Billings Senior High School - Kyote Yearbook (Billings, MT)

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General K. S. Godfrey served throughout the Yellowstone campaign, terminating In the Hattie of the Little Big Horn, as a lieutenant In General Geo. A. Custer’s regiment —the Sev- enth. and was In command -'f Tro p K.. which was in the thick «if the fight In which Major Benteen'a t attal- lion was engaged. mander places too much confidence in your zeal, ener- gy, and ability to wish to impose upon you precise orders which might hamper your action when nearly in contact with the enemv.M If possible, Terry would move on up the river to the forks where Custer was ordered to “report to him not later than the expir- ation of the time for which your troops are rationed.”• At twelve o’clock noon on June 22, the regiment passed in review before Terry, Gibbons, and Custer and started on its inarch up the Rosebud. At about 4 p. mM upon marching twelve miles and shortly after striking the Indian trail, the Seventh went into camp. About sunset, while in conference with his officers, Custer gave a few general orders, expressed his reli- ance upon the discretion, loyalty, and judgment of his men, and stated that he expected to meet about 1 5(XJ Indians, f At five o’clock on the morning of the twenty- third, the command took up the march. Fight miles out they came to the first of the recently deserted In- dian camping places. During the course of the day the Seventh passed three of these camps, finally halting for the night at 5 p. m., having marched about thirty-five miles. During the march similar camping places were passed. The troops were required to march on separate trails so that the dust clouds would not rise too high. About sundown, in order to hide the command as much as possible, they went into camp under cover of a bluff. The troops had marched about twenty-eight miles. Orders were issued to have fires out as soon as supper was over and b? ready to march again at 11 :30 p. m. At 9’:30 p. m. however, Custer called the officers to his tent and ex- pressed his desire to march at once. He wished to get as near the divide as possible before davbreak, where the command would be concealed during the day. At this time plans would be made for the attack on the twenty-sixth. J At 2 a. m. or shortly after, the march ended. At eight o’clock, after only six hours rest, the command again moved out over the trail. The Indian village had been located by the scouts some twenty miles away.fi At about 10:30, the command halted, itury. January, 1x92—Brady. War With the Sioux.” Pearson Magazine. August. 1904. tGodfrey— Custer's Hast Battle. {Godfrey, Century. January, 1X92. $ Informat ion was dispatched from General Sheridan that from the agencies about ISO© lodges had set out to join the hostile camp: l»ut that information did not reach General Terry until several days after the battle. The principal war- rior chiefs of the hostile» were ••Gall. Crow King and Black Moon, Muti«:i papa Sioux. Bow Dog,’ Crazv Horse’’ and Big Road. Ogallala Sioux; Spotted Basle. Saris Arc Sioux; Hump of the Minneconjous; and White Bull and little Horse of the Cheyennes. To these belong the chief honors of conducting the battle. However. Gall, Crow King and Crazy Horse were the hading spirits.—Godfrey. Century, January. 1X92. on the twenty-fou rth, many Major Marcus A. Reno, who lead the first attack in the Custer Battle, joined the Seventh Cavalry. December 19. 1896, with a l rav« and honorable Civil War record. He has been ac- cusal of cowardly conduct in the Bat- tle of tlie Little Big Horn; later was found guilty taccording to Brady) by a general court-marshal, of conduct unbecoming to any officer or gentle- man and dismissed from military serv- ice of the t’nited States. He died a suicide.

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Custer’s Last Service Our story proper, begins on June 21. 1876. when Generals Terry, Gibbons, and Custer met in conference to determine the best plan of attack upon the hostile Indians. 1 his meet- ing was held within one of the cabins of the Tar West, the river boat acting as trans- port and supply ship for the commands. The ‘Tar West was stationed at the mouth of the Rosebud, near the spot where Forsyth now stands. It was decided that the Seventh Cavalry, under General George A. Custer, should follow the Indian trail discovered a few days previous by Major Reno, an officer of Custer's command. Upon being selected to make the trip. Custer immediately called together his offi- cers and ordered them to provide their men with fifteen days’ rations and fifty rounds of carbine ammunition per man. This was carried on the pack mules. In addition, each man carried on his person or in his saddle bags, one hundred rounds of carbine and twenty-four rounds of pistol ammuni- tion. He also carried twelve pounds of oats on his horse. Before leaving. General Custer re- ceived instructions from General I err . These instructions stated that Custer was to proceed up the Rosebud river, following the Indian trail until he determined their direction of march. He was to be careful not to lose the Indians by allowing them to slip away to his left. Terry expressed in his orders, his desire to have Custer and Gibbons close in on the Indians together, hut this must “he controlled by circum- stances as they arise. These instructions also stated in part: “The department com- Written by K. V. Smith, Acting Assistant A dj ut a n t -Gen era I

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and Custer, with the scouts, proceeded ahead, making observations. About this time a group of men, who had been sent back on the trail to recover a box of bread which had been dropped during the night of the twenty-fourth, returned. They reported finding an Indian opening the box. He dashed into the hills upon their appearance. It was also reported by the scouts that several Indians had been seen watching Custer's movements. Realizing that he had been discovered and knowing that success with further delay was impossible, Custer made plans to do the logical thing—to attack at once. Inspections were soon made and the column was again on the march. The dividing ridge between the Rosebud and Little Big Horn valleys was crossed just before noon. Shortly afterwards the regiment was divided into battalions.! Major Reno’s battalion marched down a valley into the south branch of what is now called “Sun Dance” creek, Benteen’s creek, or more commonly, Reno's creek. I he Indian trail followed the windings of this valley. ('apt a in K. W. Benteen, of the Sev- enth Cavalry, whom timely appear- ance and heroic conduct ih «aid to have «aveil Reno » command from a complete annihilation. Custer s column followed closely upon that of Reno, hut slightly to the right and rear. The pack trains followed Reno s trail. Benteen proceeded to the left and front to a line of high bluffs about three or four miles distant. He was ordered to report to Custer and to attack any opposition which he might meet. If, when he arrived at the high bluffs, he could not see the enemy, he was to continue his march to the next line of bluffs and so on until he reached the Little Big Horn valley.% Benteen. to save the strength of the battalion, sent Lieutenant Gibson ahead to recon- noitre. The rough country gradually threw the battalion to the right and again the trail was sighted about a mile away. The tired men dis- covered a spring or creek near by and although they had been without water thus far on the day’s march, the horses refused to drink, the water heing alkaline. Realizing the condition of his command, Benteen wise- ly determined to follow the trail of the other com- mands. Anyone familiar with the hilly, rough country over which he was climbing, will realize Benteen’s Captain M«-l».nigall, charge of troop corted th« pack Captain Mat hey. who was In Thin troop ch- train In charge of • If they (the Indiana) escaped without punishment or l at tie, Custer would undoubtedly have been blamed. — Godfrey. tTh advance battalion under Major Reno con (dated of troop M. Captain French: troop A. Captain Maylan r.nd Lieutenant DeRudio: troop O.” Lieutenant» McIntosh and Wallace: the Indian scouts under Lieutenant Varnuni and Hare and the interpreter Guard; Lieutenant HiHlp on was acting Adlutant ai d Doctors DeWolf and Porter were the medical officer». The battalion under General Custer was composed of troop I, Captain Keogh and Lieutenant Por- ter: troop F. Captain Yates and Lieutenant Kelly; troop » ,' Captain Custer and Lieutenant Harrington; troop K. Lieutenants Smith and Sturgis; troop L,’ Lieutenants Cal- houn and Crittenden. Lieutenant Cook was the Adjutant and Dr. G K. Lord was the medical officer. The battalion under Captain Benteen consisted of troop H.‘ Captain Benteen and Lieutenant Gibson; troop D, Captain Weir and Lieutenant Kdgerly, and troop K. Lieutenant God- frey. The pack train. Lieutenant Mathey In charge, was under the escort of troop “B. Captain McDougall. (Brady. “Indian Fights and Fighters.”