The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-19
MAJOR RENO'S FIGHT.
TESTIMONY or GIRARD, THE SCOUT, CONTINUED
RENos FORCE RETREAT IN DISORDER ON A
GMLoP-CUsTER ENGAGEMENT HEARD FOR
TWO HoURsA HARD STORY FROM CAPTAIN
FRENCH

GALLoP-cUsTER's ENGAGEMENT HEARD FOR
TWO HoURs-A HARD STORY FROM CAPTAIN
FRENCH.
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
CHICAGO. ILL.,, Jan. Is, 1879.
The military court of inquiry investigating
the conduct of Major Marcus A. Reno convened at
the usual hour this morning 1t will be remembered
that the scout. Grard the interpreter, was on the
stand at the adjournment of Court yesterday. He
sumed his testimony. which, as whole, was more
damaging to Reno than any evidence yet taken By
the Court Continuing. the witness testified, in brief
that the Indians when the command of Major Reno
halted before forming his skirmish line,
were in the front and to the left.
The village was mile more from
the place where this line was formed. Alter
leaving the skirmish line the troops went TO the
timber probably remaining there ten minutes. The
troops were i'll complete disorder. While there every
for himself hurrying to get out. The
Indians were firing upon them, but there was no
general engagement. The soldiers went by the wit
ness. as they retreated. galop. telling him they
were going to charge the Indians Only five men
left in the woods the witness being of them
1t was ten minutes past one o'clock when the com
mand left The witness knew this was the time,
for he looked at his watch. At nine O'Clock, then
twilight the witness and those with him left the tim
Der. Major Renos position was sheltered one in
the timber. i'll the opinion OF the witness.
HE HEARD CusTEK's FIGHT.
After Major Reno left the timber the witness hea ri
continuous firing ut the place which subsequently
proved to be- the Custer battle field From the
firing the witness knew the troops were advanc-
ing. At ast the firing became llcayier, when
the troops apparently came to standstl
at the point where General Clusters body
found The general firing continued about two
hours Occasional shots were heard till dark. This
occasioned by the custom the Indians have of
shooting even the dead. From all the scout OF
the hostile Indians he judged that they numbered
from $500 to 5000 fighting men. boy, he said, old
enough to handle gun, from thirteen to fifteen
years old. was classed among the warriors. 1t
one o clock when Major Reno lett the woods. Only
ten tfte III minutes before the witness General
Clusters command in southeasterly direction from
where Major Reno was. He supposed, at least.
General Custer had about tine to reach the
place where he the troops. The command was
moving very rapidly at the time. He a1terward
learned where Colonel Benteen had led his men so
that he knew that it must have been General
INDIANS WHO MENAcED RENO.
Mr., Girard did not see more than two hundred and
yfty Indians attempting to gain the of Major Reno
while he in the woods. Indeed, the witness did
not believe that the Indians approached than
within one hundred yards when Reno was in the
timber. The witness said he had seen good deal Of
Indian fighting during the past twenty-one years.
The Indians would be most apt to attack their toe
open grounds. Acommand of 100 men with 100 rounds
of ammunition while in the woods where Major
Reno could not have he'd out against the number
of Indians opposed to them long their pro-
visions ammunition lasted. The witness did not
know how much ammunition Major Reno had but
he thought from thirty to forty rounds to man He
himself fired thirteen shots but he lost vc minutes.
Going over the battlefield Of the Little Big Horn he
discovered the ford where it has been stated that the
General repulsed. He found indications that at
least portion of the force had crossed for he dis
covered two dead bodies and dead horses. This ford
Was mile and a half from Major Renos position
on the hill
At tits point in the narrative the Court adjourned
until Monday.