New-York tribune., 1879-03-01
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE RENO COURT MARTIAL.
A LETTER PROM COLONEL J. W. DE PoREsr-GRN-
ERAL CUSTER PLANNED HIs own DEFEAr-THE
r,.,, 81. LII, cn nIs NOT MAJOR RENO's.

A LETTER PROM COLONEL y, W. DE FoRFSi-"'N-
ERAL CUSTER PLANNED HIs owN DEFEAl-IhE
PLAN or ATTACK HIS, NOT MAJOR RENos.
To the EdttOr or Fhe Trf0une.
SIR: know nothing of Major Reno person
nlly and nothing Of his general character As an officer
Ato the ouestips hether he carried out his utmost
the orders Of his SUPERIOR and whether he did NIL
that was possible 20 unite with or To rescue
Clusters c0umn cannot decide, for lack OF knoWeuKo
OF the field Of battle and Of the minute crcum-
stances Of the combat But there is popular prJndce
against this officer, the effect that no vas resoOnSle
for the defeat. Ihavc thought from the first that tina
mistake, ana am at last driven by my interest III
the subject TO say so. and why.
War is Il business, and intelligent business. II does
not consist IN running heaGlons at an enemy, no matter
what his strength, orhow posted. II Is founded on
few general prucipc- which are Just simple and
sensible az any rules that govern any other
part OF the conduct Of life. what eau
be- more Obvious und eniabe than the statement That
I'M general two men will whip oucl or This other that
the two better whip the before he can gt away
or can Obtain bcpl Yet thes Ou o'uer words are the
two foundation maNim- OF both modern strategy aud
tactics Now the plan OF attack on sitting Bn.i was
General Custei's. and not Major Eeucs. Was that
plan a Wiso one. well guarded against disaster
and likely 90 assure Uiumpli Or Was u go
risky ilut only good lack could bIas toa sood 'n'
Ts.ouIo thc t,a.k some o. onr famed West Pointers
whether Custer, attack ga not voate az least these
five well iuowu principles OF the ant Of war:
Irsi-" The forces employed should Doe pro1ortonfd
10 iir resistance 10 Poe overcome" Tor instance, you
souI not assault superior enemy. tno alert u -'
you aro .m4e.cd by necessity or by positive order
>scsud-' lu the dIy oI combat neglect no chance OF
success; call mp every available man; battalion las
often decided tna fate OF day" For instance. It is i'm
prudent 60 attack whc your reserve Is mes 10 the rear
aud may .oosc track of sou.
gH.lJ-t. .1.io d d. HhgrUt- presence or the
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'''. ......,I, ,.,o =.
To take care of ns'L at least FOR fea'oA''e "Le'
ms is ON 'h@ '''.'"p ION UNA. ' ,'' ~.
well as yourself ana thdi ne NAV pe ctF'' anu prompt
enough o. poun,e upon your dctachmeuts while sepa-
''.'" -...,,.- -r,
I0"''-' MAKO no '1nA movements ."l' .. ..'.
.i. ,., ed. .tf.
.u march and u.pr.paged for elective combat
yub" A.. c.up.ial,cl p,aIs Of attac. are liable to
failure through lack Of constant COMMUNICATION an"
uu..i-tardu- between the conmus, and through un-
of Them"
le not I-sry science decided Thar nothing IN W Pc
,iat.I d. t,rIi.IIr-f Inr dctarumcut- OF II .uu. .al
,.r, arlru -hcs and therefor. sheltered I.r jHe
sI.. o.., 81, small mat he could 4a.rI TO risk The
Chance o., o..-- tfrau. or OF having them t.u
Cr,f r,-, from his r-;y fancy Tor attachments. for
r, ,r.,, i ...pt oftlr rl.. and tpr cumuIir t.rd
sip. q
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u.I Ih h'' .-.'.i , ,, '.s az ,.r.+I q, .f,. t,,,
I,T f .,',,.
y.,.,Ir fu l,-ns ll- Cii-,rr'. man M -nc ground
,.r.,t ,5 ~. t...u lad l..f.. ut. I'D his slender
- ..i t. o ~ or f... a.u,, i'm "a "a .. .,rp.-.iIrIr
'l, t' ,,i,..+ i,,rI.Y. forward but moo separated
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T .t .,r tla ,,,,. b.. troba.Iv tu. most drr.,ts.
& '' A. sfl,- , a. Il,f,l .rpp1ri a lo t n....-tr, 10
""' . .r' 49, d.. ..,, "a tI.Ii. H 10. surrounded
avon, -',.' "..r'. - ,t iS ..,,u.i .fI bIy, ro.
t"' '' ~ .t 10 ',' .i.. t.t..l,o-.,'.s. Ira
o.'.'N '' ''''f' 90 A.. .,'5..i-
command was OBVIOUSLY Hul tt"u- 'l"-" 4'u .''''''