THE WHITES DEFEATED WITH HEAVY LOSS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 202, 18 August 1876, Page 2

THE WHITES DEFEATED WITH HEAVY LOSS.

The following by the San Francisco mail is from the Auckland Star:— Stillwater (Montana), July 2.—Muggins Taylor, scout for General Gibbons, got here last night, direct from the Little Horn river. General Cualer found the Indian Camp, of about 2000 lodges on Little Horn, and immediately attacked it. Ouster took five complies, and charged the thickest portion. Nothing is known of the operations of tit is detachment, only ac they are traced by the dead. Mojor Reno commanded the other {.even companies, and attacked the lower portion of the camp. The Indiana poured in a murderous fire from all directions The greater portion fought on horsebank. Ouster, hie two brothers, nephew, and brother-in-law, were all killed, and not one of his detachment escaped. Two hundred and aeven men were buried in one place, and the Lumber of killed is estimated at 300, with only 31 wounded. The Indians surrounded Reno's command, and held them for one day in the hills cut off from water, until Gibbon's command came in sight, when they broke camp in the night and left. The Seventh fought like tigers, aud were overcome by mere brute force. The Indians actually pulled men off their horses in some instances. I give this as Taylor told me, as he was over (he field after, the battle. Tho above is confirmed by other letter?, which say Caster met a fearful disaster. The battle was fought on the 25th, thirty or forty miles below the Little Horn. Ouster attacked the Indian village of from 2,500 to 3,000 warriors on one aide, and Colonel Reno was to attack it on the other. Three companies were placed on the hill as a reserve. General Ouster and fifteen officers and every man belonging to the five companies were killed. Reno retreated undar the protection of the reserve. The whole number killed was 315. General Gibbon** joined Reno. The Indians left the battle-ground. It looked like a slaughter-pen, a3 it really was, being in a uarrow ravine,, The dead were very much mutilated.