INTR OD UCTION. xxxix 



near the top of a little knoll in the centre of the plateau 

 Ouster's unmutilated remains reclined as if in sleep, his 

 face calm, and a smile on his lips. Around were the 

 bodies of 1 1 officers ; on his left was his brother, Captain 

 Thomas Ouster ; on his right Captain Miles Keogh. 

 Almost at his feet lay a handsome boy of 19, his 

 nephew Eeed, who insisted on accompanying the general. 

 Not far away wa the corpse of Boston Custer, another 

 brother, and near him was Lieut. Calhoun, the husband 

 of Ouster's sister, a lady who lost in that desperate charge 

 her husband, three brothers, and a nephew. And there, 

 too, was Kellogg, the Herald's correspondent, while in 

 various parts of the field were strewn the corpses of the 

 officers and men lying as they fell in that fatal fight. 

 Custer rode at the head of five troops numbering 240 

 men, not one of whom survived. In all, 261 were buried, 

 and 52 wounded were brought away. The officers killed 

 were General Custer, Colonel L. Custer, Colonel Keogh, 

 Colone] Cooke, Colonel Yates, Lieut. Porter, Lieut. Smith, 

 Lieut. Mclntosh, Lieut. Calhoun, Lieut. Hodgson, Lieut. 

 Eiley, Lieut. Sturgis, Lieut. Crittenden. Lieut. Harrington 

 and Assistant Surgeon Lord are missing. 



An old trapper of the Yellowstone country, named 

 Eidgely, who was a prisoner in ' Sitting Bull's ' camp, 

 is probably the only white man alive who witnessed the 

 Custer Massacre. He was taken by the Indians in March 

 last, and was detained, though kindly treated. Custer's 

 movements had been closely watched for days ; and the 

 division of the force into detachments was noted with satis- 

 faction. Ambuscades were prepared. There were two 

 villages, the smaller only being visible to Custer, consist- 

 ing of 25 tepees ; but there were 75 double tepees be- 

 hind the bluff. Custer attacked the smaller village, and 

 was opposed by 1,500 to 2,000 Indians in regular order 

 of battle. The fight was commenced in the ravine, near the 



