The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-28
THE RENO COURT OF INQUIRY.
FACTS PROMISED WHICH WILL srARTLE THE
COUNTRY STATEMENT OF AN
OFFICER OF THE SEVENTH CAvALRY-CHARGEs
OF cowARDIcE AGAINST CLUSTERS SECOND IN
COMMAND.


COMMAND.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
.4,fM WASHINGTON, Dec. ~, 1878.
The court Of inquiry ordered to investigate the al
legged misconduct Of Major Marcus A. Reno at the
battle Of the Little Big Horn. June Is, 1876 when
General Custer and Ave companies Of the gallant
Seventh cavalry lost their lives. will meet at Chicago
January 6. when it is alleged by officers who claim
to know the facts connected with Major Renos con-
duct at that battle will startle the country.
AN OFFICERS ANTE-MoRTEM STATEMENT.
One Of the officers commanding company Of the
Seventh cavalry under Reno the day Of the disas
ter YVES Brevct Lieutenant Colonel Thomas b. Weir,
who died in New York city In December Of the same
year. and who is said to have made and sworn to
statement before his death. in which he claimed to
have been in full view OF the Custer fight when he
was sent out to reconnoitre during the action. and
that he reported to Reno and urged that help BIO
given their comrades. The statement adds. it is said
that Reno fatty refused to make the movement as
urged. and was openly accused at the time Of cow
ardice by his own officers. W b
SOUND OF CLUSTERS FIRING.
Colonel Weir's statement alleges that when he
moved out with his company the sound Of the firing
from Clusters column was distinctly heard by the
whole command. and that the point from winch he
obtained view of the battle was not more than a
mile or q mile and half from where Reno's COM
mand lay. This sworn statement was placed, before
Col wcir's death. in the hands of well known New
York ex-oiccr Of volunteers. who is widely known
an admirer aud biographer of tho late General
Custer and who solemnly promised Colonel Weir not
to rest until the matter officially investigated
and to let the contents of the statement become
publicly known until an investigation ordered.
s. A VISIT TO THE LITTLE BIG HORN.
The statement was placed in the hands Of the
proper authorities last summer, after the War De-
partment had ordered an investigation. and so
startling that examination was ordered into some
Of the allegations made. During the past
summer a party Of officers. including Gen
eral Nelson A. Miles, colonel of the Fifth
infantry. who was then commanding the Yellow
stone district; Colonel Edward W. smith, aide..le-
camp to General Terry. and Lieutenant Edward Ma
guire, corps of engineers chief engineer officer
General Terry stat. visited the Little Big Horn and
made q series Of experiments aud measurements.
with results which fully to prove the assertions
made by Colonel Weir and other surviving officers of
the Inflated regiment who were present at
the battle. The distance between the points
where Reno reiterated to and remained. and where
Custer fought and fell was accurately measured, and
found to be much less than has always been claimed
by Reno in his reports. 1t was also demonstrated
refuting Reno's statement in his official report that
the distance between the two commands was so great
that he could not hear the firing Of Clusters column.
that single shot from carbine pistol could be
plainly heard frov either point In nearly every
diton Of the wind Az
r. okDERED CHICAGO.
The following named officers have been ordered to
Chicago to testify in this case:-ColonelE W. Smith.
Aide-de-Camp, and Lieutenant Mcguire. Corps of En-
gineers Of General Terry sta aud the following Of
the Seventh cavalry Colonel Frederick W. Benteen,
Captain Thomas II. French. Myles Moylan, Edward
a fi~Jes. adEs r. md ret
tenants Charles G. de Rudio. George d. Wallace,
Charles A. varnum and Luther II. Hare.