Red Devils -21 Excerps from Letters en route to the Big Horn

April 22nd

I have finally finished the end part of my essay - about the battle and the aftermath.

VI. Events in 1876 leading up to the battle.

In order to understand what happened, it is important first of all to know the geography of the area.

Montana is a very big territory, and the area we are mostly interested in is the Southeastern corner which contains the Yellowstone River. The steam boats which carried supplies traveled from Fort Abraham Lincoln, near Bismarck, up the Missouri River, and from there into the Yellowstone River.

There are several smaller rivers which are tributaries of the Yellowstone that need to be mentioned. One is the Rosebud River, which is where on June 17th, 1876, General Crook, who had been in this area the longest trying to control the Indians, was defeated by the Sioux Indians led by Crazy Horse. We know that Ft. Lincoln knew of this defeat, and of the overwhelming strength of the Indians and attempted to contact the 7^th Cavalry but were too late.

The next tributary along is called the Little Bighorn, which as it increases in size becomes the Bighorn, and then it empties into the Yellowstone River.

 The terrain in that part of Montana is rugged with steep hills (the Wolf Mountains) ranging between the river valleys. There was no chance of a long range vision of the events of those days.

In order to understand the story, you need to know about the major participants from the Army.

General Alfred Terry (called No Hip by the Indians as he was lame) was the Commanding Officer, and he led the 7^th Cavalry, which had come from Ft. Abraham Lincoln, starting out on May 17^th of that year.

The three main sub officers were: Colonel Gibbon, Major Reno, and Lieutenant Colonel George A Custer. (His rank of General was honorary, and didn’t include any increase in pay or advance in command.)

Others that are mentioned that are of interest to this story are “Bos” Boston Custer, George Custer's brother, who had gone to live in the West to improve his health and schoolboy “Autie” Armstrong Reed, who had come because he wanted to spend his school vacation fighting the Indian. He was Custer’s nephew - son of his sister Lydia.

Captain Tom Custer, Custer's brother, who lived with George and Libbie Custer, and who had made a very bad enemy of Rain-in-the face by imprisoning him at Fort Abraham Lincoln the winter previous was also there and. First Lt. James Calhoun, who was Custer’s brother-in-law, married to his sister, Maggie.

*****

Kellogg’s first dispatch

May 17, 1876

In Camp, May 14th - Your correspondent joined the expedition Sunday and went into camp. At that time the order for march was given for 5 o’clock Monday morning; but owing to the severity of the storm of Sunday evening, the order was countermanded, and the expedition was not moved until Wednesday morning.   Located three miles below Fort Lincoln on a beautiful table of land, level as a floor, and on the banks of the Missouri on the east, with a range of coteaus in the west at a distance of two miles; overlooking a panoramic view that is peculiarly attractive. Officers and men are in the best of health and spirits, not withstanding the depressing effects of the weather, and eager to move. So far I have as yet ascertained the outfitting is compete in details as well in the aggregate.

All of the 7^th Cavalry are connected with the expedition, including the three companies lately arrived from the south.

 Gen. Terry proposes to carry an ample supply of provisions with the marching column to provide against the possible failure of the supply boats to reach Glendive Creek, the position for the proposed depot of supplies on the Yellowstone. All available means of transportation is required for transporting, and its organization has required much attention of the officers.

Gen, Terry says that the LINE OF MARCH will follow Gen. Stanley’s trail of 1873. The hostile Indians are in camp on the Little Missouri, Big Horn and Powder Rivers. The expedition will make a stand at the crossing on the Gen. Stanley Trail. Gen. Gibbons’ command are marching east from Ft. Ellis with two hundred cavalry. Gen. Terry sent orders Sunday via Ft. Ellis to Gen. Gibbon to move down the Yellowstone to Stanley’s stockade above Glendive Creek - if possible to cross over to attack the Indians at the mouth of the Powder River.

PERSONAL

Gen. Alfred H. Terry is arranging for the campaign with all of his well known executive ability brought into play. His courteous manner and kindly tones win fast the affections of the men in his command. Nothing seems to escape his notice, not even the smallest detail and I am safe in stating that no expedition of the Government has ever excelled in preparation and careful detail, as the one now about to move.

Gen Geo. A. Custer, dressed in a dashing suit of buckskin, is prominent everywhere. Here, there flitting to and fro, in his quick eager way, taking in with everything connected with his command, as well as generally, with the keen incisive manner for which he is so well known. The General is full of perfect readiness for a fray with the hostile red devils and woe to the body of scalplifters that comes within reach of himself and brave companions in arms.

JOTTINGS

I have visited every department and every position of the camp, and find everywhere perfect preparation order and system. Everything is moving along like clockwork. The citizen teamsters, and other citizens connected have accepted the situation and are ready and anxious to move.

This morning some ambulance mules were missing. The scouts took the trail and after an hour or so, came upon them, securely fastened to trees in the dense forests about two miles southeast of the camp and brought them in. The thieves supposed the expedition would move at daybreak this morning; that there would not be time to hunt for lost stock, and after the soldiers were away, they could take their mules in any direction they chose. It was a cunning scheme, but fell through.

We will break camp at three a.m. Wednesday and move at 5 a.m. weather permitting and now that all is ready everyone is anxious to start to be rid of the ennui of camp life.

During a short INTERVIEW held with Gen Terry, to-day, he informed me that there was to be no child’s play as regards the Indians. They must be taught that the Government was not to be trifled with, and such measures would be taken as would learn the Indians to feel and recognize that there existed in the land an arm and power which they must obey.

FRONTIER

Letter from Custer to Libby

Forty-six miles from Fort Lincoln, May 20th, 1876 - 9.15 P.M. It has just been decided to send scouts back to Lincoln. They leave here at daylight, and will remain there thirty-six hours, returning to us with dispatches and mail. We are having the "parrot's time" with the expedition. It is raining now, and has been since we started. The roads are fearfully bad. Here we are on the Little Muddy, after marching four days, and only forty-six miles from home. Everybody is more or less disgusted except me, and I feel the relief of not having to bear the responsibility of the delays. The elements seem against us, but a wet season and bad roads can be looked for always in this region in the months of May and June. We have not seen any signs of Indians thus far, and hardly look for any for a few days yet. I have been extremely prudent - sufficiently so to satisfy you. I go nowhere without taking an escort with me. I act as if Indians were near all the time.

The mess prospers well. Tom and I have fried onions at breakfast and dinner, and raw onions for lunch!

 The scouts that were left at Lincoln joined us yesterday about 10 A.M. with the mail. I wish that you knew how good it was to get the letters. You must send me more by the scouts we send out to-morrow. Since beginning this letter it is decided that they go at once, for I know it is best to get them out of camp at night; so they have been directed to saddle-up immediately, and I must therefore cut this letter short. They both took advantage of their first absence from home to partake of their favorite vegetable.

Onions were permitted at our table, but after indulging in them they found themselves severely let alone, and that they did not enjoy. I said this evening that if I was sure this expedition would go no farther the next four days than it has those just past, I would be glad to take dispatches to Lincoln and return, just for the sake of getting home again for a few hours.

*****

Second Dispatch from Kellogg

Published May 24th

Camp of Terry’s Expedition, Heart River, May 17. Reviles sounded shrill and sharp through Gen. Terry’s camp two miles south of Fort Abraham Lincoln and an hour later tents were struck, and at 5 a.m. the column formed preliminary to the march. Taking up the line of march, the column moved northwards through the late camp, and out over the coteaus. Two miles west of Fort Abraham Lincoln a halt was made a line in the following marching order was made.

Gen. Custer with two companies of cavalry and 40 scouts filed in ahead. Charley Reynolds, Chief scout, and F.F. Girard, Interpreter, accompanying. Gen. A.H. Terry and staff of the 7^th cavalry band and in order named the rest of the expedition: Seventh Cavalry, Artillery, Ambulance, Forage Wagons, with Infantry interspersed here and there, and in the rear and on the flanks of the column a detachment of cavalry was deployed as skirmishers, the cavalry and infantry marching in two columns. This was the order of the march for the day and will continue to be until circumstances demand a change.

It was a cheering and BRILLIANT SIGHT I witnessed from the highest peaked coteau west of Fort Lincoln within a few miles where your reporter took a stand. Foggy and damp though the morning, yet the inspiring trains of martial music floated through the air.

The roads being heavy and the wheeling difficult, the column moved slow and halted frequently yet at 3 p.m. the main column reached the camp ground we now occupy which Gen. Custer who had arrived three hours ahead of us had chosen. It is a delightful spot for a camp situation of the borders of the limpid waters of the Big Heart. The ground selected, a basin of 1,000 or 1,200 acres, is as level as a barn floor with coteaus surrounding it on all sides. Clear and sweet water is abundant and grass and timber plenty. The scouts were stationed on the highest peaks for observation, and the fighting material of the column placed in position to be ready at any moment to ward off or attack an enemy.

The INCIDENT of today with me, has been the antics of Waggoner’s pack mules. Some of them are fresh in the work, and mule like, after becoming wearied with their load, commenced bucking and kicking to rid themselves of it. It would make a stoic show his molars to see “them devilish critters” cut up. However, Waggoner and his assistants brought them to in time and into camp in good order.

A wagon tongue or two was broken but they were quickly replaced, but no accidents worthy of notice has occurred thus far.

The PAYMASTER is paying off the troops, this p.m. and the “boys” will have “a stake” in their pockets for a much longer period that they usually keep one there and yet they are not happy, but think constantly of the girl left behind or other pleasures.

It is understood that the column will take up its line of march early into the morning, and move toward where dwell the hostile red men.

GENERAL  A.H. TERRY is in excellent health and sprits, and hopes the Indians will gain sufficient courage to make a stand at or before we reach the Yellowstone River. His equable temper and genial manner show that the responsibilities resting on him, although weighty, wear him not at all.

 All of our military acquaintance start out fresh, hopeful and chuck full of energy for a melee with the “noble red man?” There has been great cheerfulness exhibited by the rank and file during all the preparation for this expedition and now that camp with its ennui is left behind, everybody is supremely happy. At least so appears the social atmosphere.

As usual on occasion of this kind GENERAL CUSTER is full of life and spirit, the same true soldier, exhibiting the dashing bravery of a man who knows no fear, true to the life in him. His energy is unbounded. Fatigue leaves no traces on him, and whatever care possesses him is bidden within his inner self. His men respect him, and will dare to do brave thing under his leadership.

The weather is delightful, the scenery and surrounding ditto, so your correspondent is just at this time fully contented with his lot, although it be in the “tented field.”

FRONTIER