The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-07-12
CUSTER'S DISASTER.
Further Particulars of the Big Horn
Nlassacre-Gen. Reno Charged with
DisObedieuce of Orders.

Further Particulars of the Big Horn
Hlassacre-Gen. Reno Charged with
New YORK, July 11.-Dr Porter, who was
with Reno in the recent slaughter, gives an &C
count thereof substantially the same as before
printed. He says, however, that Reno who
had the largest force, was expected to make a
charge at the head of the village, Custer taking
the flying savages in flank or doubling them
back on Keno. Reno crossed Little Horn and
charged down the valley about mile and
half, following Indians who seemed to be fly-
ing, but all at once they turned and charged
the soldiers. Reno halted his command and
engaged the Indians. The fire was terrific and
reminded the veterans present of the engage.
ment of the Wilderness
Reno says he never heard firing more terrific
In moment his command was completely
surrounded with bowling devils on eyery side
firing at short range, and the command was or
dered to retreat. Their subsequent horrible ex-
perence is known. They are indebted to the
intrepidity of the Captain of the steamer Far
west Tor their subsequent comfort, as he took
his boat fifty -four miles up an UNEMPLOYED river
to the mouth of the Little Horn, thus saving
the carrying of the wounded, some forty miles
over parched prairie.
An officer states that when Custer came in
sight Of the 1900 lodges. be swung his hat and
said "Hurrab, Clusters luck, the biggest Indi-
an village ON the American continent!' Halt
ing only for coffee, he pushed forward at a
rapid gait, took five companies for his personal
command, gave Reno three, and left four in re-
serve, under Benton, and sailed in. DIR. Porter
believes the result would have been the same
had Custer charged with his full regiment,
only the massacre would have been more ter
rble.
A letter from the camp of the Biga Horn ex-
petition at the mouth of Rosebud river June
22d, gives some details of q previous scout by
Reno under orders of Terry, showing that Reno
disobeyed orders by marching across the coun-
try to the Rosebud, where he found deserted
camp of Indians who had leisurely moved
further up Insteadsof following their TRAIL
attacking them, and thus retrieving his blund-
er he countermarched and returned to camp.
Gen. Terry informed Reno in unmistakable
language that the latter's conduct amounted to
positive disobedience of orders, the sad conse-
quences of which could not yet be fully deter
mined. The details of this affair will not bear
investigation. Ii court martial is not ordered
it will not be because it is not richly deserved
The guides who were with Reno report that
the trail at the point where it was abandoned,
indicated that the Indian village of $50 lodges
was moving so deliberately and had left so re-
Gently, that Reno's command could have over
taken it in march of one day and half. Few
officers have ever had SO fine an opportunity to
make a successful and telling stroke, and few
ever so completely failed to improve an oppor-
tunity. To remedy this blunder, Terry, Gibbon
and Custer held a consultation and agreed that
Custer with his regiment should take up the
trail found by Reno, and follow the Indians as
long as horsehesh and human endurance could
carry Them taking no wagons or tents, but liv-
ing as the Indians do. This was done.
Gibbons command also started for the Big
Horn, and Terry went up the Yellowstone on
the Far West 1t was this plan, so says the
last letter OF Kellogg, the correspondent who
was killed with Custer, that was expected not
only to retrieve Renos biunder, but to take
Sitting Bulls band. Clusters command took
10 days rations and salt for game in case they
used up the rations, Custer saying he should
not turn back.