254 
PARK AND CEMETERY 
Avoid scattering effects in the planting of 
shrubs or trees. Either mass for color effects in 
foliage or flower, or select for grouping, such 
shrubs as are noted for individual form and express- 
ion, giving ample room for developement, and 
space to view them from all sides. 
Rely mainly upon the lawn, and natural effects 
of trees and shrub planting, for the impression to 
be made, and subordinate the artificial to the natu- 
ral . 
The Custer Battlefield Cemetery. 
On the 25th of last June, the nineteenth anni- 
versary of Gen’l Geo. A. Custer’s death, we paid a 
visit to that sacred spot on the Little Big Horn, 
Custer’s battlefield. 
The completion of the railroad from Sheridan, 
Wyo., to Billings, Mont., on the Northern Pacific, 
has brought this battlefield into touch with the outer 
world, and tourists in the northwest and army of- 
ficers are now visiting this field, and they are try- 
ing, by study, to unravel the mystery of the great- 
est battle since the civil war. A battle fought from 
beginning to end, with intelligence and discipline, 
and with a heroism that has never been excelled, — 
a battle and a sacrifice. 
Senator Beck, of Kentucky, who visited this 
place, several years ago, was instrumental in in- 
ducing the government to build a stone lodge for the 
sexton, and in securing an appropriation for marble 
headstones, which were set in place of the wooden 
ones that marked the spots where each of the sold- 
iers fell. And to day these white sentinels which 
dot the field, tell the story of the struggle and help 
in a way to solve the shadow of an awful mystery 
that will ever rest upon these barren, blood-dyed 
hills. 
The battlefield is a national cemetery now, and 
the remains of all soldiers who have been killed up- 
on the plains and valleys of this section of the 
country are being gathered here, and properly 
buried, with tombstones and monuments to tell in 
after years, stories of duty, heroic deaths, and the 
cruelty of wars. Each marble headstone tells where 
fell “a member of the 7th U. S. Cavalry, June 25th 
1876.” On the highest point of the field stands a 
huge granite monument, on the sides of which are 
inscribed the names of officers and men who fell on 
that ill-fated day. 
The relic hunter used to come here and hack 
and deface this monument, until the government 
was compelled to place a tall iron fence about it. 
Near this monument is the spot where Gen. Custer 
fell, marked by a huge wooden cross. 
It is the general supposition, we believe, that 
Custer and his little band were led into a dark, 
THE CUSTEK MASSACRE MONUMENT, CROW AGENCY, MON. 
deep ravine, and slaughtered. Nothing of the kind 
though. The field is a “succession of brown, rolling 
hills, divided by deep gullies, any of which could 
contain an army of soldiers, and which were no 
doubt utilized by the Indians. The whole country, 
away from the river, is a wild, rocky region, with 
bold mountainous hills, devoid of shrubbery, and 
with wild, dashing, mountain streams. 
The Indians when approached on the subject, 
refused to talk in most instances; but now and then 
little bits of information leak out and these with a 
study of the field makes the story somewhat plain. 
Gen’l Custer and Major Reno, had been following 
the trail of 1200 or 1500 Indians for several days. 
On nearing the Indian village on the 25th of June, 
that year, they divided their forces of 800 Cavalry- 
men. Reno was to move down to the river, cross 
it, and attack the lower end of the village; Custer 
to swing around on his right flank and cut off a re- 
treat of the enemy. Reno attacked the Indians at 
noon, but he met with such a hot reception, that 
he was forced to retreat, having lost about 40 men 
in about twenty minutes. He retreated across the 
river and back to a hill miles from the field. 
Here he intrenched himself and waited for two days 
until Gen. Terry arrived; the intrenchments are 
plainly to be seen to this day; so dry is the climate 
and rain rarely falls in this country. 
Custer in the meantime had made a detour of 
the Indian village, keeping out of sight in the hills. 
At two o’clock he moved down to the river, and 
coming around the point of a mighty hog-back, he 
