The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-31

SIXTEENTH DAY OF THE INvEsTIdATIoN-wIT-
NEssEs GENERALLY FAVORABLE TO THE Ac-
cUsED.
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
CHICAGO. H.. Jan. 80, 1879.
The sixteenth day of the Reno trial opened with q
supplemental examination of Lieutenant DcRudlo.
who testified that about five or ten minutes before
Reno's command left the timber, he (the witness)
saw General Custer wave his hat from the highest
point on the other side Of the river; Custer could
both Reno's command and the Indian village
from that point very soon after the firing began
down the river; the witness thought that Custer
was looking for fording place, and, think.
ing that Reno could hold the position in tho
timber. going down the stream to tackle the
Indian village the witness thought Reno could have
held his position in the timber long his
ton lasted, and the ammunition he had, if ju-
dc:ously expended, would have held out three
four hours; he could not estimate what might have
been the result il Reno had not retreated for he did
not feel that he could calculate results not knowing
the disposition of the Indian forces with regard to
the relative numbers confronting Reno and Custer.
CLEAR MUD.
On cross-examination tho witness testified that he
did not know where Reno at the time Custer ap-
pcared the bluff the river; he (witness) did
not tell Major Reno that General Custer had been
yards away; he was accompanied by Lieutenant
Cook and another person. possibly an officer
orderly; the witness recognized them from their
dress; though they far away that IL he had
known of their presence in that vicinity he could
not have recognized them; it would be difficult for
ture of ammunition under the circumstances
Of Reno's command in the timber; it was
the duty of the officer to try ana prevent
waste OF ammunition. Being asked how it was that
he came to leave the line without the command of
manner said II did not leave the line sir; the COM
mand left me; / was the last man there and then
went back after the standard OF the regiment On
the redirect examination De Rudo testified that
subsequeH1nI,ay when no stood on the point where
he had sse1Ceneral Custer he had view OF the
tire timber where Reno was and part OF the Indian
village.
Sergeant Davern recalled and testified that ON
the retreat toward the river, his horse fell; there
were some Indians between him and the command:
he went his horses head when it fell: when he
got on his feet again he Indians up with
some of Company G's MEM he saw the bodies OF two
again and reaching the river found Il ali jammed up
be trying to get out Is fast as possible.
could be expected under the circumstances;
when he got to the top of the hill he saw Major
he had not, and Major Reno gave him some; he sub
sequcntiy heard the firing down the bottom and re.
ing down the bottom Weir said he thought it must
be; he thought Colonel Benteen's command must all
have got on to the hill when he remarked the hrng
to Captain Weir; it hour after he heard
the distant firing that Captain Weirs company moved
down the strean 1t nearly two hours after the
witness got to the HILL and after the pack train
up. The witness testified. in conclusion. in answer
to Mr.. Gilbert that he nothing like cowardce in
Major Rcno's conduct at any time.
TESTIMONY T.. A. CuLBERTsON
F. A. Culbertson. Company /. Fifth cavalry. was
the next witness sworn. He was attached to Major
Renos column the 18th OF June, 1876: he de-
scrbed after the prescribed formulas, the march to
the timber; there about two hundred and fifty
Indians in front of the command; they circ,i-
latin in front and around to the lett of the line;
most of the in his company were new men, and
fired very fast; when the command mounted up he,
being separated from his own company, went
and Joined Lieutenant Wallace; witness saw Major
Reno only after the skirmish line was formed;
Reno was riding toward the woods.