The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-23
THE RENO INQUIRY.

NLINo IlVOO In
| LIEUTENANT vARNuMs DESCRIPTION OF THAT
| MEMORABLE HETREAT-HENo's POSITION IN
| THE rIMBER-THE INDIANS FIRING At THE
| MEN IN THE rRENcH-oN THE BATTLKFIELD
AFTER THE SLAUGHTER.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
CHICAGO. ILL.,. Jan. %. 1879.
The ninth day of the Reno investigation opened
usual with the reading and correction of the evil
dence of the day preceding. After this Lieutenant
Charles A. Yarnum recalled to the stand.
He described accurately was possible
the point to which Reno reiterated; it
Immediately on top of the high bluffs and pretty
near the position where the fight atterward took
place. There a momentary stop while going up
the hill the retreat bat as Major Reno did not
think it proper place to make stand they went
to the top. As an officer it was the opinion Of the
witness the place occupied by Reno in the timber
was quite safe. but there not large enough
number of men to retain possession of the whole
timber. 1t would not have done to have allowed the
Indians to come in the woods with them, his po-
sion the timber one that threatened the vii
lage The main fighting force of the Indians was prob
ably attacking Major Reno when in the woods, and if
the Indians made an attack elsewhere it must have
been made after the retreat the river. Lieu
tenant varnum did not think, however. that when
Reno was the hill his men in condi-
ton to make an attack upon the In
dams that would divert their attention
The lest time the witness saw Clusters
command was when he caught sight OF the Gray
Horse company which was with the General near
the hill to which Reno had subsequently reiterated
General Clusters column then seemed to 10 moving
at trot. About an hour elapsed after that be-
fore Captain Benteen joined Reno on the top
of the hill When these two forces met. General
Custer was probably engaged with the Indians.
FIRING DOWN THE STREAM.
In reply to long question witness said that Gus
ter must have got to the point where he was engaged
with the Indians by the time Benteen came up;
little while after Captain Bcnteen mp lie heard
firing down the stream: he talking with Lieu
tenant Wallace at the time; witness said to Wallace.
Just hear that!' The heavy yoeys evidently came
from where General Custer was, and then the wit
ness believed the General was having pretty warm
time of it, This firing did not last great while.
The Lieutenant did not know personally whether
of the different divisions. but lie supposed
such had been the. case. From the time
hill two hours probably passed before his general
engagement began with the whole force of the
tine, as dcvolyed upon the chief ofacer. The
| witness. when asked what was the solicitude
q the Non Tor Custer; replied that he
hssmcn were eus n pieces. He thought pcrhsps
thut Custer might be he,nmed In, ss they were,
! bad gone off to meet General Terry This the
general opinion of the men at the time. Even after
the Indians returned to them the thought did not
| &C ur to him that Custer was killed.
THE THE OFFENSIVE.
| The Lieutenant that night, as soon az the firing
stopped fell asleep exhausted and did not wake till
morning. Then he went into a trench with brother
OFFICER The Indians would fire upon them
Tor time but the s men ho would faa;an not an,
| they thought they had weakened the troops. would
| charge upon them. The men would then open upon
| the redskins. driving them back This continued
nearly all day. About two o'clock in the afternoon
Reno tried to send with dispatches through
| the lines, but able TO pass out.
THE SLAUGHTER.
ON the 2ath when they went down TO bury General
Custer, they followed what they supposed to be his
trail. The witness himself sent of with other
| scouts 10 keep lookout while the men were en-
| gagged in buryiug the dead. The place where the
miles from f,eno's Hill. Between the Custer battle
field and this hill there were higher points than the
hill itself. In the opinion OF the witness IL Captain
| pcnteen had joined Major Reno in the woods they
would have been able to better resist the Indians by
disrncting their attention from General Custer. 1t
might have been to his advantage. but that was only
The testimony of this witness closed as follows:-
RKNos CONDUCT.
The Recorder What Major Rcno's conduct
with regard to energy and efficiency and as calcu-
| lated to inspire courage in his men:
witness-I can't answer that question.
The Tccorder--But you must. unless there is
Mrjor Reno and Mr.. Gilbcrt--No objection what
| ever.
| Witness--wc1l. have nothing to say either for
| him or against him, saw little of him: GER
! tainly saw no signs of cowarce. neither did SEQ
thing the other but had the same opinion
| then as now. l Major Reno with gun III his
hand heading one company in charge the Indian
village. but did not see much of him. was riding
around good deal
The Recorder How the retreat from the tim
| ber---hasty. disorgunizcd or in good ordcr9
Witncss-It was nasty SO fur as that goes and the
rear OF the column considerably scattered, bat
! the head and halt its length, rs close as column
/ OF fours riding ut galiop could keep IT was GER
4 tainiy tsorgani2cd to its tail end.
| WITNESS FELT.
Witness said he rode fast to- overtate the column.
| ltfn1 hon NnY'f
| keep better order" Had ridden ahead. He lad no
special object in doing He had been told that he
| give some orders, but nc had no recollection OF
| them. He thought there should he some ono in
| command of the mead of the column, and may have
zone ahead Intending to take charge himself. but
| when lie got there he found that Major Reno was
| in command.
| The Recor,ler--what the feeling Of the com
mand when IL reached the hill OF exultation at
escape what?
/ witness only answer tina. for myself.
| The Rccordcr--WclI, what were your feelings?
| witncss--I felt that had been pretty badly
] licked.
| There was an audible smile from quarters Of
the room and the Recorder said he believed that
| all he wished to ask Lieutenant Varnum.
The hearing then adjourned until eleven