Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-07-04
THE CUSTER MASSACRE.
The BfOgraPher Of Custer Says that
the Disaster is Chargeablc to
the COW0rdice Of Gen.
eral Reno.

Washington Special, 18th, to Chicago Times
The House Committee on Military AT
fairs decided to day to report E,vorably t.
the House resolution directing an invcs
tiSation of the Custer massacre.
Mr.. Bragg has the report i'm hand ant
will presents resolution asking permission
for cub committee TO ct ct...;,,.,. tire re
cess and send tor persons and papers. The
basis of this action taken by the commit.
tee is embraced in Il letter addressed by
Frederick Whitaker, of Noun. Vernon
n. y, to Corlett. representing Wyoming
Territory. and by him turned over to the
committee on military affairs, where ii
seems to have made 4 decided impression.
Whittaker's letter is rs follows:
''MoUNT VERNON. n. Y..)
May Is, 1873.
''To Hon. ". ". Corlctt, NJ. -
''DEAR SIR :-Ilaving been called on to
prepare the biography of the late Brevet
Major-General. Geo. A. Custer. L. S. A..
great amount of evidence. oral and writ
ten. came into my hands. tending to prove
that the sacrifice OF his life and the lives of
his Immediate command, at the battle of
the Little Big Horn. was useless and ow-
fng to the cowarrlice Of his suborlinatcs.
desire. therefore, to ask your attention,
and that of Congress, through you, to the
necessity of ordering an official investiya-
ton, by committee OF your honorable
body. into the conduct of the United
States troops engaged in the battle of the
Little Big Horn, fought on June 25, 1876.
otherwise known as the Custer massacre.
in which Lieut.. Col. Custer, 18th L. S. Cav
airy, persisted with five companies of the
9TH Cavalry, at the hands of the Indians.
The reasons on which found my request
are as follows:
'First-lnformation coming to me from
in the battle, written and oral.
is to the effect that gross cowartlice was
displayed therein by Major Marcus A.
Reno. 9TH U. S. Cavalry, second in CON-
mand on that day, and that owing to such
cowarlicc, the orders of Lieut.-Col, Custer.
officer, to said Reno to ex-
ecllte certain attack, We're never obcyed
that the failure of this movement. owing
20 this cowarllice and disobedience, caused
he defeat of the United States forces on
he day in question, and that had Clusters
orders been obeyed the troops would prob
IDLY have defeated the Indians; that after
Major Re- cowardly fight he was join
II by CA"'ain F. ". Benteen, 9TH Cavalry.
With reinfOrcements. which were placed
l1der his orders, and that he remained idle
With this force while his superior officer
vas fighting against the whole force of the
indians, the battle being within his knowl-
tige, the sound OF the firing audible from
is position, and his forces out of immed-
te danger from the enemy. In conse-
',ence of this second exhibition of cow
rdice and incOmpetency was the massacre
t Lient.-Col. Custer and five companies
I the 9TH Cavalry.
''Second-The proof of these facts lies
the evidence of persons in the service of
he United States Government, chiefly in
ne army, and no power short of Congress
an compel their attendance and protect
'em from annoyance and persecution if ,
1ey openly testify to the cowarlice ex-
ibited on the above occasion.
''Fhird-The only official record of the
attic now extant is the report written by
lajor Reno. above named, and is in the I
lain false and libellous to the memory of !
he late Iieut.-Col. Custer, the command |
q officer OF said Reno at the above-men- !
oned battle. in that it represents the de- q
at of the Uuited States forces on that oc- | !
'sion, owing to the division by Custer OF 5
Is forces into these detac,ments. to over :
aiming his forces, and to ignorance of s
'e enen,y's force, all serious charges .
sainst the capacity of said Custer as an &
ncer, whereas, the defeat was really ON n
3 to the cowardice and disobedience of q
ID Reno, and to the wilftll neglect Of said h
emo and Captain Benteen to join in the r
title with the Indians in support of their a
officer when they might d