The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-01-28
AS TO MAJOR RENO.
A Review Of the Testimony Of Lieut. Wal
lace and the Scout Girard.

lace ana the scout 6lfdru.
From the Chicago Times.
The Reno investigation increases in
interest as it progresses and as the facts
connected with the Little Big Horn
fight are coming out. 1t was stated by
the Times in a late review of the evil
dence that, unless Lieut.. Wallace's
testimony was contradicted, a very
clear defence would be established for
Maj. Reno. According to his testi-
mony, Reno crossed the river was at
tackled by several thousand Indians,
and. after fighting desperately until
his ammunition was about exhausted,
and the Indians had gained his rear, he
charged through them, recrossing the
river, where he intrenched himself on
the heights. He placed the time of re-
crossing at from $3.50 to A O'Clock: SO
that according to his statement, Custer
had been attacked and annihilated be-
fore Reno had obtained his position on
the hill. OF course, such a state of
things would constitute a complete de-
Tense for Reno, because it obliges a con-
clusion that Reno fought until reduced
to the alternative of retreat or annihi-
lation, and that, as a good officer, he
could only elect to take the former.
The same theory kept him engaged UNI
til after Custer had been wiped out, and
thereafter he had all he could do to de-
fend himself until the arrival of Gen.
Terry.
The Times has pointed out the
strength of this theory, although in
viting attention to one weak point in
it. This was that, after Reno had
taken up his position on the heights, he
ordered an advance. down the right
bank of the river, which would admit
two differences: ~ That there were
no great number of Indians about him;
and (2) that he knew the direction
Custer had taken, because it was along
Custer's trail that the advance was Or
dered made. 1t hardly seems logical
that Reno expected Custer to come and
support him in view of the fact that he,
Reno, ordered this move toward the
position of Custer. The Times also
intimated, at the conclusion Of Lieut..
Wallace's testimony, that later evil
dence would put a materially different
construction upon the time of crossing
the river and other features of the sit
uation. This intimation has been
more than..realized in the testimony of
Fred. F. Girard, an interpreter, who
accompanied the expedition. He states
that Reno crossed the river at 2 O'Clock
and ten minutes later had deployed
his line of skirmishers. The fighting,
according to his testimony, lasted
about 10 minutes more, and then there
was wild scramble for the ford. The
whole time that Reno was over the
river did not exceed 80 to 80 minutes;
and during this period there were not
more than $50 to 200 Indians in sight.
The scout did not recross with the COM
mand, being cut off. While lying con-
cealed he heard heavy firing cross the
river, and further down, at the point
where Custer and his men were after
ward found. The firing in this direc-
ton was heavy and lasted until almost
dark.
This testimony is very damaging to
Maj. Reno. When analysed, it means,
in brief, that Reno crossed the river,
became frightened at a few Indians,
then recrossed in a demoralized condi-
ton, and remained on the bluffs while
Custer was being slaughtered. Girard
says that the Indians, at first, on the
left bank were in great force; but that,
finding that their village was endanger-
ned by Clusters advance along the right
bank, all of them, save a couple of
Hundred, went over and finished up
Custer, after which they gave their at
teption to Reno and Benteen. He
thinks there was'no reason why Reno
should have reiterated from the timber
on Me left bank; and that the retreat
was\a rout in which ''devil take the
hindhost" was the universal sentiment.
The damaging character of Girard's
testimony is shown by the exhaustive
cross-etamination to which he was
subjectAl, and the persistent efforts
made byMaj. Reno's counsel to dis
credit hin by inquiries as to his domes-
ic relations.
The evidence of Lieut.. Wallace and
that of Nh Girard represent the ex-
tremes of tie case. That of the former
embodies tip line of defence and that
of the latterSthe line of prosecution.
The result o6the inquiry will now de-
pend upon tn preponderance of evi.
dence with ono or the other of these
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