Custer's Fight

XewYobK. September 5.- Gen Custer's official report of the Iridian attacks on the Yellowstono expedition on August 4th, says : " 1 direcwd Lieut. Custer to nuiekly throw forward a dumiounted line of troopera and attompt to empty a few Indian saddles. ■ ïho order was obeyod with tho greatest alacnty, aud, as the'Sioux ciiuiR dashiug tovward, exng to ride down the squadron, a line of disniounted oavulry rose from the grasa and delivered, almost in the iaces of the warriors, a volley of carbine bulk-ts whioh broke and soattered thoir ranks in all directions, and sent more than one Rioux reeling from h.s saddle. The oheok gave us time to make om dispositiona to resist the suceeeding attack whichweknew our enemies wauld soon make. The entire squadron, exeept horseholdcrs, was dismounted and or,],.,,„) to iisrht on foot. The Indians, numbering US nearly five to one. weit enabled to envelop us coinpl etely between their Unes, which formed a semioiiole, aud the river which flowed at our backs. The little belt of timber in whiuh we had been flrst attacked formed averygood cover for our led horses while the crest of the second table land conveniently located from the timber KdVfl us an excellent line of detense The length of our line and the nutnber of the enemy prevented us from uring any force to reserve. Every availablt, officer and man was on the skirnush Une whioh was, in reality, our line oí butilo Even the number of men holding horse had to be reduced so that each holde held eiarht horses. Until the Indiana were made to taste quite freely of our lead, they displayed un usual boldness. frequeatly eharging up to our line and firing with great delibe ration and accuraoy. Pinding their et forts to force back the troops unavaihng the Indians resorted to another expedí out. By au evidently preooncerted plai they set fire in several places to the tal grass whioh covered the ground in the front, hoping by this means to force th troops back to the river, and then finish them at their pleasure. Fortunatel; there was 110 wind at the time. Whil the grass was not dry enough to burn rapidly, the Indians crept up under cove of the smoke and obtained a shot a oomparatively elose ranga. The troop adoptud the same taotics with great suc ceas. About three o'clock, after fou hours' fighting, Gen. Custer mounted hi command and put the Iudians to ttigh without difficulty. The Indians were followed till it was discovered that they had crossed the river. On August llth, G:n Custer's com mand was discovered by the Indians who opened fire from the opposite bank They soon began to appear in strong numbers, and a brisk skiimish ensued, il which several Indians were killed. Be lieving the timo for offensive tactics hac come," Gen. Custer gave the necessarj orders and the troops moved forward to the tune of " Garry Owen." The Indi ans had evidently come out prepared to do their best, añd with no mibgivings a to thfiir success, as the mounds and higl bluffs beyond the river were covered with groups of squaws, old men and children who had collecte to witness our destruction. In this instance the proverbial power of music to soothe the sa vage breast utterly failed, for 110 sooner did the band strike up the cheery tones of " Garry Owen," and the squadrons ad vaneed to the charge than the Indians gave unmistakable signs of cornniotion and theu resistance becarae more ieeoie till finftlly, satistied of the earnestness of our attxck, they turned their ponies' heads and began a disorderly flight. +-m