The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-11-20

crossed, he took position on the ada
cent bluffs, the Indians following and
keeping mp o continuous fisillade. Here
he was Joined by Capt Benton. wb6;
had followed on his trail - far as the
creek, but. as be says in bis official re-
ports. "there being upon the OPP
posite side too many Sioux to encounter
with safety. he concluded not to cross"
When Benton arrived at the creek Reno
was retreating. and the two made q
junction at the entertainments. In this
entrenchment, Reno, as senior officer.
commanding both desachments. found
the Indians, losing 100 in all. and held
his ground until relieved By Crook He
says il Custer had any more definite
plan Of operations than to send out the
detachment and cross over lower down
to support the attack, he was not aware
of it. He pronounces as unquali6ediy
absurd the story that he was to have
made q junction at any particular point.
lie believes, however, that Custer in
tended to cross the creek and come to
his rescue, aud that ne was only pre-
vented from doing so by q mistake in
the topography Of the country. He
has reason to think, while he was fight
ing the Indians in their village,
at the time of the original
attack. Custer heard the firing and tried
to find his way down Sleepy Ridge;
that he struck out to effect fordrng
place: this, however, Custer failed TO
do, but came to the river abont two
and half miles below the the rcndez-
vous Of Reno and Benton. Subsequent
examination led Reno to believe this
20 be the course pursued by Custer. but
why Custer should have gone Oh down
the creek after finding his crossing
checked. when be finally made the
creek. instead OF returning in the di-
rection of the remainder OF his COM
mand. is q question Reno is unable to
determine. His hypothesis is that he
wished to make for the mouth of the
creek, . few miles from where the
steamboat with Gen. Gibbons COM
msnd aboard) was supposed 70 be. but
that he soon encountered more Indians,
and was overpowered, and lost his own
life and those Of tho men in his force.
Reno says Custer and all Of his men
were probably dead wien he joined
forces with Benton, on the north bank
Of the creek. He does not consider
himself any more responsible for the
killing of Custer and his men than a
man in New York would have been;
and on the other hand he thinks either
want Of definite plan Of battle, or 9
mistake of general Clusters placed the
attacking detachment in a serious and
to some extent unnecessary jeopardy.
He is much grieved that certain
papers should charge him with enmity
towards so gallant and brave man as
Custsr. They were personal friends,
he says. and we're upon the best terms,
h~vlng been in the Military Academy
at West Point together and known each
other for many years. Reno has very
little confidence in Sitting Bull or any
other Isdians. and wants no further
vindicstion of his character as soldier
in regard to the Little Big Horn fight
than the official reports of Sherman.
Crook and Terry. and the statements of
the survivors of the battle.
NEW YORK. Nov. l9-The weather
is delightful, but for the first time this
season the thermometer indicates . tenn
psrature near the freezing point Cold
weather is probable.