The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-04-12
Il BIT OF HISTORY.
RecolIections Of June 25, 1876 Reno and
Custer Where are They NOwf
From the ST. Paul Pioneer Press.

From the 81. Paul Pioneer Press.
"The mills Of the gods grind slowly, but they
grind exceeding fine" H.''
Upon the 25th of last June Custer's last
battle was fought. At 1890 that day he
ordered Reno with three companies to
advance upon the Indians, while he, with
five companies, by more circutous route
would attack them in the rear. Reno
moved down two miles, crossed the ford.
halted ten minutes, then "charging down
the valley driving the Indians with great
ease two and half miles," ceased to ad-
vance when not man had been wound
ed took refuge in the timber as "the In
dians advanced in their peculiar fash
ion," became wild with panic, mounted
and dismounted his men four times in as
many minutes, retreated with only one
man wounded) in column firing pistols as
they went nearing the ford, it was a
scramble for life, each man for himself
the Indians pouring a murderous fire in
the rear, which killed three officers and
twenty nine enlisted men. Upon the
bluff Reno met Benteen, who had just
arrived with four companies and the
packs, and here at 2:30 they entrenched
themselves At noon Benteen was three
miles in the rear. Custer sent this order
to him through Lieut.. Cook "Benteen
come on; big village be quick; bring
packs" Custer had sent Reno on, was
rapidly advancing himself, and needed
every man of the four companies with
Benteen, "big village; be quick" Ben
teen hastened 80 slowly that he made the
three miles in just two hours and half,
reaching the bluff near the time Reno
did and reporting to him instead of has
tening to the relief of his chief as order
ed. At this very time Custer had crossed
at ford below and attacked the Indian
village near the center, upon the SUPPOSE
ton, nay, the certainty-for he had never
commanded towards before-that Reno
was then engaging the enemy and that
Benteen was Fastening to his aid. The
Indians hearing an attack was being made
on the village, all left Reno and fell upon
Custer in overwhelming numbers and his
little band was doomed For three hours
and half they fought bravely desperate
ly. For three hours and a half Reno
with seven companies remained en-
trenched upon the bluffs, without an In
dian to molest or make him afraid, hear
ing the firing below, knowing Custer was
being annihilated, and yet making no
effort to save him. Why, in battle, if an
Indian rashly ventures out into an ex-
posed position and is killed there, three,
four or dozen will rush out into the
same risk to secure the worthless carcass
that it may not fall into the hands of the
foe. But Reno, entrenched upon the hill
with seven companies, was not required
to risk himself for the bodies Of the slain,
| but for the lives of Custer and his follow
ers, men as brave and tender, as Courte-
GUS and cultivated as any in the land,
were they worth the risk ? Reno thought
not So he entrenChed himself still
stronger, leaving them to certain destruc-
ton down in that hell where the red
devils showered them with fire and blot
ted them out Ah, "the pity ofit" Nor
did the distress end there. Over all the
land these men had mothers, wives, chill
dlen and friends. From Fort Lincoln
alone the wall of twenty-four widows
went up to heaven. But let us not re-
pine. Reno Da8 Saved. And where is he
to-day2 See Pioneer Press of this morn
ing. Here in st. Paul, it tells us, await
ing the result of court martial, which
will,probaby end in dismissal from the
service, because he had insulted the wife
ola brother officer. Do brave men insult
unprotected women? Dismissed the
service" 1t is well. Though it would
please us better if the cause assigned were
dated back to June 25th. However the
result is the same, and let us say again,
"The mills of the gods grind slowly, but
they grind exceeding fine"