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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 24, 1926)
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN PAGE 4 ACCOUNT OF THE CUSTER MASSACRE (Continued from page 1) miles from the village which was on a branch of the Little Horn fifteen miles above its mouth. The In dians by this time had seen him coming and were mount ing in great haste and riding here and there in full re treat. Custer, with his usual vigor, pushed on, mak ing twenty-eight miles without sleep, and attacked the village near its foot with companies C, E, F, I and L of the seventh cavalary. Reno attacked it at its head with three companies, and after a desperate hand to hand fight killed many of the Indians. He was soon reinforced with four more companies of the cavalry under Col. Benteen. In gaining this position Col. Reno had to recross the Little Horn, and at the ford one of the hottest fights occurred. It was here where Lieutenants McIntosh, Hodgson and Dr. DeWolf fell; where Charley Reynold fell in a hand to hand fight with a dozen or more Sioux. The Sioux dashed up beside the soldiers knocking them from their horses and killing them at their pleas ure. McIntosh was pulled from his horse, tortured and finally murdered at the pleasure of the redskins. The companies engaged in this affair were those of Captains Boylan, French and McIntosh. Col. Reno went ahead of Custer and his men, driving back the Indians who charged at them from the front. Signals were given and soon Benteen with the four companies in reserve came up in time to save Reno from the fate which Custer about this time met. The Indians received strong reinforcements about the time they were going to attack the soldiers who were stationed on one of the high cliffs. They made several attacks, but were driven back each time by Col. Reno and his soldiers. At times they were so close stones were thrown into the ranks by those who were unarmed or without ammunition. Near 10 o’clock the fight closed and the men worked all night strengthening their breastwork; using knives, tin cups and plates in place of spades and picks; taking up the fight again in the morning. In the afternoon of the second day the desire for water became almost intolerable. The wounded were begging for it and the tongues of the men were swollen and their lips parched. So finally men volunteered to go with can teens and camp kettles in search of water. The at tempt succeeded without much loss. The fight continued until the 27th. By this time the men were all wondering what had become of Cus ter. He had been missing for some time. A panic all at once was created among the Indians and they stampeded in all directions. Gen. Terry came in sight, but no word from Custer. Hand shaking and con gratulations were scarcely over when Lt. Bradly re ported that he had found Custer dead, with one hun dred and ninety cavalrymen. Gen. Custer, who was shot through the head and body, seemed to have been among the last to fall and around him lay the bodies of Col. Tom, and Boston, his brothers. The Indian women seem to have passed over the field and crushed the skulls of the wounded and dying with stones and clubs. The heads of some were severed from the body, others bore traces of torture, arrows havine: been shot into them while yet living, or other means of torture adopted. The Indians numbered at least eighteen hundred lodges in their permanent camps, their effective fight ing force numbered about four thousand. The Indians’ dead were great in number, as they were constantly assaulting an inferior but better armed force. The total number of soldiers killed was two hundred and sixty one; wounded, fifty-two. The wounded body of Lt. Hodgson did not fall into the hands of the Indians; that of Lt. McIntosh did. He was a half-breed and a gentleman of culture. He left a family at Lincoln as did Gen. Custer, Cols. Calhoun, Yates, Capt. Smith and Lt. Porter. The unhappy Mrs. Calhoun lost a husband, three brothers and a nephew. Lt. Harrington also had a family, but no trace of his remains were found. Killed: Commissioned officers, 15; enlisted men, 237; civilians, 5; Indisn scouts, 3. CHEMAWA COMPLIMENTED Recently, as all know, Mrs. Josephine Corliss Pres ton. superintendent of public instruction of the State of Washington, was a visitor at Chemawa and spoke to us during our chapel exercises. We mentioned this in our last issue, but since then we have received an extract of her address from a exchange and we are pleased to publish it, from the Capital Journal, as fol lows: Speaking at the Sunday evening chapel service in the school auditorium recently, Mrs. Josephine Cor liss Preston, superintendent of public instruction in the state of Washington, said that she was never prouder of any group of children than she was of the Chemawa boys and girls who participated in the Sec ond National Indian Congress at Spokane last July. “I have visited a great many places since the Indian Congress and have mentioned the wonderful manners of the Chemawa students, and that is the one thing that you children must try to maintain always,” she said. “When I came to Chemawa to talk tonight I had decided to talk on character, citizenship and education, but when I see the wonderful work already realized by the diligent efforts of the students and employees I have changed my mind and intend to talk on achieve ment.” “It isn’t what people think, but what we do that counts. I see citizens of the United States in this au dience and here is vour chance to achieve something for our government and your race. We want leaders, ones who will stand for their own convictions. And remem ber, boys and girls, character and fine citizenship starts in the schools. “You have everything. Our government offers you an opportunity, and, as part of the United States, you must help and do your part.” Closing her talk Mrs. Preston quoted “My country right or wrong. If wrong, to make it right. If right to keep it right. My country, right or wrong.” Mrs. Preston told in detail of the work being done to educate the children of the country. And it wasn’t so much what she said, but her earnestness and sin cerity that held the 1000 children enthralled.
