The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-08
An That Is Known of Custer After the
BattaIions Separated.
BgNTESNy Reconnaissance TO THE LEFT.
PROGRESS OF THE CHAMPAIGN.
A Discouraging Report from
General Crook.
Mourn ~ rHs Rosxnup, August 2,
Via BIsHARcK, ID. T., August o, 1876

Considerable annoyance 10 felt BY tho officers who
participated In Casters asht OF the incor-
rect sarblcd accounts published IN some paperA
they claim that a good many officers wrote good
deal sboos the nsht who nothing Of IT, and that
they have perhaps unwittingIs done Iher comrades
serious Injustice Under these circumstances thought
well to interview both Colonel Reno and Colonel
Beaten, who, BY general consent wero the persons
Who could give the fullest OF the whole Affair."
purpose Of Interview account OF tho arrival OF
General Forsyth with instructions from General
sheridan.
INTERVIEW RENO.
Colonel Reno Is OF middle stature, very strongly
buiit has a swsr,hy complexion and dark eyes, CON-
bnsd With . certain rapid action and frankpess Of
manner which mako q favorable impression. He
looks every inch q soldier. and judging from his ap
pcarance and temperament would Be tho last man to
leave comrade . tight place without making an
effort 70 save him He 10 very much annoyed at the
unfair passed the surviving officers Of the
Seventh by tho people who knew nothing Of the
bus,ia General Rosscr's letter no thinks wholly
unWarrantedL Colonel Reno said
81 dont usually pay attention TO what b written
about but this felt compelled TO reply a.
much on behalf other officers Of the Seventh ~
In my own"
Your correspondent inquired " Colonel Reno had any
objection let she HERALD correspondent his
gosscr and offering. In behalf OF tho HERALD to
publish any statement he wished to make about tho
ngh, as a matter fair play The Colonel Immediately
handed the of his letter the correspondent Cor
publication IN tho HERALD II reads IS ioows:-
HxApquARrERa SEVENTH RgGixgyr CAvALRY)
CAvr on rnk YELLOW STONE. July 80, 1874 I
M. T. l. RossEs:-
sIR-whcn road sho nrst part OF your letter, pub
lishcd IN the Pioneer fress tho s,h inst, as
COPIED from the Minneapolis Eresing Tribune, my
thought that your motive had only the object Of
defence Of personal fiond-a gallant soldier against
whom you fought; but after reading all OF II could
longer look upon Il rs the tribute OF generous
enemy, since through me, you had attacked brave
officers ever served a government, and with the
same reckiessncss aud ignorance OF circumstances
Custer charged with hrs upon the hostile
Indians. Both charSes-the made against
him and the one made by you against
us-we equally untrue. You ny:-"I icci
Custer would have succeeded had Reno, with
all the Of seven companies, passed through
and Joined Custer the nrst repulse;" and after
confcssns that you are nring at long range say fur
~ think quite certain that Custer had agreed
with Reno upon place OF Junction IN Of tho
pulse Of either both detachmcns and instead OF
effort being made by Reno for such Junction.
he encountered heavy resistance he took refuge
the hills and abandoned Custer aud his gallant
rades 70 their fate. +"
As shall show, both the premises arc false and con-
sequensy conclusions OF your letter fall TO tho
ground, including your tiiaatn talk about the last
,rumpe. Cus,ers organization OF the regiment into
ds,inct commands not made until hai-psst ten A.
NJ Of the day he killed, aud as foloxs:-Con.
panies n, A and q be BATTALION comma nded by
me; companies II, aud X another. commanded BY
The Senior Captain Bentsen, Conpxny Is. Captain
McDousa to DO guard 10 take charge OF the pack
train; companies c. s. l. and 80 be his own im-
mediate command, with Captains kcosh and Yates -
subordinate battalion commanders lie made his own
selections OF companies Bentecn. with his BATTALION
was sent far 10 my lcn BY Casters order When
went isso the night no out OF Sigh, Ny ba,iaL
ion was the lct and when. ws approached the
village, but brought to the front By Custer The
only Official orders had iron him we're asou, nve
mile. from tho village, when Colonel Cooke, the Regi.
mental Adjutant gave his orders In these words:-
sCuster says TO move 81 - rapid gait you think
prudent aud charge afterwards you will be sup
ported by the whole ootnI"
No mention OF any plAo nc ihoacht Of Junction. only
the usual tho advance guard attack by the
charge. whea tho enemy reached I moved to the
front at fast and he halted ten minutes
or less TO gather the battalion sent word 10 Custer
that | had tho enemy In my front very strong and
then charged driving the before mo about ~ rec
NH t,ss.
supposne my command. consisting of 10 officers and
men and t~ru,y I've scouts aud guards followed
BY tue columns under Custer Tho village about three
aud half miles long upon The Iaits Bte
Horn, and the topography OF the v,cinny may DO
briefly ioh The stream was very crooked ike
letter IN ~anderings and the aide on wnich tho
village opened into a broad bottom. perhaps
half or three quarters OF mil, wido The stream vas
nnscd, usual, With the trees OF the plans gro~th
Of large cottonwood-and on the Opposite side a
range OF high bluffs which had into very deep
ravines by the surface aud by The action Of the
stream their base the earth had ialien n and
ie perpendicular banks. making ~ha, kno-n q. cus
banks As neared the village The Indians came out
IN great numbers and I soon convincci
I had at least ten to against me and was
forced tho defensive This . accomplished by
taking possession Of poini Of woods where l found
shelter for my horses fought there, dismoanied
aud made my way to within go ysras % tho vilas-,
aud armly believe tn,r ~ at that moment, The seven
companies had becu together the Indians could have
been driven from their village As approached
near their village they CUT overwhelming nun
bcrs, and soon the sman command would have been
surrounded on all sides. TO prevent which mounted
and charged through them position eouii hold
with tho few men had
You SEQ by tnis the aiTance aud the nrst 10 be
engaged and draw fire. and was consequently the CON.
mand to DO supported, and the ono IRON which
support could be expccsed. All know Of Custer from