The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-24
THE DEATH OF CUSTER.
WHO WAS REsroNsIBLE FOR THE LITTLE BIG
HORN DISASTER?

WHO WAS REspoNsIBLE FOR THE LITTLE BIG
HORN DISASTER?
To rnx Eorroa or ruE HERALp:-
IL has been the fortune OF the HERALD within the
past lew years bring light many sru his and solve
maay mysteries OF science aud history The latest IN
stance OF your papers enterprise happens 10 be one
which concerns me nearly, Ia common with others
who admire bravery and nobility OF character and arc
resolule In the pursuit OF truth. Nearly eighteen
months ago there persisted In the villas OF the North
west officer who pronounced by General Terry
10 be .the flower Of the American army" lie died In
the midst OF his men. of whom none ever came
back 10 tell the tale, and the mystery that shrouded
his fate seemed for long time 10 be mpenetrabic.
IL my fortune TO be assigned The task OF writing
the biography OF this ocer-tho iato General Custer
and did my work the best OF my ability. The most
difficult part OF that work was the ascertainment Of
the truth concerning the battle in which Custer and
his detachment suffered dealh. Tho only public
record accessible the report Of the officers next in
oil the Seventh cavalry, and to whom Custer
had assigned duty In the attack on the Indian camp,
which, that oiccr's OWE showing, he had Jailed TO
perform. The secondary evidence was contained
in the reports of Custcrs superors in military rank
deailng with hearsay statements All these reports
united in ascrcing Custcr's death 10 his own rash
ness, and some charged him with disobedience VI
orders. When / commenced the "Liie OF Custer"
my impression, founded on TINS evidence, was that
Clusters action IN his last baltic was nde!ensibo ON
sound military principles. The nrst CLEAN OF sus-
piclon hat crossed my mind and caused me 10 doubt
the correctness OF this impression came from the letter
OF QUO OF your correspondents, whom knew person.
ally 10 be reliable man. This gentleman, visiting the
scene OF action convorsing with the officers Of Tho
Seventn cavalry, found that beneath the lar outside
OF oiiicial reports strong feeling existed that the
whole Truth mad not been told In bre he discovered
reason 10 believe that Custer had persisted, not
through his own rasnncss 50 much as through
the timldty and disobedience OF two Of his
immediate subordinates- To test the truth OF this
version Of the Custer massacre opened correspon-
dcncc with the accessible persons whom knew TO
connected with the battle OF the Little Big
Horn, before, during, or after the event The result
my INQUIRIES pto the date OF publication oil the
Custer biography embodied in tho chapter relating
TO that battle. Since that time | have received add-
tona letters confirming the correctness OF tho views
expressed my account, and now, at last thanks
TO the public spirit and enterprise OF the hsRALD the
last INK rs riveted
The evidence of Sitting Bull, given to your corrc-
spondenL conhrms every statement In the "Liie OF
CUSTER TO the ba tie in which Custer his death
ana sitting Bull pronounces the map which you pub
shalmost an exact transcript OF that in The Custer
biography-t0 be Tin the main correct"
What then, has Major Reno TO in the face Of this
unexpected confirmation OF the statements openly
made by me against him Tor a year past aud backed
by the best evidences then accessbies see that one
ington and observe that his reply contains nothing
but reference "ofcia reports" Tor hts justihca
fence consider moment what these soioalp reports
They are simply Renos own account OF the battle
in question, and the reports Of Renos supsrors based
on nohng but Reno's own statements When those
officers approved his course they did not possess
the evidence that has since accumulated or their
verdict would perhaps havo been different Ma
jor Reno did NOT wish TO revive the sub
ject with your correspondent Tor very good
reason He has succeeded in sitting inquiry
30 far, but he begins 10 realize that
II cannot be done forever. There is evidence enough
and spare in my possession Or accessible to
the subject OF the battle OF the Little Big Horn, II
ouIy an inquiry be ordered by Congress that shall
probe the matter TO The bottom Custer's friends
have no OF tho result OF such an investigation,
and sincerely trust that the public opinion of tho
whole country Will soon demand It in tones loud
enough to BIZ hoard at Washington. History records
no instance OF battle where commanding officer
was abandoned TO death by his subordlnate Custer
was at the battle of the Little Big Horn without an
investigation into the cause OF the disaster. Shall
blood Of Custer and his brave cry Tor justice
forever? trust not, for the honor Of the American
people Let US have JUSTICE matter where 1t
strikes. FREDERICK WHITAKER.
MOUNT VERNON, N. T., Nov. Fl, 1871