The New York herald., 1879-02-01
RENO AND CUSTER.
FURTHER TESTIMONY BEFORE THE CHICAGO
COURT OF INQUIRY TENDING TO ExcuLPArE
RENo-THE RASH CHARGE ON THE INDIAN


RENo-THE RASH CHARGE ON THE INDIAN
VILLAGE.
[By TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
CHICAGO. Jan. 81. 1879.
The Reno investigation was continued to-day After
the minutes of yesterdays session were read
Lieutenant De Rudo recalled by Mr.. Gilbert, who
asked him what conversation he had with the scout
Girard respecting his being non combatant. Girard
had said that he had no business in the line as he
was an interpreter. and consequently not ex-
pected to do duty. Sergeant Culbertson was then
recalled for cross-examinaton by Mr.. Gilbert
The witness said he heard an order given
to Company G. when it moved down. toward the tim
ber to keep cool and not get excited. there was
'.likely to be hot work. saw Major Reno only once,
and he then on the right of the skirmish line.
Mr.. GIIBERr-What. in your opinion. would have
been the fate of the skirmish line if it had remained
outside of the woods
To this question the Recorder. who had drawn out
opinions all along, objected.
The Court. however. permitted it to be answered.
The witness said that continuance there of three
minutes longer would have been fatal Neither dlo
more than a few minutes he thought there were one
thousand or thousand two hundred Indians pres
sing around them.
RAPID FIRING BY RECRUITS.
Some of the recruits told witness that they had
fired sixty rounds; he had fred twenty-one rounds;
there was no more than necessary delay after the
pack train came up in the movement of the command
down stream; the firing heard by witness in the d-
rection OF Clusters position was at no time heavier
nor it SO heavy to leave the impression that
Custer was having more serious time than had
opinion was expressed that Clusters failure
to join Reno probably due to the fact
that he had some wounded men ana could not move;
witness and Reno went to hunt for the body of
Lieutenant Hodgson; about five minutes after wit
had heard firing down the river; witness did
not hear any firing after that SO far as witness saw
Major Reno was exercising command over his men
on the afternoon Of the 25th; Major Reno was fire.
quently exposed to heavy firing standing at points
in the discharge of his duties where he without
protection and in one instance where man was just
before killed; he did not avoid places OF danger;
after the firing ceased picket was put out and the
command laid down for rest; on the night OF the
25th there talk of sending message to. Custer,
Lieutenant varnum saying it was more than likely
he would be detailed go; the feeling that
General Custer all right and able to take care
OF himself as was Reno.
cUsTER's CHARGE.
The next witness John Martin. trumpeter,
Company II, Seventh cavalry, now stationed at Fort
Abraham Lincoln He was orderly trumpeter for
General Custer on the 25th of June. He sad Major
Reno separated from the command ut the tepee so
often referred to; they moved down opposite sides
Of the stream at jump; when the separation was
made prior to Renos crossing the Little Big Horn,
Custer started down the right and Reno went down
the left crossing; when Custer got upon the high
ridge the Indian village presented to view, the
women and children being visible. but warriors;
were sleeping; Reno's command was not in view;
the Gray Horse company WAS in the centre Of Gus
ter's command; it was about an hour and q half
after leaving the watering place that Custer got
upon the bluff where the Indian village was made
vsible witness saw the children running and play
ing around the tepees; the whole column passed
the ridge; witness could not see the river at
. that point.
COURAGE, BOYS"
When Custer the Indian village he took off his
hat and gave yell, saying, Courage, boys, we
will get them and then go back station; Gus
ter appeared very glad; the command then passed
down, but when 1t reached ravine Custer called his
orderly to send back word to Captain Benteen.
This witness very wild in regard to the time,
and made it appear after time that 1t two hours
and halt from the time he left Custer to the time
when Benteen came up it might even have been
three hours; it was about an hour anyhow after he
delivered the despatch to Benteen to the time Ben
teen reached the hill.
The witness was excused and Benteen called but
Beneen did not appear the Court adjourned until
ten o'clock tomorrow.