The New York herald., 1876-07-11
A VOICE FROM THE TOMB.
Extraordinary Letter from Prominent Officer
Killed in Clusters Last Charge
RENO'S CONTEMPT OF ORDERS.
Something for Sherman and Sheridan
to Investigate.


AT MOUTH OF ROSEBUD, June ~, 1915.
My last letter was sent from the mouth Of Powder
River and described our march from the Little
Missouri. fear it may not have reached its desu-
nation or II 1t did 1t was in such condition as to be
illegible owing to sad accident which befell our
mail party. The latter consisted OF q sergeant Of
the Sixth infantry, Hazen's regiment, and two men
OF the same command. This party was to take the
mail of this expedition on small boat and noat
down the rapid current OF the Yellowstone from the
mouth of Powder River Fort Buford, at the mouth
Of the former. Just the sergeant with the mail
bag on his arm stepped aboard the small boat and
was about to push on the boat was overturned,
throwing all hands into the water. The
sergeant at once disappeared beneath
the surface and was never afterward
seen. The other members of his party, being expe-
rienced swimmers, were, with the assistance Of by
ISLANDERS, rescued from watcry grave. When the
sergeant disappeared in the water the mail sack
went with him, but fortunately noatcd between the
BY means Of boat hooks the mail sack and its con-
tents were recovered but not until they had
been under water several minutes. When opened
on shore many Of the letters were found opened by
the influence Of the water, and all the stamps dis
placed Captain Grant Marsh, Of the steamer Far
West, the most popular steamboat captain on the
Upper Missouri, took the mail in charge, and, with
the aid Of his assistants, devoted almost entire
night to drying and rcscallng the contents Of the
mail bag, task they accomplished in time to start
the mail on its journey at four O'Clock the following
morning. The sergeant who lost his life had been
twenty-five years In the army, and had but recently
returned from Washington where he had been to
file his application for an appointment as ordnance
sergeant that position being considered the crown
ing ambition Of the most faithful old soldiers.
THE WRITTEN ORDERS OF MAJOR RENO.
Major Reno, whose departure with six companies
of the Seventh cavalry to scout up Powder River
was mentioned in my last letter, moved under
written ORDERS which in substance directed him to
scout up Powder River as far the mouth of Little
Powder then across to the head waters OF Mzpah
Creek, down that creek to near its mouth, then
junction with Tongue River then down Tongue
River to its mouth ON the Yellowstone
where he was informed the main part OF the expedi-
ton would be by the time Of his arrival at that
point.
CONFLICTING VIEWS AS TO THE WHEREABOUTS OF
THE INDIANS.
In the opinion Of the most experienced officers 1t
was not believed that any considerable, II any, force
OF Indians would be found on the Powder River;
still there were few, including Major Reno, who
were confident that the main body Of Sitting Bulls
forces would be encountered on Powder River. The
general impression, however, Is and has been that
on the Rosebud and headwaters Of the Little Big
Horn rivers the 'hosties" would be found.
WHAT TERRY ORDERED RENO NOT TO 10.
1t was under this impression that General Terry
in framing the orders which were to govern Major
Reno's movements explicitly and positively
directed that officer to confne himself to
his orders and Instructions and particularly not to
move In the direction Of the Rosebud River, as 1t
was feared such movement, II prematurely made,
might "nush the covey," it being the intention to
employ the entire cavalry force Of the expedition,
when the time arrived to operate In the valleys OF
the Rosebud and Big Horn rivers Custer and most
of his officers looked with little favor upon the
movement up the Powder River as, among other
objections 1t required the entire remaining portion
marches of the locality where 1t was generally
believed the hostile villages would be discovered
on the Rosebud, the danger being that the
Indians, ever on the alert would discover
aud take advantage Of the opportunity to make
their escap..
RENO pIsoBxYMG POSITIVE ORDERS
Reno after an absence OF ten days, returned
when 1t was found, to the disgust and disappoint-
ment OF every member OF the entire expedition,
from the commanding general down to the lowest
private, that Reno, instead Of simply failing to
complish any good results, had SO misconducted his
force as to embarrass If not seriously and perma-
nently mar. oil hopes Of future success of the ex
pedition. He had not only deliberately and with
out a shadow or excuse failed to obey his written
orders issued by General Tcrry's personal direc-
tions, but he had acted In positive disobedience to
the strict injunctions OF the department comman-
der. Instead Of conforming his line Of march
to the valleys and water courses laid down in his
written orders he moved his command to the mouth
of Little Powder River, then to Tongue River,
and instead Of following the latter stream down
10 Its mouth, there to unite with the main COM
mand. he, for some unaccountable and thus far un-
explained reason, switched on from his prescribed
course aud marched the country to the Rose
bud, the stream he had been particularly cautioned
not to approach.
THE CORRECTNESS OF cusrRR's VIEWS