When tbe big dust came in the air down the river [meaningTerry and Gibbon], we struck our lodges and went Up a creek toward the White Rain Mountains. Big Horn ranges covered with snow. We waited there four days and then went over to Woj Mountains.” This ended Gall’s narrative. It brings out many new facts and corrects some others. It has been popularly supposed that Custer entered the river, but such was not the case, as the bodies found on the Little Horn were those of a few stampeded soldiers. There were no ceremonies or exercises gone through with, simply an attempt, which was successful, to correct history.