Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-01-29
THE RENO INQUIRY.
The Responsibility of the Custer Mas
saCre.
Ohlcago specinl.l

Chicago S%pecial.l
1t would seem that the whole mat
ter resolves itself into this i~nouirv.
Was or was not Major Reno aware of
the desperate encounter progressing
between Custer and the common
enemy? If answered afirmatiyelv he
should suffer the extreme p%enaity Of
the law. Not even the most posifive
assurance that he and his command
would share the impending fate If
their comrades can excuse his making
no effort to save them. In the exer.
else Of a soldiers profession. if he do
not seek, at least he should not fear
danger; and how much greater the oh
legation if his brothers in arms are he
ing overwhelmed Better had The
entire Seventh Cavalry persisted in a
common and united effort for victory.
than that one-half, by becoming mac
tive and impassiye spectators should
survive the destruction of the others
1t has been asserted that Captain
Benteen urged Reno to permit him to
go to the rescue, and was peremptoriIy
refused; but he is alive, and can sneak
for himself. What effect would have
been produced had Reno cut his wav
through the Gordon of Indians in his
immediate front and attacked Custer's
assailants in the flank or rear. il is
difficult to say; but the battle of the
Little Big Horn might have termina-
ted differently.
On the other hand, Reno may have
been too remote to hear the firing. or
see any part of the conhIict-in short.
to have comprehended the situation:
and he may have had his hands full
Whether he Obeyed or disobeyed or
ders is not of much consequence. ex-
cept as a matter of justice to Clusters
memory. A subordinate commander
when separated from his superior
must be his own guide in the exigen-
cies that arise, unless they be foreseen
and be foreordered and, ordinarily.
we can only ascribe to him lack of or
an error in judgment.
And just here a word for Custer's
plans, so unjustly criticised. His
movements after he had determined To-
attack without waiting for Terry-a
fatal mistake, and one to which he was
probably goaded by the remembrance
OF the indignities he had received in
Washington = have been generally
commended by Indian fighters. In
civilized warfare, the division of any
body OF troops in several detachments,
numerically inferior to the opposing
force, often enables the latter by ce-
lerity Of movement and execution to-
attack and defeat them in detail. In
this manner were gained the most
signal successes of Napoleon but no
tyrO in the art Of war commits such a
blunder to-day. An Indian village.
although often exceeding it in rapidity
Of march, is not to be compared 10 =
mobile army in the field. The site is
always selected for defensive opera-
tons, and its attack partakes more of
the character Of an assault upon a be-
leaguered city. In this case the he
sieged had not only their sduaws and
pappooses, of whom they are extreme
ly fond, but all their worldly posses
sions to defend, and a simultaneous
and well sustained attack might have
proved most successful.
The defence will probably summon
as an expert General Sheridan. who is
a warm personal friend of Reno. AL
though having no bearing upon his
particular case, the action of the lat
ter in permitting, and, it is said, en-
couraging the circulation among err.
listed men of the regiment, i'm, no.
diately after the massacre, and 0ben
he was in command, of a petit nm co.
Letting his arbitrary promote IN 70 tLo
vacant Lieutenant Colone' ,cv csnsnd
by Clusters death, received mucb 0 nnl
favorable comment. NUN uu-