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3
February, 1952
country, Army, Indians, and espc cially the commissary. Horner sold a plug of Government issue chewing tobacco for enough to buy a couple of beers in a local saloon. He stretched them out as long as he could while he raided the free lunch counter.
Homer recalls that his first days at Fort Lincoln were so full of excite' ment over the coming campaign that he forgot his troubles.
GENERAL CUSTER set May 17th as the day to leave Fort Lincoln in pursuit of the Sioux Indians, who were under the leadership of Chief Gall and Crazy Horse. Chief Gall later proved to be the most fearsome of all Sioux warrioi's. He led the Indian horsemen in the battle which annihilated Custer. Sitting Bull was the most fanatic white man hater in the West. He was the master mind of the Sioux warriors, cunning and as sly as a prairie fox.
The Government had signed treaties with the Indians which allowed them to keep the Black Hills territory for their own hunting grounds. White men were forbidden to enter the area. Nevertheless, gold was discovered in the Black Hills and prospectors flocked in by the thousands. Soon the Sioux hunting grounds were ruined and the Indians driven out. The Indians went on the war path, and many of the military men disliked the job of going out and rounding them up. Besides the breaking of the treaty, there were other things that were equally irritating. Government supplies for the Sioux were sent to Indian agents for distribution; some agents stole the
goods and sold them to trading posts up the river.
When General Custer learned of this he reported it to Washing' ton. The scandal implicated President Grant's Secretary of War, Mr. Bel' knap, who was impeached. President Grant refused to believe the charges, and never forgave General Custer. Just before the expedition left Fort Lincoln, the President took the command away from Custer and gave it to General Terry. Custer was ordered not to accompany the expedition in any capacity, but General Terry interceded for him, and he was allowed to command his own regiment, with Terry as his superior officer.
CCT'LL never forget our departure," i. Homer said. "It was a colorful sight as our command moved out of the Fort on that bright May morning in 1876. Our heavy wagon trains made a column more than two miles long. I remember how proud General Custer was when he took his place and rode at the head of our Seventh Cavalry with its beautifully matched companies of grays and browns. He looked every inch the great leader he was."
"Do you remember Mrs. Custer?" I asked.
The old Indian fighter's eyes beamed. "Indeed, I do. She was both charming and beautiful. She accompanied us on that first day, and returned to the Fort that evening in the company of the paymaster — never to see her husband alive again."
"I guess there wouldn't be much use of a paymaster going along on such an expedition," I joked.