The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-21

GIRAgD--IMpoRTANT TESTIMONY AS TO Gus
THE STORY OF SWINGING AROUND THE sKIR-
MIsH LINE.
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
CHICAGO. Jan. 30. 1879
At eleven O'Clock this morning the Court of In
qury in the case Of Major Reno reconvened at tho
Palmer House. The usual large crowd attended. In
the reading of his testimony Friday and Saturday
several objections made by Girard. most of them
being corrections in his statements rather than
in the transcription for instance he said that his
corrected estimate of the number of Indians ahead Of
Reno when he first left Custer 1900 1000 in
stead of $780, He also said that not the killed scout
Charley Reynolds. but he himself cried out the
order to retreat. "What damned fool is thisy' He
also corrected his opinion to the time of the day
when Reno's command crossed the stream toward the
HILL stating that his second estimate made it about
hour later Assisted by the clear and pointed questions
of Mr. Gilbert the scouts testimony to-day seemed
to have beginning and an end, and his evidence
ceived very close attention from all who present
Major Reno himself showed the liveest interest
Mr.. Gilbert asked that two additional witnesses be
subpnnaed-Captain b. Scott Payne Fifth cavalry.
and Sergeant De Lacey, l Company, Seventh
cavalry This request granted by tho
Court. At the end of the session Recorder
Lee further examined the scout Grard some
points Of detail, which he explained by the aid
Of map The first question asked on crossexamina-
ton in regard to the exact spot where Charley
Reynolds and the witness stopped to take drink OF
whskey that bloody day. 1t finally pointed
out to the satisfaction of all and marked ''S NJ. %
(sour mash). The cross-examination resulted
in several nat contradictions to tho testi-
mony of Lieutenant Wallace, and notably in
the assertion OF the witness that Custer per-
sonally and in the hearing Of witness ordered
Reno to make an immediate charge. This statement
caused decided futter. The witness repeated his
former narrative without any change up to the time
of Renos receiving his orders from Custer to join
battle. He remembered General Clusters exact COM
mand, for he heard the words distinctly. The fol-
lowing is the most important Of to-day's testi-
mony:-
Mr.. Gilbert-What were they
Girard-"Major Reno. he said, you Will take
your battalion and try and overtake the Indians and
bring them to battle, and will support you And
as Major Reno was going of, probably six eight or
MI Giibert-bid Reno have any officers with hin
when he received this order?
Girard-That did not notice. was watching
General Custer and Reno.
ders Reno then but Custer gave them personality
Girard-The order heard was direct from Custer
| to Reno. do not pretend that Cook may not have
| given the order first.
| Mr.. Gilbert-when Lieutenant Wallace says the
only order received was through adJutant CO0kl
I he is not correct?
Girard-I have Judgment to give on that. simply
Mr. Gbert-What did Reno do when he received
the order?
Mr. Girard-He started immediately.
The witness next told of the advance Of Reno's
command the river into the timber When
got the river the witness called his attention
to the that the Indians coming up to the
river to meet them. Reno gave the order advance
Reno horse moving, but witness had halted his
horse when he told Reno about the Indians The re-
m of
horse when this told him. The command were all
close npon Reno and they checked their horses when
he did so. Witness then went back to tell General
Custer about the approach OF the Indians. He had
orders to do so, but he thought it was q fact OF
sufficient importance and that Custer should know It.
The questioning Of Mr.. Gilbert at this point
markably close aud after elicng the fact that the
approach of the Indians he asked the following
question Then your action in this matter was
coming up the valleyy' The witness said that such
the case and then said that after meeting Colonel
returned to the river. where he met the one scout
who had been waiting for him. and they crossed
catching up With the the he ION
tree s His Hop' gait s'' was .oou. minute
When he caught up the skirmish line had been
formed The troops were dismounted. the horses
being held in the timber by the horse holders.
SWINGING AROUND.
The witness next told of the swinging around Of
the skirmish line. He did not see the movement
advance made by the troops they dismounted?'
asked Mr. Gilbert
II did not say that; knew there was no advance"
replied the scout. Within ten minutes after that the
men in on the brow of the hill fghtEs the In
dams The retreat began about ten minutes after
that The order was then given. Men to their
horses the Indians in our rear!" The witnces
said that one OF the captains gave the command He
himself was the extreme right man on the right OF
the skrmishers that nearest the river. minute
after receiving the order the men were on the way
Mr. Gilbert then drew out from the witness the
admission that he was mistaken in his that
it was one o'clock when Major Reno was in the bot
tom. In explanation Girard said that in February
last he had correspondence which had served to
freshen his memory these points, but had not
seen the letters since until yesterday, when he was
informed that they here. and then upon
sultng them he came to see that the time was two
Mr. Giilbert-Now, Mr.. Girard since these mys-
cirard (interrupting)-T is nothing mysterious
about them sir.
Mr. Ciilbcrt-well, may it not be that your memory
may have failed you in other respects besides this
one?
The witness did not think so.
Continuing his testimony the witness told Of the
time aud place when he last saw what he concluded
Clusters column, and then related the fate OF
Bloody Knife. saying that be did not know what be-
of him. that he understood he was killed by
the Sioux IL act of cowsrdce for Renos troops
Judgment was however that for safety's sake they
ought to have remained in the timber. The firing
upon Rcnos column in the timber vas such as would
exist in lively skirmishng. The position Of the In
dams such that there reason 10 expect pro-
longcd Il ght their part. There were about thirty
rounds apiece shot by the while in the timber.
Mr.. Gilbert-That amount of ammunition was
rset in twenty minutes. was IL?
The witness answered in the affirmative and the
cross-examination closed AZ follows
Mr., Giibert--Mr. Grard you are the interpreter =
Fort Lincoln
Mr.. Girard-Yes, sir.
Mr.. Giibert--Havc you any kind OF feeling toward
Major Reno :?
Mr.. Grard-Not particle, sir.
Mr.. Gilhert-Dd he dismiss you from that position
prior 70 that tiIne lthe nghp
Mr. Grard--Hc did.
Mr. Gbert-You have no i'll feeling against him %
that account
Mr. Grard--No sir. none whatever.
The Court then adjourned until tomorrow.
eleven o'clock.