Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1876 — The Sioux Account of the Custer Slaughter. [ARTICLE]

The Sioux Account of the Custer Slaughter.

St. Paul, Minn.. July 31. Brevet Licut.-Col. J. S. Poland, Captain of the Sixth Infantry, commanding the military station at Standing Rock Agency, under date of July 24, reports to Adj’t.Gen. Ruggles as follows: Sir: I respectfully report the following as having been derived from eqven Sioux Indians just returned from tlitfhostile camp, July 21 , some of whom were engaged in the battle of June 25, with the Seventh Cavalry. Their account is as follows: The hostiles were celebrating their greatest of religious festivals, "the Sun Dance, when runners brought news of the approach of cavalry. The dance was suspended, and a general rush followed, mistaken by’Custer perhaps for a retreat for horses, equipments and arms. Maj. Reno first attacked the village at the south end and across the Little Big) Horn. Their narrative of Reno’s operations coincides with the publisliod account of how he was quickly confronted and surrounded; how he dismounted, rallied in the timber, remounted and cut his way back over the f'-rdand up the bluffs with considerable loss, and the continuation of the fight for some little time, when runners arrived from the north end <>f the village or camp with the news that the cavalry had attacked the north end,’some three or four miles distant. The Indians about Reno had not before this the slightest intimation of fighting at any other point. A force large enough to prevent Reno from assuming the offensive was left, and. the surplus available XfitSfi. followed to the other end of the camp, where, finding the Indians successfully driving Custer before them, instead of uniting with them, they separated into two parties and moved around the flanks of his cavalry. They report that Custer crossed the river, but only succeeded in reaching the edge of the Indian camp. After he was driven to the bluff's, the fight lasted perhaps an hour. The Indians have no hours of the day, and the time can only be, given approximately. They report that a small number of cavalry broke through the line of Indians in their rear, and escaped, but were overtaken within a distance of five or six miles and all killed. I infer from

this that this body of retreating cavalry was probably led by the missing officers, and that they tried to escape only after Custer fell. The last man that was k lied was killed by the two sons of a Santee Indian, Red Top, who was a leader in the Minnesota massacres of ’62 and 63. ~ After the battle the squaws entered Uie field to plunder and mutilate th« dead. General rejoicing wa&indulged in, and a distribution of arms arid Ammunition hurriedly made. Then this attack on Reno was vigorously renewed. Up to the attack the Indians had lost coin para l ivoly few men, but now they 6ay most serious loss took place. They give no idea of numbers, but say there were a great many. Sitting Bull was neither killed nor personally engaged in the fight. He remained in the Council tent directing operations. Crazy Horae, with a large bund, and Black Moon were the principal leaders on the 25th of June. Kill Eagle, Chief, of the Blackfeet, was at the head of some twenty lodges of this Agency. He was prominently engaged in the battle of -lunc 25, and afterward u braided Sitting Bull for not tak ng an active personal part in the engagement.

° Kill Eagle has sent me word that he waa forced into the tight; that he desired to return to the Agency; and that he will return to the Agenct if he is killed for it He is reported to be actually on the way ba k to go to his Father and Agent and make com session and receive absolution for h s defiant crime aga nst the hand that had gratuitously fed him for three years. ’ He is trulf a shrewd chief, who must have discovered that- “ He who fights and runs away May live to fight another day.”

The Indians were not all engaged at aay one time.. Heavy reserwe wm belAto i% pall losses and renew srUcks sin cepivelfc The tight continued until the thO| da* when runers, kept purpoMly On tup look, •ut, hurried into camp and reported $ great body of tfoops (Gen. Terry’s sonnn)»H[rt) ▼ancing up the river. The lodges having been previously prepured for a move, a retreat iu * southerly direction followed, toward and- along Rosebud Mountain. They marched about fifty miloe, wont into camp and held a consultation, when it Ma-. determined to send into all the Agencies reports of tbeir success, sad to. call upon dwt to com* out and share the glories that there were expected to be iu the (uturo. We may expect an influx of overbearing and Impudent Indians, to urge, by force, perhaps, an a<-cession to Sitting Bull’s demands.. There is r general gathering in the hostile camp from each of the Agei cles on thl*. Missouri River, Red Cloud and Spotted Tall, as also the Northern Cheyennes and Arrapahoes. They report for the especial benefit of their relatives here that In the three fights they had with the whites they have captured Over 400 stand of anus, carbines and rifles, revolvers not counted; ammunition without end, and some sugar, coffee, bacon and hard bread. They claim to have captured from the whites this summer over 900 horses and mules. I suppose this includes operations against soldiers, Crow Indians, and Black Hills miners.

The general outline of this Indian report concurs with the published reports. The first attack of Reno’s began well on in the day, say the Indiana. They report about 300 whites killed, i.ut do no. say how many Indians were killed. A report from another source says the Indians obtained from Custer’s Command 592 carbines and revolvers, i have, since writing the above, heard from the returned hostiles, which they communicated as a secret to their particular friends here, information that a large party of Sioux and Cheyennes were to Jeave Rosebud Mountain, or hostile camp, for this Agency to intimidate and compel the Indians here to join Sitting Bull. If these refuse, they are ordered to “ soldier them” (beat them) and steal their ponies. Very respect ully, J, S. Poland, Captain Sixth Infantry, Brevet LieutenantColonel, Commanding.