The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-13
THE CUSTER MIsS.iCRE.
Major Reno Accused of Cow ardice-An In
vestigation Probable.

WASHINGTON, June 12.-Thc House Com
mttce on Military Affairs decided to-day to re-
port favoraby to the House a resolution direct
ing an investigation Into the Custer massacre.
Mr.. Bragg will present resolution for sub
committee to sit in recess and send for persons
and papers. The basis OF this action is en-
braced in letter addressed by Frederick Whit
takcr Of Mount Vernon. n. Y. to MIR. Corlott,
representing Wyoming Territory. and by him
turned over TO tho Committee on Military
Affairs, on whom II seems to have made n very
decided impression. Whittaker's letter is as
.MovNT vrPYov. N. Y. May 1s. 1873.
DEAR SIN; Having been called on 70 prepare
the biography OF the, late brovet Major-Gcn:
George A. Custer. U. :. A.. great amount OF
evidence. oral and written came into my hands
tending TO prove that the sacrifice OF his life and
the lives Of his immediate command at the bat.
tie OF the Little Big Horn, was useless, and
owing to the cowardico Of his subordinatcs |
desire, therefore,. to ask your attention. and
that Of Congress through you. to the necessity
Of ordering an official Investigation by n com
mittee OF your honorable body into the conduct
Of the United states troops. engaged in the bat
tie OF the Llttlo Big Horn, fought juno %, 1876.
otherwise known as the Custer massacre. in
which Lieut.. Col. Custer Seventh United States
Cavalry, perished, with five companies Of the
Seventh Cavalry. at the hands OF tho Indians.
The reasons on which found my request are
First-Informatio coming to mo from partlc-
ipants in tho bnttle, written and oral. Is TO the
effect that gross cowardic,e was displayed there;
In by Major Marcus A. Reno. Seventh United
States Cavalry. second in command that day I;
and that owing to such cowardice, the orders q
Lieut.. Col. Custer. commanding officer to said
Reno. to execute q certain attack were not
That the failure Of this movement. owing 10
his cowardice and disobedience. caused the de-
feat OF the United States forces on the day in
question; and that. had Custer's orders been
o9cyedi me troops would probably have defeat
That after Major Rcno,'s cowardy flight. he
United States Cavalry, with rceniorcements
which were placed under his orders, and that
he remained idle with this force while his su-
periOr officer was lighting against the whole
iorce of the Indians. the battle being within his
knowledge. the sound OF firing audible from
his position and his forces out Of immediate
That tho consequence OF this second exhibit
tion Of cowardice and incompetency was the
massacre of Lieut.. Col. Custer and five COM
panics Of the Seventh United States Cavalry.
Second-The proof Of these facts lies in the
states Govcrnment. chiefly in the army. and no
power short II Congress can compel their at
persecution II they openly testify to tho coward
Ice exhibited on the above occasion.
Third-The only official record o. tho battle
now cNtant il the report written by MAJOR Reno.
above named. and IS. In tho main. false and Ii
bellOus 10 the memory OF the late Lieut. Col.
Custer in that 1t represents the defeat II the
United Stntcs forces on that occasion as owing to
tho division by Custer Of his forces into these
detaehments. 70 9vermannns his fQrccs and
I
charges against the capacity Of said Custer as
an officer whereas the defeat WIS really owing
10 tho cowardice and disobedience Of said Reno
and 10 the wlful neglect Of said Reno and Capt.
Bouteeu 10 Join battle with tho Indians in sup
port Of their commanding officer when they
might have done It. and 1t was their plain duty
SO 10 do.
Fourth-The welfare OF tho United States
army demands that in caae OF n massacre of a
| large party Of troops. under circumstances
covered with suspicion II should be officially
established whore the blame belongs, to the end
| that the service may not deteriorate by the re-
| tention Of towards.
Fith-Justicc TO an officer Of the previously
| unstained record OF Lieut.. Col. Custer demands
! that the accusation under which his memory
| now rests in the only official account OF the
| battle of the Little Big Horn now extant. should
! be proved or disproycd
| have thus given you. rs briefly rs / cnn. my
| reasons Tor asking this invest CATION. and the
! fact | am confident Of being able to prove My
| witnesses will he all the living officers of the
| Seventh United states Cavalry who were present
| AT the battle of June 20. including MAJOR Reno
and Cnlt. Bouteen-mysclf 10 prove statements
! of an officer since deceasol made 30 me- q few
| days before his, deqlh-F, 7. Girard Indian
interpreter to the United States forces Dr.
! Porter Of Bismarck, u. T., contract surgeon nj
| the battle in question; Lieut. Cortland Sixth
! Infantry; Sergeant Goldman. now Of the Signal
! Service. and others whose names | can find in
| time Tor the committees session. should the
! same be ordered.
| Trusting. dear sir that this letter may result
! in an Investigation which 81 I'll decide the whole
! truth about the battle Of the 18th June, 1876 and
! the pureatlon Of the service. am your Ohrdleut
| servant. FREDERICK WHITAKER.