The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-28
RENO'S RUN.
FROM THE INDIANs-'tE EVERYBODY RAN FOR
HIS LIFE COMPANY A, HALT! FOR GODS
SAKE DON'T RUM
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD


SAKE DON'T RUM
by TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
CHICAGO. Jan. 81, 1879.
The thirteenth day Of the Reno trial opened with
some fresh testimony.
George Herendcen, experienced scout. was
placed on the stand. This witness said he was
scout and courier with General Custer the 2th Of
June. 1876, accompanying Reno's column; he had
been in several engagements with the redskins;
corning Clusters order to Reno the witness tes-
tilted that he overheard 1t it was in
effect that Reno should lead out and Custer
should follow him; they were not opposed by In
dams they went down the bottom to estimate the
distance Of the Indians from them after the skrmish
line formed the witness, Girard and another
scout all took aim at Indian, but the bullets fell
Short he thought the Indians were from seven hun
dred to nine hundred yards away just the retreat
about to begin the witness rode up close to the
Major; volley fred by the hostlcs; Bloody
Knife, the Indian scout, some ten feet ahead, fell
dead from his horse
EVERYBODY FOR
Major Reno had ordered the men to dismount;
then, immediately, he ordered them to mount again,
and everybody for his life; the retreat just
as fast as spurs would make an American horse go;
witness followed the command as rapidly he
could; everybody was running for his life; the
horse of witness fell, throwing him, and perhaps
twenty Indians stumbled over him; witness then
started back for the timber; he did so the
still coming ont of the timber, and he heard
officer say. Company A. halt; for Gods sake do
not rum; the halt was not efected witness got back
to the timber and found some men mounted and
some dsmounted; he advised these to turn back
to the timber and try to lead the Indians
of; they did so. and the party took up
. position in the timber; they remained
there two hours and were not molested by the In
dians; the men had plenty of ammunition; they
scared vt hrst. but got it and proposed to
fight.
RENO IN COMPARATIVELY QUARTERS.
Down the river he heard the sound of firing in vol
leys in the direction of the Custer battlefield; that
firing lasted hour over where Reno was, however,
he heard during that time only scattering shots:
probably Custer WAS half a mile beyond Reno's hill
when the Major began his retreat the Custer battle
field was about two miles from the same point;
late in the afternoon the witness left the
timber, and eleven soldiers. three of whom were
in getting out they encountered five Indians, upon
whom they Aired and the redskins ran; crossing the
on the hill; Lieutenant varnum came down to meet
them; the only conversation he had with Major Reno
was that EVE evening" when he Interpreted for Half
the Indians appeared to be doing the
witness could not say who appeared to be exercising
fighting Indians at $780, witness said emphatcally
that he did not believe that the Indians could
driven Reno from the timber had lie remained there;
he did not think the Indians could have driven 100
men with 5000 9 900 rounds Of ammunition out OF
the timber where Rcno's command was.
CLUSTERS PERSONAL ORDER.
Mr. Gilbert then examined the witness. The order
which the witness delivered to Reno to cross
cral Custer in person: the witness did not see
Colonel Cook the adjutant, deliver any such order
adventures up to the time when he rode out into the
glade and saw Major Rcno's men mounted, he tcsti-
fed that Major Reno. after he gave the order for
nothing Of Reno in the timber except when he gave
the i've orders in the glade. ...'s'v -.
When Mr.. Gilbert had finished the cross-cxamina-
ton Lieutenant Lee extracted little more direct tes
tmony. and Colonel Merritt asked the witness IL he
the battle field the next day after the
sacre The witness said no did not; he was quite
positive inst no hghtinN occurred at the place where
Custer was suppnscd TO have attempted to cross the
river, for he would have heard the firing.
PAYNEs EVIDENCE.
Captain j. s. Payne of the Fifth cavalry. was called
distance between tho place where Custer killed
and Renos hill was miles ld0 yards, he said.
that he then saw were bones Of horses aud few
bones which he supposed to be those Of human
beings; near the battle field was hill higher
than any In the vicinity; but 1t
force OF 1900 Indians attacked command number
ing more than Clusters the hill would afford little
defence, and the result would be question of only
short time; there place about the field that
would afford protection for CUSTER according to
the best estimates which the witness had heard the
number Of Indians was about twenty-five hundred,
and IL probably took from twenty minutes to three
quarters Of an hour to destroy Custer and his
LIEUTENANT HAnEs DESCRIPTION.
The last witness was Lieutenant l.. X. Hare. His
testimony, far taken. not Of the first inn
portancc. He stated that he saw party of forty
nifty Indians from the point where the commands
halted the morning OF the 25th, and had doubt
that the Indians had discovered the command Witness
accompanied Major Reno column. and described the
crossing of the river and the advance to the point where
the skirnsh line thrown out; at this juucture,
though they had been before the Indians rode
up tour hundred Ave hundred strong: witness
heard orders given In the bottom did not the
withdrawal; his horse holder came TO him and said
the command leaving the timber: but for him
the witness thought he might have been left behind;
he regarded the retreat having been made In good
order, but admitted there was some confusion in
crossing tho stream: the Indians followed along tho
right flank, coming within Atty yards; witness did
not consider 10 run. buta pretty fast retreat wit
ness did consider the timber the strongest posi-
ton nc thought the difference In positions would