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DATELINE
JUNE 19, 1876—DEADWOOD, SOUTH DAKOTA
Eleven
years after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the United States of
America and the Confederate States of America; in an unusual spirit of
cooperation between the two American nations, a joint task force comprised of
elements of the 9th Confederate States Cavalry and the United States 7th
Cavalry has invaded the northern plains, the home of the ferocious Sioux and Northern
Cheyenne Indians; in a combined military campaign to end the western Indian
Wars once and for all. The co-commanders of the united military effort
are Major General Joseph Wheeler, C.S.A. and Colonel George Armstrong Custer,
U.S.A.
After a
union of the two cavalry columns on the banks of the Rosebud, the commanders
agreed to divide their forces after Major Marcus A. Reno's column returned from
an armed reconnaissance up the Powder River. Major Reno reported that a
large gathering of the Hunkpapa Sioux led by Sitting Bull, the Miniconjous
Sioux, the Oglalas, the San Arcs, and the Cheyenne under Crazy Horse and the
prophet Box Elder, was underway near the Big Horn River and that the Indian
encampment was the largest ever encountered on the western plains. After
a fast officers call, it was decided that General Wheeler's force of Southrons
would march to the north, continue up the Rose Bud River and swing across to
the northern end of the valley of the Little Big Horn River while Brevet
General Custer's force would march immediately to the lower end of the Valley
of the Little Big Horn and perform a reconnaissance in force toward the Indian
encampment, forcing the enemy into General Wheeler's guns.
DATELINE
JUNE 23, 1876, FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN THE SADDLE WITH CUSTER'S TROOPS.
The
troopers of the 7th are weary. The weather is unseasonably hot. Many
of the men have cut their hair short, including the General, who had his
cinnamon scented long wavy hair shorn this morning. The Indians have
always known him as yellow hair, Son of the Morning Star. It would be hard for
them to recognize him from a common soldier now. Many of the troopers of
the 7th played cards last night, gambling away the payroll greenbacks that they
have carried since leaving Fort Lincoln earlier this year. Weary and hot,
they are slumbering in their saddles, choking on the Montana dust raised by the
column.
Custer's
Crow scouts White-Man-Runs-Him and Curley have just rejoined the column and
Officer's Call has sounded. I can see Captain Miles Keogh and Lt. Cooke
spurring their horses to the head of the column in answer to the bugle call.
DATELINE
JUNE 23, 1876, WITH GENERAL WHEELER'S 9TH CONFEDERATE CAVALRY.
The gray
column of southern troopers have left the banks of the Rosebud and are in march
toward the Valley of the Little Big Horn. This reporter overheard several
of the officers discussing Custer's Yankee column last night. They seem
to be of the opinion that "Autie" Custer is rash to the point of
disaster, often putting his personal glory above the welfare of his men. I
fear there is little respect for this brave commander who won his Brevet on the
fields of honor during the late unpleasantness among these Southrons. On
the other hand, they revere their commander, General Wheeler, the hero of the
battle of Shiloh. They have remarked at the difference in armament of the
two forces...how the entire Southern military has been equipped with Winchester
1873 model rifles while the Union cavalry, their enemy of old, is armed with single
shot breechloading Springfield Trapdoor carbines that are prone to jam after
three rounds. Interestingly, Custer's column is more of a flying
column; Custer having chosen to leave his two 6" mountain howitzers on the
banks of the Rosebud. Wheeler, on the other hand, has transported three
English built 4" Armstrong breech loading rifled cannon with his
column.
DATELINE
JUNE 24, 1876, WITH CUSTER'S 7TH NEAR THE LITTLE BIG HORN RIVER.
This
evening, Colonel Custer and his officers met with the Crow and Ree scouts.
Custer informed his Indian scouts that tomorrow would see a great victory,
surrounding him and his command with enough glory to propel him into the White
House in the next election, and as their great white father, would reward them
for their honorable service. As a group, the scouts seem to disbelieve
Custer... Lt. Tom Custer proposed a toast to his older brother and to
tomorrow's victory. As for the plan of battle, Custer intends to lead an
attack similar to the one that he led on Black Kettle's Cheyenne encampment on
the Washita River several years before. One of the Ree scouts tells Custer
that the Sioux and Cheyenne encampment is filled with warriors...not women and
old men like the camp on the Washita.
DATELINE
JUNE 25, 1876, WITH WHEELER'S 9TH CSA CAVALRY ABOVE THE LITTLE BIG HORN
VALLEY—DAWN
This
Confederate force was awakened at four o'clock this morning, cold rations were
served and no fires were permitted. The horses were saddled and sent to
the rear of the skirmish line with a horse handler to every four horses.
Five hundred hardened Southron troopers are spread out along a mile-long front,
dug in, waiting...The three Armstrong guns are emplaced commanding a field of
fire along the approach of the narrow end of the Big Horn Valley, waiting...for
Custer's regiment to force Lo, the poor Indian, up the valley and into an
enfilading field of fire from Wheeler's force.
For a
change, a cool breeze sends ripples through the buffalo grass.
Meadowlarks and sparrow hawks soar in the cool morning sky. All is still;
the stillness broken only by the cry of the hawks.
DATELINE JUNE 25, 1876, WITH THE 7TH NEAR MEDICINE MAN COULEE.
The Ree scouts have just reported to Custer, claiming to have seen the smoke
from many cooking fires along the river bottom of the Little Bighorn....more
than a man can count, claimed one of the Rees. Custer laughed and called
his scouts women and ordered his bugler to blow Boots & Saddles, the
assembly call.
"Officers
to the front, on the double" The command echoed across the prairie.
"Uncase
the colors...Captain Benteen, take your troop and mop up any of the hostiles
that you find south of the village. Don't tarry.
Major
Reno, take your column and assault the village from the south, down
there." Custer pointed toward the river. Cross by that timbered
island below the camp!" Custer bellowed his orders.
“Captain Miles, we will attack in three
prongs. Bring your remaining two battalions and follow me....To
Glory! Forward."
After
several miles of travel along the high bluffs of the river Custer halted the
column.
Firing could be heard behind us, down on the river. Major
Reno was already engaged. The column of troopers grew silent. The
men are looking downriver...at a huge Indian village that straggles upstream
for nearly three miles.
Custer
yelled for his adjutant, Lt. W.W. Cooke and hastily scribbled a note for
Captain Benteen: "Benteen-Come on. Big village. Be
quick. Bring packs. P.S. Bring Pacs."
"Lt.,"
Custer barked, "Ride that horse like the devil! Get this to Benteen,
be quick, now move!" Whirling his horse, Custer faced his
troop and yelled, "Men of the 7th and Custer's Luck..Follow me, forward,
to Glory.
I can
hear firing to the north, the continued booming of field guns and the crackle
of rifles. Custer is dead as is most of his command. His mad plunge
down the coulee toward the center of the Indian village met with
disaster. Custer was hit at least once while charging at the head of his
column just as we entered the water of the Little Big Horn. The massed
Indian fire was appalling. The cavalry column seemed to freeze, saddles
emptied, and our ranks were broken by the screaming hordes of red
Indians. About half of the 210 men that Custer led toward the river were
able to turn and flee to the surrounding buttes where we were able to hold off
the enemy until Benteen could arrive. Custer and his brothers Tom and
Boston along with two dozen troopers dismounted on the first high hill from the
river. A protective cordon of troopers tried to protect the wounded
Custer, but the advancing Indians quickly overran them. The last time that
I saw the General, he had struggled to his feet, placed his revolver to his own
head, and pulled the trigger. Our contingency managed to hold the
hostiles at bay with our sustained fire and the fact that large numbers of the
hostiles stopped at Custer's hill to disembowel and dismember their fallen
foes. Benteen, after linking up with the remnants of Reno's command,
finally began to force the Indians up stream. An Indian rear guard action
allowed the squaws to break camp and the entire gathering of Indians began to
move up the valley. Benteen and Reno ceased the attack, coming to us, and
together we have set up a defensive perimeter strong enough to prevent the Indians
from over-running our position.
DATELINE
JUNE 25, 1876, WITH WHEELER'S CONFEDERATE COMMAND ABOVE THE NORTHERN END OF THE
VALLEY OF THE LITTLE BIG HORN.
About
noon, members of this command begin to hear large volleys of rifle fire in the
distance south of our position. The shooting became desultory, then
stopping for about a half hour, then beginning again, coming nearer our
position. Soon we could see a huge dust cloud approaching up the
valley.
General
Wheeler passed the command to the cannoneers: "Hold your fire, get them in
close, 500 yards or less, and place your first rounds of fire beyond their
advance, in the rear of their ranks. As soon as the Indians begin to
break, to move forward away from the eruptions in their rear, switch to
plunging fire and load with canister. Understood!"
Moving to
his assembled troop commanders, Wheeler commanded them to control their men,
keep them dismounted and in place, directing their rifle fire into the ranks of
the approaching enemy until organized resistance has ended.
The
artillery fire coupled with the excellent repeating rifles of the Confederate
cavalry troopers wreaked havoc on the advancing Indian horde and scattered the
survivors up and down the narrow valley. The commands to cease fire,
mount, and form your troop were given; and the 9th Confederate Cavalry began
their mopping up operation.
FINAL
NOTES: We located the remnants of Custer's command just north of Medicine
Man Coulee. This reporter was overjoyed to be reunited with my fellow
correspondent from the Deadwood Chronicle. Custer's body has been
recovered. While the Indians visited untold atrocities on the bodies of
others of his command, only two things had been done to Custer's body. His
ear drums had been punctured by an awl in the Indian belief that perhaps it
would enable him to hear the voices of the Indians better when warnings were
given to him...and his ring finger had been severed below the knuckle.
END
REPORT...DEADWOOD SOUTH DAKOTA, JUNE 29, 1876. ©2008, Ted Gragg. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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