Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1874 — Custer’s Anabasis. [ARTICLE]

Custer’s Anabasis.

The Sioux Indians, into whose country Gen. Custer is now marching with an expedition of only about 1,000 available men, are a nation possessing very nearly 10,000 male members capable of being used as warriors, besides as many squaws, who are about as available as the males in disputing a close point of war. These people are commanded by two noted chiefs, Red Cloud and Spotted Tail. The former is a bitter and unrelenting enemy of the Government*refusing hitherto to enter into treaties or agreements of any character with any consistency of construction. The treatment of the Government Commissioners by him last fall is an. index of his grim feelings toward the whites. Spotted Tail has always been ready to treat or Be treated, especially the latter, and has ridden to Washington whenever an opportunity presented itself, with undisguised pleasure. He has signed all documents presented to him with surprising alacrity, but always with the expectancy of a new horse and saddle, with a sixteen-shooting rifle, ammunition and equipments to match, in which expectation ho has yet v to be disappointed. This can be easily accounted for when it is known that his power has long since flown; that, though abroad a hero, at home he is scarcely equal to a squaw in power. Ilis influence with the great chief, Red' Cloud, is not greater, than a fly’s buzzing, nor is it much among the few lodges over which he is nominally the chief. If a handful of Afodocs'kept the united States forces at hay six months in the lava-beds of California, what will Gen. Custer do in the Black Hills'with 1,000 soldiers against*lo,ooo Sioux? Fighting these red-skins will be no child’s play, At army will be needed to save the little force now marching up the Missouri River before they enter the last and superset iously-bcld rampart of the native American Indian, the Hlack Hills. Before the summer is past it will not be surprising if wc learn of hot work there between Gen. Custer and his 1,000 soldiers and Red Cloud with his 10,000 braves.— Ohirai/o Journal. —Over Nice.—Not many years ago a Hartford man was drowned, and friends brought home the dead body tb his afflicted wife. As they came to the iront door with the corpse the new-made Widow appeared add sadly remarked: “ I guess you had better take him around to the hack door,«o he won’t drip on the carpets!” . Tns Bureau Veritas in Brussels reports the loss during the month of April of 236 sailing vessels and 23 steamers of • different nationalities. In this number afb included 30 sailing-vessels and 5 steamers reported missing. Among the losses were 24 sailing-vessels and one steamer carrying the American flag. s-'‘Ginime three cents’ worth of gingerpop and a nickel’s worth of gingerbread,” exclaimed a rural visitor from Lost. Creek, yesterday, “ Dad died last week, and since I’ve come into my fortune I’m kinder reckless.” —Terre haute Express. • —Why shouldn't Vermont girls .be sweet when their* fat hers make five mill ion pounds of maple sugar a year?— Boston Post.' Because to make so much sugar, It takes all the sweetness of the Haven Register.