The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-07-12
Antece,aents 81 81 the Eittie horn Massa.


We print In another place two notewor-
thy and instructive letters written from
General Clusters command two or three
days previous to the disastrous battle. The
information they convey will materially as
sist the Judgment Of the public in forming q
correct estimate OF tho appalling disaster
which has so shocked the country. One OF
these interesting letters Is written by an
officer Of great distinction, who was fully
acquainted with General Custer's views, and
fell in the massacre, and the other bysour
hmented correspondent, Dir. Kellogg, who
was also one Of the victims. The value OF
their letters lies in the fact that they give an
authentic and entirely trustworthy account
Of the plans, movements and expectations
which preceded the battle, given before
there was any temptation to color the facts
for purposes of eXculpation. They are OF
great importance in fixing the responsibility
for,what afterward occurred.
OF the blame which these letters impute
to Major Reno we will express no opinion.
He had Justly earned the reputation OF a
brave and faithful officer, and probably
some passion, or at least some impatlence,
is mingled with the severe structures on his
conduct, made while his alleged blunder
and disobedience OF orders were fresh in
the minds Of his critics. But the things
alleged against him throw an important
light on the views entertained by his
superior officers respecting the method OF
dealing with Sitting Bull and his Indians.
The gist of the complaint against Major Reno
is that by deviating from the route prescribed
in his orders he incurred the risk OF alarm
ing the Sioux and enabling them TO escape.
u - Loft of ho txh
anxiety OF General Terry and General Gus
ter was to find Sitting Bull and prevent his
Guiding pursuit. There was no doubt ut all
that he could be easily beaten wherever he
might be encountered, the chief objects
OF the campaign having been first to
find him, then to prevent his escape.
This being the predominant idea OF the cam
Daipn, what was more natural than that
General Custer, when he had what he sup
posed to be the good fortune OF falling in
with the Sioux, should attack them ut once,
before they had an opportunity to escape
Our previous letters from the scene OF action
showed that Clusters scouts brought him in
telligence that the Indians, when they had
discovered them, gave signs OF preparing
fora retreat. This may have been ruse,
put it 50 exactly tailed with the eXpecta-
tons OF General Terry and all the other OIL
cess that the Indians would get away II they
could that General Custer was justified III
acting on it. He accordingly gave orders
for vigorous attack on the instant, lest the
long search for the Indians, at last crowned
with success, should be rendered abortive
by the hasty escape of the foe. With the
information he had, we do not see how he
could have acted otherwise. Had he let
Sitting Bull escape after so much pains to
find him he would have incurred the indig-
nant censure Of every army officer and OF
the whole country. Inconsiderate and I'M
generous minds have blamed him for not
awaiting the arrival OF Terry and Gibbon
before making the attack. But If he had
waited and given the Indians an opportunity
to run away what would have been said OF
him: Or rather, what would not have been
said CT him? Had he waited two days for
the arrival OF Terry and Gibbon, Sitting Bull
would have escaped and Custer would have
been denounced for letting him go. The let
tiers we print to-day prove conciusively that
ii Custer had tried to excuse himself for
not attacking when his scouts told him the
Indians were preparing to retreat, on the
pretence OF waiting for reinforcements, he
would have been hooted and deridcd. He
promptly did his duty according to the
lights he had, and the country will always
honor his memory.-Ne1o York. Herald OF
yesterday.