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Show THE NOBLE RED MAN. 549 ions prepared, and breakfast eaten. Right here, apparently, Ouster's original plan failed. It would seem to have been his intention to* re-peat the Washita battle, and attack at sunrise. By 8 A. M., the com-mand was neariug the Little Horn. Here the regiment was divided. Major Reno took command of companies M, A and G; Captain Ben-teen of H, D, and K ; Ouster retained companies 0, E, F, I and L, and Captain McDougall, with company B, was placed as rear- guard with the pack- train. As they moved down the creek towards the Little Horn, Custer was on the right bank, Major Reno on the left-bank, and Captain Benteen some distance to the left of Reno, and en-tirely out of sight. As near as can be determined the command had marched some ninety miles since leaving Terry ; but it is claimed by some that this last night and forenoon march was much longer than reported. About noon they came in sight of the Indian camp, on the opposite side of the river, which at that point runs a little west of north, with a considerable bend to the north- east. Enclosed within this bend, on the left ( west) side of the stream, began the Indian camps, which con-tinued thence a long way down the Little Horn. As the command now enters the battle in three divisions, we must consider them sepa-rately. As far as Custer's plan can be known, it was for Reno to cross, attack the upper end of the Indian camp, and drive them down stream if possible ; at any rate, to employ the warriors fully, while Custer himself, to be reinforced by Benteen, should gallop around the bend of the Little Horn and down some distance, then cross, and attack from that side. It was evident that the time for a complete surprise was past. The last order Reno had from Custer was : " Move forward at as rapid a gait as you think prudent, charge afterwards, and the whole outfit will support you." Pursuant thereto, Reno with his command took a sharp trot for two miles down the stream to a con-venient ford ; then crossed, deployed with the Ree scouts on his left, and opened the battle, the Indians retiring before him for about two and a half miles. And here comes in the first doubtful proceeding. Reno says : " I saw that I was being drawn into some trap. * * * . J could not see Custer or any other support, and at the same time the ground seemed to grow Indians. They were running towards me in swarms, and from all directions." He retired a little to a piece of woods, dismounted, had his men fight on foot, and advanced again. He says that the odds were five to one, and he saw that he must re-gain high ground or be surrounded. Accordingly he remounted his men, charged across the stream, some distance below where he had |