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

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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.”

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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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reason for not proceeding further in the direction first mentioned. Upon reaching the trail just ahead of the pack train, Benteen saw Custer’s command, easily disting- uished by the troop of gray horses, traveling to the right at a rapid gait. Reno and Custer separated about a mile from tbe river, Custer going over the high rolling hills and Reno proceeding directly to the river. (See map.) Reno, following the Indian trail, crossed at a ford about two miles southeast of the Indian camp and marched di- rectly down the valley, coming shortly upon a few Indians who offered no opposition, but who kept just far enough ahead to invite pursuit. Reno followed them closely until he received orders to “move forward at as rapid a gait as you think prudent and charge the village afterward, and the whole outfit will support you. ' Reno, as ordered, moved rapidly forward in “column of fours' for about half a mile, then formed the battalion in line of battle across the valley with the scouts on the left. After advancing about a mile fur- ther, he deployed his command as skirmishers. The Indians, continually reinforced, fell back, firing occa- sionally, hut made no decided effort to check Reno's advance. Suddenly the Indians “developed great force, opened a brisk fire, mounted, and dashed to Reno’s left where the Reno scouts were located,”t The scouts fled and Reno im- mediately ordered his men to dismount and fight on foot. The command fell hack on the defensive until in the timber. Up to this time, Reno’s loss was one wounded. T he length of time Reno re- mained in this position is questionable. Some say “a few minutes, others say “about an hour.” While in this strong position, Reno's casualties were few. In time, a small number of Indians fired on the rear of the command and Reno ordered the men to mount and get to the bluffs. Reno led this retreat or “charge as he termed it in his report.% Striking the river at a fordable place, Reno's troops rushed in a straggling manner into a small cut in the hank and dashed madly up a steep bluff, losing a number of men. Lieutenant Don McIntosh was killed soon after leav- ing the timber. I)r. D. Wolf was killed climbing the bluffs a short distance from the command and Lieu- tenant B. H. Hodgson was shot and killed after his horse leaped with him from the bluff into the river. Reno’s casualties thus far were three officers, and twenty-nine enlisted men killed, seven enlisted men wounded, one officer, one interpreter and fourteen soldiers and Ree scouts missing. The Crow scouts stayed with Reno. Although Reno's men formed a defense, they w'ere fighting a losing battle. Benteen •Godfrey. Century, January. 1X92. ♦Godfrey, Century. January, 1x«»2. t Godfrey. Century. January. 1892 Brady. Indian Fight and Fighter . Curley wan on of the six Crow Indian scouts with Punter. Jt ■ claimed by many, that he wax with Punter in the battle of the Little Big Horn. According to his ntory hi escape was made | ossiblc by disguis- ing himxeir as a Sioux and passing through their lines. He was the first to report the outcome of the battle to Terry on the Far West. ' John Martin was a trumpeter of Custer’s command and was the last man to see Custer alive. It was he who carried Punter' last message to Benteen. to come at once and bring packs when he. Punter, had started his detour with the intention of strik- ing the rear of the Indian village.