INTRODUCTION. xxxiii 



Horn, when the steamer Far West arrived, and with 

 her assistance he was enabled to cross. Ouster, having 

 got all ready for the attack on the Indian camp, drew up 

 his column on June 22, consisting of the twelve troops 

 of the 7th Cavalry some 14 officers and 600 men, 

 with 180 packed mules, loaded with fifteen days' 

 rations. On the next, the 23rd, the trail discovered by 

 Colonel Eeno was found and followed. It turned off 

 from the Kosebud, leading over the divide to the Little 

 Horn, where the scouts reported a large village. Custer 

 marched all night as well as all the day of the 24th ; and 

 on Sunday morning, June 25, the village w T as declared to 

 be only a few miles ahead. Custer rode in advance with 

 his orderlies, but failed to detect any trace of what the 

 scouts declared to be plainly visible. The village of 

 ' Sitting Bull ' was on the left bank of the Little Horn, 

 about fifteen miles from its confluence with the Big Horn. 

 The river on that side is fringed with timber, from the 

 edge of which to the hills on the left that opposite to 

 Ouster's advance spreads a plain some miles long of 

 bottom-land. By the bank of the river ran the tents of 

 the Sioux, the largest village ever seen in the West, 

 extending nearly four miles, and containing 6,000 or 

 7,000 people, of whom 4,000 were warriors. On the 

 right, or the side which Custer approached, is a range of 

 bluffs, which the cavalry crowned, and then they looked 

 down upon ' Sitting Bull's ' concentrated strength. It is 

 probable that Custer did not correctly estimate the 

 number of the enemy ; for a considerable portion was 

 hidden behind the wood. As he looked down the whole 

 expanse was in commotion. Mounted bands were riding 

 furiously around, and columns of dust arose in every 

 direction, from out of which would shoot single warriors 

 mounted on their swift ponies, and the cry was raised 

 that the Indians were retreating. It may be that Custer 



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