Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-08-17
THE LITTLE BIG HORN.
Rcmonstrancc From Gen. Reno, Altlrcssc
!. to Cen. kosser--SOme Misstatcmcnts Cor
rected.

A Hcmonstrancc From Gen. Reno, Addressed
!. to Gen. Rosser--Some Misstatcmcnts Cor
rected.
& Considerable annoyance is felt by
the officers who participated in Gus.
ter's fight, on account of the incorrect
or garbled accounts published in some
papers. They claim that a good many
officers wrote II good deal about the
Fight who knew nothing of it, and that
they have perhaps unwittingly done
their comrades serious injustice. Gen.
Reno has written the following letter:
HEADQUARTERS It'll REGIMENT: CAVALRY,
CAMP ON THE YELLOWSTONE. July 30, 1876.
.lIMr. Z. l.. Rosser :-Sir-When I,
read the first part Of your letter, pub
llslled i'll the Pioneer aud Press of the
9Th inst. rs copied from the Minncap-
oils Evening Tribune. my thought was
that your motive had only the object
ora defence of 4 personal friend-a
gallant soldier against whom you
''iRIght but after reading all Of it I
could no longer look upon it rs the
tribute of a generous enemy, since,
through INC, you had attacked us
brave officers rs ever served 4 govern
ment. and with the same recklessncss
and ignorance of the circumstances rs
Custer is charged with in his attacks
upon the hostile Indians. Both
charges the one made against him and
the one made by you against ,ls--are
equally untrue. You say, II feel Gus
ter would have succeeded had Reno
with all the reserve Of seven compa-
nies, passed through and joined Gus
ter after the first rcpulse - and after
confessing that you are firing ut long
range, say further: 81 think it quite
certain that Custer had agreed with
Reno upon 4 place of junction in case
Of the repulsc of either or both de.
tachmellts, and, instead of an effort
being made by Reno for such juno.
ton, as soon rs he encountered heavy
resistance he took refuge in the hills
and abandoned Custer and his gallant
comrades to their fatc.''
AS L shall show, both the premises
are FALSE, and consequently all the con-
clusions of your letter fall to the
ground. including your hifalutin talk
about the last trumpet. Custcr's Or
gallization Of the regiment into dis
tinct commands was not made until
llalf-past 10 A. NJ. of the day he was
killed, and was as follows: Companies
NJ, A. md &, to be one battalion, com.
manded byme; companies II, D, and
K another, commanded by the Senior
Capt, Benteen; company i, Capt. Nc
Dougal, to be rear guard to take charge
OF the pack train, companies &, L, l.,
F, and l.. to be his own immediate
command, with Capts. Keogh and Yates
as subordinate battalion commanders.
He made his own selections of compa-
MES. Benteen, with his battalion,
was sent far to my left by Clusters or.
der. When went into the fight he
was out of sight. My battalion was to
the left and rear when We approached
the village, ut was brought to the
front by Custer. The only official or.
ders had from him were about five
miles from the village, when Col.
Cooke, the regimental adjutant. gave
me his orders in these words "Custer
says to move at rs rapid gait as you
think prudent, and to charge after
ward, and you will be supported by the
whole OUTFIT
No mention Of any plan, no thought
of junction, only the usual orders to
the advance guard to attack by the
charge. When the enemy was reach
ed moved to the front at a fast trot,
and at the river halted ten minutes or
less to gather the battalion. I sent
word to Custer that had the enemy
in my front very strong, and then
charged, driving the reds before me
about three miles OF less; tc within !,
short distance of their village, suppos.
ing my command, consisting of l20
officers and men and about 25 scouts
and guards, followed by the columns
under Custer. The village, about three
and half miles long, was situated up
OH the Little Big Horn, and the topog.
raphy of the vicinity may be briefly
told. The stream was very crooked,
like 4 letter S in it's wanderings, and
on the side on which the village was
it opened cut into d broad bottom
perhaps half or threc-quarters Of q
mile wide.
The stream was fringed, us usual
with the trees of the plans-a growth
cottonwood OH the opposite side
was q range Ct high bluffs which hnt
been cut into very deep ravines by TIN
surface water and by the action of TIN
| stream. Just at their base the eartl
had fallen in and left perpendicular
banks rs neared the village the In
dams came out9in large numbers, ant
was soon convinced that | had a
lease ten to one against me and wa
forced on the defensive. This 1 &C
complished by taking possession 0
a clump of woods where found she]
ter for my horses. fought there, dis
mounted, and made my way within 20
yards Of the village, and firmly be
lieve, that if, at that moment, til
seven companies had been togethc
the Indians could have bee1l drive
from their village: As we approach
ed near their village they came out i
overwhelming numbers, and soon til
small command would have been SUI
rounded on all sides, to prevent whic
I mounted and charged through thel
to a position l could hold with the fe'
men I had.
You see by this l was the advanc
and the first to be engaged and dra'
fire, and was consequently the con
mand to be supported, and not the on
from which support could be expected
All know of Custer from the time u
ordered me to attack till saw hi
buried is that he did not follow m
trail, but kept on his side Of the rive
and along the crests Of the bluffs 6
the opposite side from the village an
from my command that he heard an
saw my action 7 believe, although
could not see him, and it is just hel
that the Indians deceived us. At til
time l was driving them with cas-
and his trail shows that he moved ia
| idly down the river for three miles
the ford, at which he attempted
cross into their village, and with Il
conviction that he would strike a 1
treating enemy. a..
Trumpeter Martin, of Company
: and who the last time, of any liyil
person heard and saw Gen. Custer, Al
who brought the last order his adj
tant, Col. Cooke, ever penciled, sa
he left the general at the summit
tho h;rhoot h1uff on that side a,