Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 July 1876 — TERRIBLE INDIAN SLAUGHTER. [ARTICLE]

TERRIBLE INDIAN SLAUGHTER.

G«s. Caster, Fffissa Offleer* suaffl Kvery M(D ffteHUKlii* »• Ft»* Companies Salt Lake, Utah, July 5. A spejjd correspondent of the Helena, Mont., merald writes from Stillwater, Mont., W!y 2: “Muggins Taylor, scout for Gen. Gibbon, arrived here last night, direct from Little Horn Hivcr r Gen. "Cuftter found Che Indian camp of about 2,000 lodges on tire Little Horn, and immediately attacked the ' cauip, TjCuster took five companies ana charged the "{mown' of" tbLjdetaeh meat, 'only as ’ t|ey tfafle it bylflie dead. MaJ. Reno commanded the other seven companies, and attacked the lower portion of tlmaunp. The Indent* poured in a murderous fire from all dirednons. Besides, the greater portion fraught on horse back, j Custer, his two brothers, a flephew, and a brother-in-law, were all killed, and not one of bis detachment escaped. Two hundred and seven men were buried in one place, and the killed are estimated at 300, with onjy thirty-one wounded. The Indians surrounded Reno’s command, and held them one day hi the hills, put off from water, until Gibbons’ command came in sight, When they broke curnp inr the night and left. The ( fqught jijte tigers, and were overcome by mere brute force. The Indian loss cannot be estimated, as they bore off and cached most of their hilled. The remnant of toe Seventh Cavalry and Gibbons’ command are returning to the mouth of the Little Horn, where the steamboat lies. The Indians got all the arms of the killed soldiers. There were seventeen commissioned officers killed. The whole Custer family died at the head of their column. The exact loss is not known, os both Adjutants and the (Sergeant-Major were killed. The Indian camp was from three to four miles long and was twenty miles up the Little Horn from its mouth. The Indians actually pulled men off their horses in some instances. I give this as Taylor told me, as he was over the field after the battle. The above is confirmed by other letters, which say Custer met a fearful disaster.” The Timet' extra from Bozeman, Mont., July 3, sevan p. su., has the. -following: “ Mr. Taylor, beitrer of dispatches from the Little Horn to Fort JEllis, arrived this evening, and reports the following: “ The battle was fought on the 25th, thirty or forty miles below the Little Horn. Custer attacked the Indian Village of from 2,500 to 4,000 warriors on qqe side, and €ol. Reno was to attack it on the other. Three companies were placed on a hill as a reserve. Gen. Custer and fifteen officers,, qpd every gum five companies were killed. Reno refqeated uuflqr toeyarotection of the reserve. The whole number killed was 815. Gen. Gibbons joined Reno. The Indians left the battle-ground looking like a slaughtermen, as it really Was, being in a narrow ravine. The dead were much mutilated. The situation now looks serioua. Gen. Terry arrived at Gibbon*’ camp on a steamboat and crossed tiie, command over and accompanied it to join Custer, who knew it was coming before the fight occurred. Lieut. Crittenden, son of Gen. Crittenden, was among the killed.” ,|N