MARCH OF THE SEVENTH CAVALRY.



be pushed up the Big Horn as far as the forks of the river are
found to be navigable for that space, and the Department Com-
mander, who will accompany the column of Col. Gibbon, desires
you to report to him there not later than the expiration of the
time for which your troops are rationed, unless in the meantime
you receive further orders. Respectfully &c.,
                  E. W. SMITH, Captain 18th Infantry,
                       Acting Assistant Adjutant General.
  After proceeding southerly up the Rosebud for
about seventy miles, Custer, at 11 P. M. on the night
of the 24th, turned westerly towards Little Big Horn
River. The next morning while crossing the elevated
land between they two rivers, a large Indian village
was discovered about fifteen miles distant, just across
Little Big Horn River. Custer with characteristic
promptness decided to attack the village at once.
  One company was escorting the train at the rear.
The balance of the force was divided into three col-
umns. The trail they were on led down to the stream
at a point some distance south of the village. Major
Reno, with three companies under Capt. T. H. French,
Capt. Myles Moylan, and Lieut. Donald McIntosh,
was ordered to follow the trail, cross the stream, and
charge down its north bank. Capt. F. W. Benteen,
with his own company and two others under Capt. T.
B. Weir and Lieut. E. S. Godfrey, was sent to make a
detour to the south of Reno. The other five com-
panies of the regiment, under the immediate command
of Custer, formed the right of the little army.
  On reaching the river Reno crossed it as ordered,
and Custer with his five companies turned northerly
into a ravine running behind the bluffs on the east
side of the stream.



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