8 THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SAgTUIlDAY , 3LAHCII 13 , 1897. CUSTER AND HIS COMMANI Recollections of the Terrible Tragedy on tb LUtlo Big Horn , GEN , 'MILES' ' DEFENSE OF GEN , CUSTEI Cnptnln rillmnti'n Slinrp In llic Ilnttli tnn Tul < l liy IllniNclf AVIint tlie Survivor * OTTO to | \ Cnittnlii llcnlccii. | The massaero of General Ouster and flvi companies of Ihe Seventh cavalry by Indian ! at the battle of the LUtlo Hlg Horn , twontj years ago , has become a topic for publl < discussion , especially among military men from the fact that General Nelson A. Miles in hla recently published recollections o : nrmy life , vigorously defends the bravo bui ill-starred Custor from the charge ot Im prudence and reckless disregard of mllltarj strategy In Ills preparations for the battle. General Miles claims that Custor fatloi to defeat the Indians because howas no ! adequately supported by the seven companlc ! of cavalry that were to act In concert will him and which were under the command ol Major Iteno and Captain Hentcen. No one la more Interested In any discus Ion of the Ouster matsacro than Deputj Commissioner Francis M. Gibson ot the Street Cleaning department of this city says the Now York E onlng Post. Man } who have met him In his official capacltj nro aware that he Is ft retired army officer , 'but ' few ot them know that the pollto , quiet- mannered , smooth-voiced deputy commls- eloner was with the vanguard of the troops tinder Ilcnu and Dcnteon , when they had to fight with the desperation of despair tc nave themselves from the fate of Custci end hb men after these unfortunates had been "wiped out" by an overwhelming force of Indiana. Captain Gibson seldom speaks of that stirring - ring episode in hla military career , but In justice to the reputation of his old comrade In nrms , Captain Hentecn , ho has written out for the Evening Test the following nar- ratlvo of the events that led up to and fol lowed the Uuster massacre , and ho has told his story In a way that la impressive by its quaint simplicity : CAPTAIN GIBSON'S STOKY. . The Seventh cavalry , under the command of Its Ilcutci.nnt colonel , General George A. Ouster. left Its winter quartern on May li , 1876 , for the Yellowstone country , from which flection. In conjunction with other com mands. the Second cavalry and Seventh In fantry It was to operate against largo bands of hostile Indians , then on the warpath. The Seventh cavalry was divided Into three bat talions for this service. The first was com manded by General Custor himself ; the second end by Colonel Heno , one of the majors , and the third by Colonel Bcnteen , the senior captain of the regiment. These three officers possoeficd very differ ent characteristics. Custcr's gallantry and dash have gone down to history. Ho was nlso a uian ot extreme nervous energy ; his untiring activity was boundless , and so also was hla Intensity of purpose. Ho was ut terly fearless , always eanguluo of success , had an abiding faith In the ability ot his regiment to succeed when others would fall , and reposed absolute confidence In hlu chosen friends. His daring exploits attest Ills bravery , and his fighting qualities should stamp him an able olllcer. Ho was a thor ough cavalryman from top to toe. Colonel Heno was regarded as an able " offi cer , but ho lacked the dash , the cnerg"y ( the determination and the ambition of Custcr. Uentccn ts a man of many noble charac teristics. He is as brave as was Julius Caccar , and aa cool under fire as the pro verbial cucumber. In a tight place his cool ness Is reassuring , and his judgment can al ways bo depended upon , and all the sur vivors of the battle of the Little Dig Horn nro very glad ho was there to exerclso his superior jtdgment. Colonel Benteen Is a man of stolid determination , and whc.ii. ho lakes up a position , cither on the Held of bat tle or In the midst of peaceful pursuits. It ts next to impossible to move him. Ho Is generous to a fault , and most charitable , and places his principles of honor on the very highest plane. I speak thus of Ucntecn knowing whereof I speak , as my relations with him were most Intimate , having been his first lieutenant for a number of years. Ho is now a brigadier general by brevet , this honor having been conferred upon him for hla distinguished services at the battle of the Little lilg Horn. i THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. The three regiments I have mentioned were brought together on the Yellowstone , at the mouth of the Rosebud , and General Terry , the department commander , was there in supreme command. While the exact loca tion of Sitting Bull's camp was. a matter of conjecture , the neighborhood of Ills where abouts wns pretty well known. From the mouth of the Rosebud , Colonel Keno's bat talion was sent on a rccnnnoUsanco , and about twenty miles from our camp ho found a very largo and fresh Indian trail leading toward the Little Big Horn river. After mihmlttlng his report to this effect , General Terry held a council of war with General Gibbon , colonel of the Seventh Infantry , General Custcr of the Seventh cavalry , and General Ilrlsbcn of the Second cavalry , at which the plan of campaign was discussed and decided. It was arranged that the Seventh cavalry was to proceed up the Uose- Imd river until It struck the trail discov ered by Iteno and follow It up. The other commands , which General Terry and staff accompanied , proceeded" to the Big Horn river , followed it up to the mouth of the LUtlo Big Horn , thoncn up the latter , with the purpose of co-operating with the Seventh cavalry. Yn conformity with the plan adopted , the Seventh cavalry broke camp at the mouth of the llO8pbu.il on the afternoon of June 22 , and marched up that stream for seven or eight miles , nnd made camp for the night. Huro General Custcr disclosed a part of the plan agreed upon at the council of war. On the 23d wo marched about twenty-five miles. On tlui morning of the 21th , after marching six or seven miles , we came upon the re mains of a very recently deserted Indian village , and also struck a very largo trail , leading toward the Little 13lg Horn.Vc lost no time In taking up this trail and fol lowing It rapidly. After making a good day's march wo went Into camp , but broke camp In n couple ot hours , and resumed the trull until nightfall. Wo them bivouacked for another couple of hours to give the men and horses a little rest and something to cat. A PROPHETIC RRMAIIK. Just aa wo went into bivouac I passed very near Colonel Keogh , who told mo he was going to have EOIIIO beans cooked , and aykeil mo to coino and take some with him , saying at the same time that It might bo our last meal together. I told him I doubted It we would bo there long rnougli to cook beans , but If wo wt-ie , I would come. It was In deed poor Keogh's last meal , UP being killed In battle next day.'t > loft this bivouac after about two hours' rent and pushed on In the direction of the Indian village. Soon after daylight wo discovered email bunches of Indians some distance from our flanks , It was not long after thlu that wo halted Awarded | Highest Honors World's Fair , MOST PERFECT MADE. Powder. f'-J A pure Grape Cream of Tartar Ammonia , Alum or any other aduJtC-t-i 10 Years the Standard. ar > j the officers' call was sounded. All th officers assembled at the head of the columi 1n response to this call. General Cuite tald that wo had been discovered by thi Indians and from that point battalion organ Uatlons would ccaie and the column woulc proceed from there In the order that trooi commanders reported them ready for action It so happened that "H" troop , which 1 hat commanded ever since Colonel Benteen hai been placed In command of ft battalion , wai near the head ot the column that morning and after General Ouster's remarks I has tcned to the troop and directed the men t < tighten up their horses' girths. This done , : reported to Benteen he being my captain and being ordered to resume command o his troop that "H" troop was ready foi action. He , In turn , made the eame repor to General Custer , and , being the first cap tain to report ready , wo wcro given th < head of the column on resuming the march. "We had hardly marched Hn tb.li order two miles when we again halted an < ! General Custer Informed Colonel Bcnteer that ho had reconsidered his order breaking up the battalions , and that Benteen couli take his again , which consisted of thre < troops , and added that Colonel Heno wouli also have his old battalions , wbllo he , him self , would resume personal command o : the original five troops ho had started with , This accounts for eleven troops , the twelfth Troop "B , " being designated the escort It the pack train. The pack train was an Im portant adjunct to the command , as It constl. tilted the transportation for our supplies and extra ammunition. A 11ECONNAISSANCE. Immediately upon resuming battalion or ganization Colonel Ucnteen was directed tc take his out ot column and proceed with II across the hills to the left , which turned oul to bo small mountains , and reach the val ley of the Llttlo Big Horn as soon as pos sible. If Indians were found trying to es cape up the valley -wo wcro to Intercept them and drive them toward the village. It was a formidable undertaking , getting over thcso so-called Mils , especially ae our horses wcro leg-weary and the men very tired and much In need ot rest and food. About half way over Colonel Benteen or dered nlo to select half a dozen men on the beet horsjs , got ahead ot the battalion , and proceed as rapidly as possible to the valley , and report to him without delay what I found there ; at the same time he handed mo his field glasses. His object In sending mo was to save unnecessary fatigue to both homes and men In case nothing was there. I got to the volley and found It as quiet aa the grave Itself. Up the valley I could sec a long distance , but In the direction ot the village only a short one , owing to the turn In the valley and the broken character of the country. I hurried back to Benteen , and told him there was no use going any further In that direction. Therefore , In compliance with General Ouster's orders , In case no In dians were seen In the valley , wo were to return by the shortest route to the trail of the main con-mand , and follow It up. After we had gotten back on the trait wo had not proceeded more than a mile or two before we met an orderly with a written message to Colonel Benteen , which read as follows : "Bcntecn , hurry on ; bring packs. " This was signed "W. W. Cook , " who was the adjutant of the regiment , and under his name ho had again written , as It to empha size It , "Bring packs. " As I said before , the Importance of a pack-train , when you have no other means of transportation , cannot bo overestimated. Benteen asked this orderly if the pack-train had passed , and he , stupidly , did not know. Colonel Bcntecn hereupon concluded that aa his battalion seemed to bo needed at the frgnt , and as a troop of cavalry was sufficient to conduct the pack-train to the battlefield , ho would hurry to Join the balance ot the command , which was , or soon would be , hotly engaged. \Vo had not gone far when we found the cavalry trait separated. After a little hesi tation Colonel Benteen chose to follow the right-hand trail , which led up to the top of a high hill. When we got there wo saw the whole Indian village spread out before us , down in the valley , and skirting the banks of the Little Big Horn. THE INDIAN VILLAGE. Wo then thought possibly we had taken the wrong trail , and that wo should have taken the left-hand one , leading to the river. Colonel Benteen had the glasses , and I remarked that all those persons down there could not bo Indiana , and ho replied that iio could see nothing else. Well , wo thought If they were all Indians , there wcro enough ot them to eat us up and cry for more. The ridge we wcro on led off to the right , and , looking In that direction and about 200 yards away , we saw two Indians mounted and ap- larently In doubt what to do. We had same [ ndlaii scouts with us , and concluded these wore two of them , and after making friendly demonstrations to them tl.cy proved to be our Indian contingent. On reaching them they greeted us with great Joy , and , pointing off this hill to the very broken and difficult country below , nald , "Soldiers. " Following with our eyes the direction Indicated by them we saw cavalrymen using every en deavor and urging their tired steeds to their utmost to get up the hill rapidly. They were on the retreat , and proved to be the officers and men who had not been killed of Ilcno's battalion. When they Joined us , our first Inquiry was of Custcr. lleno said hla battalion had to take the left-hand trail as Custer had detached him to cross the river and open the engagement and to push Ihrough to the other end of the village , and : hat he , Cuater , would support him. He said the last he saw of Custer was on the crest of the hill wo were then on. but that his ; roops mustliavo been behind the slope , as 10 did not see them. Ouster , he said , after seeing him engaged , waved his hat , which Heno took for a token ot approval. There wore too many Indians for Heno to hold his own , and after losing o lumber of officers and men he was forced to retreat to the high ground , where his bat- .allon and Benteen's joined. Bcnteen sue * gcstcd that we move In the direction of the general's trail , and follow It with a view of ejolntng his command , adding strength to ; he whole force. A FIGHT FOR LIFE. Reno ocqulcsccd In this , and accordingly wo proceeded In that direction , The couti- , ry over which wo had to travel was much to our disadvantage , and we found It Impnssl- ) to , without suffering a terrible less , to pro ceed further in that direction. Benteen again communicated with Heno , and It was decided to return to the place we joined ileno after hU repulse , and was considered he brat point to make a defense. After wo cached there the pack train arrived and ho several troops , seven In all , were placed n position to light for their lives. Troci > II , which I commanded , as It happened , was posted along the crest of a hill that over- ookcd the rest of the command , which was ocatcd about 300 yards away , across a broad slope .which was somewhat protected , but very little , from the constant and heavy cross ( Ire of our wily foe. In this slope our horses , iack mules , supplies and extra ammunition 'ound ' such poor shelter as It afforded. Many of our animals wcro killed , and , as the weather was hot , they decomposed rapidly , which by no .means added to our comfort. When trorn H was posted on this bare illl I was ordered by Colonel Hentecn to hold hat position at all hazards , as It was the icy to the situation , and If It was lost the 'jig" would bo up for us all. At this time we knew nothing of the whereabouts or fate ot General Custcr's battalion. Wo did know , lowcvnr , that wo wcro surrounded by on overwhelming number of savages and the irospcct did not look at all encouraging , [ 'lie number ot Indians engaged In this battle ins been estimated at from 3.500 to G.COO and wo went Into the fight with less than 100 men in all , and , as Custcr had nearly lalt of thla number In his battalion , all of vhoin had been killed , consequently wo , about 130 men strong , were battling with the en- Ire force of Indians , Against such odds resistance seemed al most hoprUts. It must have been in the neighborhood ot noon when we took up tliU > osltlon , and until after nightfall the fight aged furlci'sly , with a constant crash of carbines and musketry on both tides. Heno lad lest coifiderably while In the bottom , > ut our can'altlcs increased greatly during ho afternoon and evening. TilK SECOND DAY'S FIGHT. The next nornlng , before dawn , at Colonel Uontcen's suggestion we had reveille sounded. This was done to put on a bold 'rant ' and Impress our enemy with the fact , hat wo were ready to re sumo the content. Wo know there was no alternative but to re. sumo It , so we tried to "maku a virtue of necessity. " The last notes of the reveille had not died away before volleys frpm the Indian mus- itcU , from nil direction * , crashed through the morning air , as It In answer to our chal lenge. The light , all that day. was Incej- sant , vicloui , nnd At very clone quarters Wo were losing men r | > laly in killed and woundeJ. The Indians Raw this , and grew bolder , from time to time , until thejc got within twenty-five feet of the right ot m line. I had held this hill in obedience t Colonel Bcnteen' * orders until my troop wane no reduced in numbers as to make m evacuation ot It almost necessary. My me who were still able to fight fully realize * their peril , And remained there bnly becaus they , too , knew If that position was cur rendered it would bo a sorry day for us. was In sore- need ot both men and ammunl tlon , but to send a man to the command wa almost sure death. Wo were not In commu nlcntlon with the rest ot the command , am had no Idea how It was faring. Finally our situation became desperate something had to be done at once it wo hope to live many minutes longer. Just as I ha decided to send a messenger to Colonel Ben tccn Private McDcrraott epoko to mo an asked If I would llko him to carry a messag to the colonel. I hastily pointed out th danger of his going , but he again exprcssc his willingness to go. So ho carried mj message to Colonel Bcntecn that I must hav men and ammunition at once. McUermot miraculously got there and back without r scratch. Ho said the colonel would be her Immediately with reinforcements. Ho did no arrive at once and McDermott asked mo I ho should go back. I replied. "No , " that I Colonel Bcnteen said ho would come ho ccr talnly would. Sure enough he soon arrlvc < with about ten or twelve men. Oonslderlnp the smallncss of the command and the lossc It had sustained , twelve was quite a large number. THE CIIAHOE AND THE RETREAT. Bcnteen took In the situation at once am * ald wo must charge them , This wo did nm It resulted not only disastrously to them , bu surprised them , so that they gave us a wide berth after It. Subsequently Colonel Benteen convinces Major Heno that ours wns the position t < defend , so wo got more trocps up there am Bonio spades and picks , and soon threw up very respectable earthworks. This strength ened our position Immensely , and , after fight Ing us until dark , the Indians with all their belongings withdrew nnd left us In possession of the field. This they did for two reasons ; they had had pretty hard fighting , had lost heavily and their runners had discovered Genera Terry's command approaching In the dis tance. About 8 o'clock on the morning o the 27th Terry's command was In sight , ant from it wo heard of the fate of Custer am his men. They , It turned out , had perlshct In leas than half an hour after they became engaged , and the dead bodies of our com rades wcro lying about two miles from us Thus the battle of the Llttlo Big Horn ended. It carried many ot our comrades , whom we loved with almost a. brother's affection to the "happy hunting ground , " and rnaj their souls bo at rest. Colonel Heno is now dead , but I do no" think I do any violence to his memory b/ stating most emohatlcally that had It not been for Benteen s perfect coolness and sur passing Judgment wo all would have ended our careers there. Thcso are some of the events that oc curred from the day wo left the mouth of the Rosebud , on Juno 22 , 1876 , until the close of the battle o' the Little Big Horn , on Juno 20 , 1870 , as I , after twenty years , re member them. There may bo some Inac curacies , but , if BO , I am not conscious ol them. F. M. GIBSON , Capt. U. S. A. Captain Gibson was appointed second lieu tenant in the Seventh cavalry in October , 1SG7 , was made flftst lieutenant on July 11 , 1871 , and raptaln on February G , 18SO. Ho retired from the service on December 3 , 1891 , on account of physical disability. You cannot deny facts , and It Is a fact that Salvation Oil Is the greatest pain cure. 25c. IIAYDI3X 1IUOS. Snttirilny'N III r Siiccinl Sale. SPECIAL SALE OF MEN'S FURNISHINGS. 100 dozen men's fancy laundered shirts , collars attached , detached and colored bosoms , worth $1.00 , ? 1.50 and ? 2.00 each , Saturday's price , BOc. 100 dozen men's fancy silk and satin band bows , worth 2Gc and BOc , your choice , 15c each. 1 lot , of men's and boys' half hose , worth oOc to $1.00 ; your choice 2ac a pair. SPECIAL SALE OF KID GLOVES. 500 dozen ladles' kid gloves In all the new shades and all sizes , worth $1.00 'to $1.50 , on sale at G9c a pair. 1 lot of boys' fancy laundered shirts 39c , worth 75c. 100 dozen children's fast black seamless cotton hose , all sizes , lOc per pair , worth 20c. SPECIAL SALE NOTIONS. The new ruchlngs , all the latest colorings nt cut prices. 25o tooth brushes , 9c ; 2Bc hair pins , 9c ; 25c checker board , 9c ; 200 yards spool cotton , 10 spools for 15c , only 10 to a customer. 5,000 BASKETS AT 1C. Wo have over 5,000 baskets , worth 25c to $2.50 , wo will close out Saturday at Ic each , 3c. Be , lOc , etc. There are lunch baskets , market baskets , fancy work baskets , knife and fork baskets , flower baskets , etc. Como early and get a bargain. HAYDEN BROS. , Selling the Lehmann. wall paper. For beautiful sweet peas and other flower seeds go to Neb. Seed Co. , 520 N. 10th. Iin l.IOAUXKI ) A MSW TUICIC. Mini Avltli llayxecil In Mix Ilnlr Fool * n Clever I.iinilloril. "You can't clerk In a big hotel without being something of a detective and keeping your , eyes open all the time , " declared a widely known landlord to the rural caller with a cheap suit that didn't fit and a slouch hat that looked as If It might have Been service In a hen's nrst , according- the Detroit Free Press. "Don't want to bo put up too , high , hey ? I'll Just give you a nice warm room on the third floor. Ask the clerk for the key when you vant to go to bed. Ho's at supper now. As I waa saying , you have to bo a good judge of human nature and up to all the tricks of the crooks In order to bo a first-class .clerk. I was In the business fifteen years before I became a pro prietor , and was never taken In once. I can tell a slick customer as far as I can sec him , and eomo of his kind are always around. " "That's what I've nllus hecrcl. Atwccn you an' me here's $200 in this envelope. I'm going to pay n fellow most of It , , hut I guess I better leave It Inter your safe till inornln' . Just count It , lan'lord. " "That's correct ; Just $200. " At hour later while the landlord was counting his stack of cash the "farmer" came up , breathlessly. "My man's hero now , an1 bo's got ter ketch a train. Jlst ban' me J1T5 an' take It outen the enverlopo. " This was promptly done. Next morning when the cash showed the above shortage the landlord grimly charged it to hlnibelf , filled his hip pockets with guns and went looking for his rural friend who had changed envelopes while the receipt was being writ ten. INSANITV OP K.VKMSII i I3OI'M3. One IVt-HOii In ivry HIM ! In ( irriit llrllnlii Dcnu-iilt-il , Prof. J. Holt Schooling , fellow of the Royal Statistical Society of Great Britain , has just completed a very Interesting investigation by which he has been enabled to show some curious facts relative to the Insanity of the British people. He tells how many persons go mad and why they do EO. Ho declares that ono person in every 300 of the popula tion of Britain is a maniac and that that ratio promises to Increase. The results of Prof. Schooling's mathe matical calculation , boiled down Into sue- slnct facts , ehow 'that In every 10,000 of the English and Welsh population , 31.4 people ire lunatics. In every 10,000 of the Scotch population , 33. 0 people are lunatics. In every 10,000 of the Irish population 40.3 people ire lunatics , En'erlng Into the causes as to why men go mad , Prof , Schooling strikes a mighty blow for the cause of temperance when ho makes the statement , solely Inspired by his Investi gations and the accurate results thereof , that drink , liquor , sends mad nearly one- third of all the persons who become. Insane in Great Br'taln from tlu eight leading causis of Insanity in that territory. Ho places these night principal causes of Insanity and the percentage of each as re gards every hundred of lunatics as follows : Drink , 33. U ; domestic troubles , 15.1 ; mental anxiety , 13.4 ; old ago , 13.3 ; adverse circum stances , 13 ; accidents , C.5 ; religious excite ment , 4 ; lore affairs , 3.2. "Brown's Bronchial Troches" are nl < iily known as on admirable remedy for Uronthltla. Hoarseness , Coughs and Throat Sold ouly in boxes. CAMPAIGNING f/tf / ITH CRAN1 The Critics of the GAdt-Oaptain'8 Policy o nnmmerinffiAhe ! Enemy. PAPER BULLETS \VERE \ NOT EFFECTIVI IlccolloctlonM of llic * IlnUlc of Cole llnrlinr _ IruintnliR n Corrc- Hliotulont eSt of Camp General Horace Porter's "Campalgnlnf with Grant , " now running in the Century , deals with the battle ot Cold Harbor in the March Issue. General Porter says : There wcro critics who wcro severe Iti their condemnation ot what Grant called "hammering" and Sherman called "pound- Ing ; " but they were found principally among the stay-at-homes , and especially the men who sympathized with the enemy. A sol dier said ono night , when reading by ft camr nro an account of n call Issued by a dis loyal newspaper at homo for tu public meet ing to protest against the continued blood shed in this campaign : "Who's shedding this blood , anyhow ? They better wait till wo fellows down hero at the front hello , 'Enough ! ' " The soldiers were as anxious as their commander to fight the war to a finish , and bo allowed to re till li to thcl families and their business. Grant could haV9 effectually stopped th carnage at any tlmo by withholding fron battle. Ho could have avoided all blood shed by remaining north ot the Hapldan , In trenching , and not moving against his enemy but ho was not placed In command of the armies for that purpose. It had beet demonstrated by more than three years o campaigning that peace could bo sccurei only by whipping nnd destroying the enemy No ono woo more desirous of peace ; no one was possessed of n heart more sensitive to every form of human suffering than the commander ; but he realized that paper bul lets nro not effective In warfare ; he knew better than to attempt to how rocks with a razor ; nnd he felt that in campaigning the hardest blows bring the quickest relief. Ho was aware that In Wellington's armies the annual loss from disease was 113 out of 1,000 In our Mexican war , 1B2 ; and In the Crimea COO ; nnd that In the campaigns thus for It our own war more men had died from sick ness while lying In camp than from shot am shell In battle. Ho could not select his ground for fighting In tills continuous siege of fortified lines ; for , though he and his chief olllccrs applied all their experience and skill In endeavors to maneuver the enemy out of strong positions before attacking him his too was often too able and wily to fnl Into the traps set for him , and had to be struck In positions which were far fron Grant's choosing. When Lee stopped fight Ing the cause of secession was lost. If Gran had stopped fighting the cause of the union would have been lost. He was assigned one of the most appalling tasks over Intrustci to a commander , lie did his duty fear lessly to the bitter end , nnd triumphed. li thirteen months after Lincoln handed hlu Ills commission of llcutdnant general , ant Intrusted to him the command of the armies the war was virtually crided. * * * SUFFERING AT THE FRONT. Referring to the" battle ot Cold Harbor , General Porter says. The generalln-chlef realized that he was n a swampy and sickly portion of the coun- : ry. The malaria was highly productive of disease , and the Chlckahomlny fever was dreaded by the troops who had a recollec- .lon of its ravages when they campaigned n that section , of the cjountry two years before. The operations had been so active hat precautions against sickness had neces sarily been much neglected , and the , general was anxious , while giving the men spme rest'to Improve tho.sanhary conditionBy dint ot extraordinary exertions the camps vero well policed , and Jargo quantities of resh vegetables were brought forward and distributed. Cattle"wero received In much letter condition than these which had made eng marches and had furnished beef which vas far from , being" wholesome. Greater attention was demanded In the cooking of ho food and the procuring ot better water. Dead animals and offal were buried , and moro stringent sanitary regulations were nforced throughout the entire command. What was most distressing at this time vas the condition of affairs at the extreme rant. No ono who did not witness the Ights on those portions of the line where the ppcslng trccps were in exceptionally close ontact can form an Idea ot the sufferings ex- > crlenced. Staff offlccrs used to work their vay on foot dally to the advanced points , seas as to bo able to report with accuracy these larrowlng scenes. Some of the sights were not unlike those of the "bloody angle" rt Spotsylvanla. Between the lines where the heavy assaults had been made there was In omo places a distance of thlr'y or fcrty yards completely covered by the dead und voundcd of both sides. The holies of the [ lead were festering In the sun , while tte vounded were dying a torturing death from tarvatlon , thirst and los of blood. In omo places the stench became * slcloalng. Svery attempt to make change In the Icket line brought on heavy firing , as both Ides had become nervous from Jong watch- ulness. and the slightest movement on cither rout led to the belief that It was the bcgln- Ing of an assault. In the night there was ften heavy artillery firing , sometimes accom- anled by musketry , with a view to deterring lie other side from attacking , or occasioned y false rumors of an attempt to assault. The ncn on the advanced lines had to He close o the ground In narrow trenches , with Httle ivater for drinking purposes , except that ob- alncd from surface drainage ) . They wtre ubjcctcd to the broiling heat by day and 10 chilling winds nnd fogs at night , and hade o eat the rations that could be got to them nder the greatest Imaginable discomfort. * * * * * * DRUMMED OUT OF OAMP. General Meaclo had been untiring In his fforts during this eventful week. Ho was jcneral Grant's senior by seven years , was Idcr than any of Urn corps commanders , nd was naturally ot an excitable tempera- nent , and with the continual annoyances to vhlch ho was subjected ho not Infrequently ecamo quite Irritable. Ho was greatly dls- uibcd at this tlmo by some newspaper rc- orts stating that on the second night of the attlo of the Wilderness he had advised a ctreat across the Hapldan ; and In talking Ills matter over with General Grant , his ndignatlon became BO great that his wrath now no bounds. Ho said that the rumor ad been circulated throughout the press , nd would be believed by many of the peo- le , and perhaps by the authorities In Wash- ngton , Mr. Dana , the assistant secretary of ar , who was still with , the army , was pres- nt at the Interview , and ho and General rant tried to console Mcade by assurances iat the Btory wouhl not he credited , and tat they would give a broad contradiction o It. Mr. Dana at once sent a dispatch to 10 secretary of war , alluding to the rumor , nd sajlng : "This is entirely untrue. He as not shown any .weakness of the sort Ince moving from Culpcuer , nor once In itiated a doubt as to the successful Issue F the campaign , " The secretary replied ( bo next day ( Juno 0) ) , saying : "Pleaee nay to General Meade iat the lying report alluded to In your tele- ram was not even for a moment believed y the president or myself. Wo have the nest perfect confidence In him. He could ot wish a more exalted estimation of his billty , his firmness , and every quality of a. ommandlng general than is entertained for Im. " The newspaper correspondent who ad been the author of this slander was elzcd and placed on a horse , with large lacards hung upon hla breast and back earing the Inscription , "Llbeler of the ress , " and drummed out of camp. There ad never been a moment when Mi'ado had ot been in favor nf bold and vigorous ad- ances , nnd he would have been the last mane o counsel a retreat. * * * LOSSES IN THE WAR. While at the mess table taking our lakt neal before starting upon the march to the ames on the evening of the 12th. the conver- atlon turned uiion the losses which had oc- urred and the reinforcements which had ecn received up to thai tlmo. Theflgurco len known did not differ much from thoas ontalned In the accurate official reports aftor- vard compiled. From the opening of the campaign. May 4 , to tha movement acrota the lainea , June 12. the total casualties in the. Army of the Potomac , including Sheridan' cavalry and Burnsldo's command , had beer Killed. 7.C21 ; wounded , 38,339 ; captured o missing , 8.9C6 ; total , 54,926. The services c all the men included in these figures wcr not , however , permanently lost to the armj A number of them were prisoners who wcr afterward exchanged , and many had been enl slightly wounded , and wore soon ready to duty again. Some were doubtless countc moro than once , as a soldier who wa wounded In a battle twice , and ottcrwan killed , may have been counted thrvo times li making up the list ot casualties , whereas th army had really lost but ono man , The losses of the enemy have never bcci ascertained. No precise Information on tb < subject haa been discovered , nnd not even i general statement can bo made ot his casual ties. In a few of the battles of this campaigi his losses were greater than the losses suf fered by the union troops ; In the greate part of the battles they were less. Our re Inforccments had amounted to Just about thi same number as the losses. It waa estimate , from the best sources ot Information tha Leo had alee received reinforcements cqua to his losses , BO that the armies were nov of about the same size , as when the cam palgn began. All the reinforcements organized In thi north and reported as on their way to thi front did not reach us. There was a goot deal ot truth In the remark reported to liavi been made by Mr. Lincoln : " \Vo get i largo body of reinforcements together , nm start them to the front ; but after dcductln ; the sick , the deserters , the stragglers and tin iiiscliarged , the numbers seriously dlmlnlsl by the tlmo they reach their destination. It'i like trying to shovel fleas across a barnyard you don't get 'cm all there. " * * * TWO OF GRANT'S ANECDOTES. General Porter gives the following ancc- uotcs that wcro related by Grant at the head quarters mess. "I was with General Taylor's command In Mexico when ho not only failed to receive reinforcements , hut found that nearly all his regulars wcro to bo sent away from him tc Join General Scott. Taylor was apt to bo a Ilttlo absent-minded when absorbed In any perplexing problem , and the morning ho re ceived the discouraging news ho sat down tc breakfast In a brown study , poured out a cur of coffee , and instead of putting In the su gar , he reached out and got hold of the mustard pot and stirred half a dozen spoon fuls ot Its contents Into the coffee. Ho did not realize what he ) had done till ho took n mouthful , and then ho broke out In n tower ing rage. "Wo learned something nt Shtloh about the way In which the reports of losses are sometimes exaggerated In battle. At the close of the first day's fight Sherman met n colonel of ono of his regiments with only about 100 of his soldiers In ranks , and said to him , 'Why , where are your men ? ' The colonel cast his eyes sadly along the line , wiped n tear from his check , and replied In a whimpering voice : 'Wo went In 800 strong and that's all that's left of us. ' 'You don't tell me ! ' exclaimed Sherman , beginning to bo deeply affected by the fearful result of the carnage. 'Yes , ' said the colonel ; 'tho rcbs appeared to have a special spite against us. ' Sherman passed along some hours after wards , when the commissary was Issuing rations , and found that the colonel's men were returning on the run from under the bank of the river , where they had taken shelter from the firing ; nnd In a few minutes nearly all of the lost 700 had rejoined , and were boiling coffee and eating a hearty meal with an appetite that showed they were still very much alive. " Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup 3ias always boon kept up to the standard. It Is the same it was forty years ago , the best sold. The "Parson Davlcs" special train for the Corbett-Fltzslminolis fight will leave Chicago cage at B:30 : p. m. Saturday and run via Omaha over the Chicago , Rock Island & Pa cific railway , connecting with the Denver & Rio Grande and Southern Pacific rail roads. Parties desiring to Join this special at Omaha can do so at 7:3G : a. m. Sunday , the 14th Instant. All Itemly for Carnoii City. All these contemplating the trip to Carson to eeo tbsi great championship fight between Pltzslmmons nnd Corbett should call on me without further delay. I will bo accessible at The Bee ofllce from 8 to 11:30 every mornIng - Ing , and In the afternoon parties can call nt Handle's cigar store , where full details will bo given them. The special train leaves next Sunday morning at 8:15 : o'clock , and parties from out over the state should be in Omaha Saturday , the 13th. SANDY GRISWOLD. A TIOI,1 , UM1I3IL Tllia CAIUM3T. nine-overs- a Koi-timc Left liy ji IlOHtoil IlL-ClllHC. Under the carpet In the room where Isaac H. Lewis , the Nephonset hermit who died a month ago in Boston , lived , there were found a few days ago bonds , deeds of prop erty , cash , end various kinds of securities , the total value of which Is said to bo over fSO.OOO. The life of Lewlswas that of a recluse , says the Boston Globe. No one was al lowed to enter hla home , and It was sel- ilom that ho bowed or spoke to these whom lie met on the street. Mr. Lewis died dur ing tha big snow storm about a month ago. I e was alone when he died. Ills neighbors Bven didn't know ho was III. He liad been ilead several days when his body was dls covered. The police searched the house previous to the burial for money enough to pay the ex penses. All that was found was $18 , which was sewed In the lining of the old man's vest. The first evidence of wealth was dis covered when , after his death , a deed for n lls tract of land at Mount Bowdoln station was discovered In the house. The land Is worth in the neighborhood of $30.000. It was known also that ho owned the house in which he had lived for nearly a quarter of i century. This Is worth probably $5,000. W. H. H. Moore , Lewis' son-in-law , presl- lent of a big Insurance company In New fork , with Lowls' "son , who holds a re- iponslblo position In a railroad company at Chicago , came to Boston after the cjeatb. ot ho old man. Both were convinced that the ild man had property hidden somewhere , [ hey Inclined to the theory that ho had the iroperty in a safe deposit vault. A careful search failed to disclose It. Svery safe deposit vault In tno city was ippllud to , but none of them had any of , owls' prcperty. The savings banks were ilso visited , Lut , search as they might , the ncn could not get any trace of the hidden vcalth. Then they concluded that perhaps ho property was concealed about the house > t the hermit. A party of men was employed , to dig up ho cellar of the hous > o. Tills was done very arefullj' , and every square Inch of the jround was overhauled to a considerable lepth. The search disclosed nothing , Still ho relatives of the dead miser were not atlsfled , They continued to look over the louse , and finally took to- looking into the falls and then under thu floors. Then , it U stated , the box containing the aluablos was found. The wealth waa nearly ill in United States bonds and Interest- icarlng documents worth , at a conservative istlmato , $ M,000. ) The exact amount will lot bo disclosed. A good deal of secrecy s malntalrcd by the authorities at the cquest of the relatives. No trace of a will haa been found. A horough scorch has been mod a for it , and t Is believed that thu man died without nuking one. Ho was SI years old , and 111 Ms ounger days ho had been a. merchant In few York. Some financial difficulties ovcr- ook him , and he was confined In an asylum or a couple of years , When ho obtained its release from that Institution he turned ,1s , back ou his homo and family. Tto Neb. Seed Co. , BL'O N. ICth , EcllB ajedf t higher grade than eastern houses. HUMUSIs At iinir Via the Missouri Pacific Hallway & Irani fountain route lo points In thu west and outnwest. Tickets on sale Tuesday , Fchru- ry ICth , March IGth , April Oth and 20th , and lay 4th auJ ISth. For descriptive and II- ustrated luniphlets Of iho different states , imo nnd map folders , Address H. C. Town- end , General Passenger Agent , St. Louis , K-Tliiny IM. . Triiln. of the CHICAGO. MILWAUKKH & 8T , PAUL HY. Qest ( service , ILECTRIO LIGHTS , iJlnlng car. City office : 1504 Dec , March 12 , 1697. Top Coats We want to impress on everybody that we are sell ing Spring Overcoats cheap wonderfully cheap. For five dollars we are selling such a coat as you might ex pect to cost you ten at least , It is a dark grey substan tial cassimerc good enough and respectable euoughto wear in any company and durable enough to keep look ing decent for several years to come , All wool , of course. For eight dollars we arc selling a handsome , sterling , up- to-date coat made from imported cloth , For eleven fifty and twelve dollars we are selling snappy Box Coats , with full satin sleeve linings and half satin backs and for fif teen dollars we are selling the famous West of England Covert Cloth Coats than which there are no better coats made. You can go into a great many clothing stores in Omaha and elsewhere and buy coats for double our prices without "getting stuck" very bad. You might easily pay fifteen dollars for our eight dollar coat if you got in the wrong store but you ought not to after reading this ad. About a dozen coats left over from last fall $4 each. The following arc some of our great reductions in our Special March Sulo. Jleduccd from To 1 Mahogany Sideboard (76,00 $ 53.00 1 MahuKnny Inlnld Table Z3.00 9.00 1 MnlioKiinj Parlor Table 12.00 5.00 Oak Parlor Table 4.00 1.75 Onk Sideboard 00.00 05.00 MnliOKuny Sideboard 100.CO 47.00 Onk Tea Table 12.00 0.00 White Maple Ten Tnble 12.00 G.OO Mahogany Inlaid Table 85.00 37.OJ Inlnia Satin Wood Table CO.OO 22.00 Onyx I'nrlor Cabinet 1CT..OO 100.00 lllrrli Indies' DeM ; 25.00 13.00 Onlc Ladles' Desk 8.00 4.50 Vernls Martin Dcfk 55.00 31.00 Inlnld MahoKnny Ilocker 20.00 12.00 Mabosany Hooker 2S.OO 18.00 Mahogany I'nrlor Cabinet 75.00 40.00 MahoRnny Bhavlng Stand 15.00 8.00 Mahogany TlocKor , leather Feat. . . . 12.00 5.00 Mnhosany HocKer. Inlaid wood seat 15.00 6.00 CHAS. SHIVERICK & CO. , Special March Furniture Sale. "th and Douglas sts. C1EVHIAX1J'S XEW HOME. Dc'coratloiiN mill TrcnniircH In ( hi Princeton HOIINC. The Cleveland homo in Princeton , N. J. has been In the hands of painters , paper hangersi plasterers and plumbers for weeks Much has oeen done on the Interior , says th ( Now York Herald , and considerable remain : to ho done , although the house has been oc cupied by Mrs. Cleveland and the chlldrer for several days. The mansion has been re decorated and tbo walls renting from collar to garret. Light and cheer ful tints prevail. The woodwork haa not been changed. It Is all In the colonial fashion and of good design , marked by a happy simplicity of detail. The old-fashioned high ceilings are relieved by heavy and es pecially effective mouldings , which wcro put in when the house was built. The wood work of the entire house Is painted colonial white. The house Is built with a wide hall down the middle of it , with rooms on. cither side. The hall has a panelled wainscoting five feet high. Above this the tinting of the walls , an unusual shade of Kilo green , remains. The stairs have a walnut rail , supported by white rods. The landing half way up la In a colonial style , too admirably proportioned over to grow tiresome , and on It Is to stand a real grandfather's clock. To the right of the hall Is the reception room. The room has a southeast cxpcouro and Is made ntlll sunnier In effect by the walls , which are of a soft , warm tone of golden yellow , with panels of paper In a colonial design , surrounded by the plain yel low tint. The mantel is of wooJ , very simple , and painted white. All of the mantels In the house , with two exceptions , are of wood. The two exceptions are of marble , ono white and ono dark. They are old fashioned , but so thoroughly In harmony with the house scheme that Mrs. Cleveland ordered them not to bo disturbed. livery room In the house has Its fireplace , and they are fireplaces meant for use , too , for while the house Is heated by a furnace the ceilings are so high and tbo rooms so largo that open flrca will bo welcome. Mrs. Cleveland , moreover , Is fond of the sight of a blazing , open lire. The dining room la back of the reception room. The walls arc papered In Imitation of tapestry. In rich but dull tones of brown , blue and green. They are dark , hut by no means somber , and form an admirable back ground for the white and exquisitely ap pointed table , which should bo the focal point of a dining room on a feast day. The great library , wh.di will bo the Bit ting room of the family , Is opposite the drawIng - Ing room on the west side of the hall. Low book nhclvca , palutcd while , extend about three sides of the room , The windows are hung with curtains of Pompullan rod silk , a color which la repeated , or rather suggested , In tha paper of the walls , on which an olive green and u palo yellow combine with the rod , Pompeiliin red la a favorite color with Mrs. Cleveland , Of a decided and strong personality , 6ho prefers strong and simple colors. She baa no llklyg for lifeless , neu tral tints , the negations of color , In either dress or furnishings , The bedrooms of the lionsa are on tlio BCC- end and third lloors. Mrs , Cleveland's own room is in tlio delft colors , with blue nnd whltn paper , blue nnd white tiles about tha grate , and a blue end white hath room with i tiled tioor and a porcelain tub opcn off it. This bedroom has n geiuilno old fpur poxier bed , canopy and all , In mahogany. Another bedroom loola ; lllto a fairy bower , brimful if .luno , I'lnlf rOBca tlnmber over the walls ind Ictjo IheniBelvcs under ttio jilnlta and jreen of the frle/es. A grepn and whlto Liathroom belongs equally to tliki dainty room , and to ( mother chamber on whoso ivalls yellow rote ? with green leaves riot. On the third floor la Ilia largest room In .ho bonne. It IH the nursery , and IH papered in the Jollleat nursery paper that the > ye ot even such fortunate babies an ths Ittle Cleveland girls ever liuld. All the 'avorlte ' heroes and heroines from nurssry l.ynies and fairy tales hold carnival on the valin. The rooms for the nurses are on , ] .o third floor , near the nureory , The four pouter bed In the blue and whlto jedroom in by no means the only piece of ild mahogany In the house. In fact , all the urnlttire Is antique. Mrs. Cleveland la a ; oml judge of mahogany , and has boon col- ectlng for yjars. Sbo has "plcl < ed up" de- ilrablo pieces In Ma acbiieetts during her ) ray Cables summers , and has made many wrchaseH In tlia antique shop * of Nnw York , 'hlladelphla and Wanhlngtcm. Some of her furniture haa been bought by ler direction , at the auction sales by means if which old white house furniture is din- loscd of , * o that she will have with her everal souvenirs of her occupancy of the ixecutlvo mansion. 1'rlenda all over the lountry huve acted a her agents In bu.ylng ntercafliig piece * of old mahogany for her , 111 she has ons of tUo finest prlvatccollec- _ Ions ot colonial furniture In the country , iho lias beds and bureaus , with rounding rent , corner cupboards with latticed fronts , Reduced . , . _ . from To Mahogany Divan . . . > 23.00 t 19.00 MiihoRany Tnboret U.OO 8.00 5-plccc Mahogany Parlor Hull 125.00 (3.00 ( 3-plecc Mahogany Parlor Suit 45.00 21.00 Inlaid Mahogany Divan , . CO.OO 41.00 Arm Chair , xatln dumat-k CO.OO 24.00 Hlrch Divan J5.00 11.00 Monls Cliulr 15.00 7.00 Combination Hook Case and Desk. . 30.00 22.00 5-plece 1'urlor Set C5.1H ) 59.00 3-ilccc | Hlrch Set 2S.OO 15.00 1 leather Kofa. . . , 123.00 73.00 Corduroy Couch 2S.OO 1S.OO Fine Leather Couch 85.00 M.OO Mahogany Dining Table JS3.f > 0 100.00 Maple Folding lied 75.00 40.00 Velour Couch 3".00 1C.OO Ilokara Couch i. . 100.00 62.00 Itat Hack r.1.00 32.00 Hall Hack 100.00 CO.OO THE DEMIST. Pioneer of Reasonable Prices in Dentistry in Omaha. IB Years' Expr ! = nc = . Office 3d Floor Pax ton UloI < . 10th and Fnrnam St. * . TEL- < > 85. LADY ATTENDANT. Pull Sot Teotli S3 00 IlcstSot Teotli $7.50 i Host Tooth , thin pluto $ IO.OO HrltlKuTcclh $ SOO Gold Alloy It'llllng * 1.(1O ( I'liroGolif Fillings $2.00 I Hold Crowns $5.OO to $8.00 claw-footed tables , spindle legged chairs and other plccca Innumerable. Of rugs , too , Mrs. Cleveland has a valua ble and artistic collection. Only a few of the Princeton rooms will be carpeted. Pol ished floors covered lavishly with rugs will best accord with the walls and furniture , I'lLO'l1 FOR AX H.MUIIGI2XCV. H.iniiiliurMVlinl He AVould Ilo lit n TlKlit l-'lx. There was a party aboard the boat and the members wcro telling stories about civil service reform , relates the New York Sun. Everybody had told of some preposterous questions excepting the old salt at the wheel. Ho had puffed his clay pipe In silence and listened. There was a moment or two of qul t after the last story , and the old salt spoke up. "Never hc-erd o' civil service regardln' th' pllotln' business ? , dldja ? " ho demanded. "Never did , " said two or three of the party. "Well , wo got It , " said the old salt ; "got It bad , too. You fcllere been talltln' about fool questions , what d'ja think o' this hero one that was asked mo when I war up t1 pass ? They says t' me , they sayo : 'Now , assume there war a fog thlcker'n any fog there ever was , ' they sayo ; ' 'n' supposln' you war In command 'n' you suddlnt he-enl a whistle dead ahead , ' they aayu , ' 'n' then , ' they says , 'you he-icrd a whistle on your port bow 'n' then you lie-crd a whistle on your Htabbord bow 'a' then you lio-erd whlstlo on your port quarter 'n' then you he-crd a whistle on your stabbord quarter 'n' then you he-crd a whlstla dead astern , ' they says , ' 'n' you couldn't see nothln' , what wouldja do ? ' they says. " The old salt puffed at his plpo and gave the wheel a couple of twists. Kverybody was silent. The old salt puffed a full minute before ho said n word. Then ho asked : "D'yo know what I said lo 'cm ? " Hu took two more puffe and made sonic remarks about the wind and the possibility of reach ing the city In two hours. Finally ho asked again : "D'yo know what I said to 'em ? " "What did you say ? " atked one man. "I says to 'em , " said the old salt ; "I says to em , 'I'd go below , ' I says , ' 'n' cuss , ' I says , ' 'caiiBo I don't think I could do nothln' butter under them circumstances , ' I BBJ-H , 'n' d'ye know they marked me. 100 fur that answer t' that there fool question. That'w what they done. They says that's the only thing a eenslhlo man could do under tliv circumstances , they says , " Leave Omaha G:05 : p. m. KXACTLY. Arrives Chicago 8:20 : a. m. NO LATUR. TUB nUULINQTON'S "VKSTIUULBU . ' " I.'LYHU. Hwlft , eufe , luxurious. TicltoU at 1502 Karimm St , Clicnii Kvriii-Nlon Sou III VIA TIIK WAIIASH. On Tuesday , March 10th round trip tickets to Hot Springs , Ark , , and all points Houth will bo told at one faro , with VI added. Kor tickets and full Information call at Vil ; > asli ofllco , H15 Karnam st. ( i'axton Hotel IJllt. ) or write. 0. N. CLAYTON , Agt. Washington Stnr : 'Thin butter seems Btront ; . " sniil the youiiB husband , nt their first breakfast ( it home. , s "yes , " slid iinxwcrcil ; "I talked to the - - _ * j market innn about that , nnd bo said It wn economy In t'ho end never to buy weak but ter. He paid thul even though this might cost a llttln more , people could gut uluu with less of It , and It would ) ast longer , " "Tliu Ovcrliiiui To Utah In 29 ' ,4 hours , California In CO ft' tc-'Ki via the UNION PACIFIC. This ! tha factcst and flneot train Intbo wett. Tlcketa ran be obtained at city ticket offlc , 1302 Farnara utreot. SIAURITIA- Sinter Mnry. ngrd 33 year * . Funeral Momluy moniintMurch 16. ut 10 a. in. from hospital uhnpul to Holy Heimluher ,