Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-01-16
NUMBER 2.
CUSTER'S CAUSE,
INQUIRY IN DEFENSE OF THE GAL
LIANT DEAD.
Six Allegations Charging Cow
ardice, Etc, Before the Court-Sipnif1can
Testimony of Lieut.. Wallace-A Com
mander that Looks After Horses in the
Rear While Battle is Progressing,
Especial Telegram to the Globe.

lOpeclal Telegram TO The Globe.
CHICAGO. Jan. 15.-In the Reno inquiry to-
day, Lieut.. George d. Wallace, Seventh cav
airy, at Fort A. Lincoln, D. T., was called to
the witness stand. He testified he was in the
company of Maj. Reno on the 25th of June.
1876; that Custer ordered Reno to charge upon
the Indians; that he heard no order to that ef-
feet given by Reno to his troop, except when
the retreat was made after the fresh engage
menr.
In the opinion of the witness it was abso.
lutely necessary for Reno to change his DO
sition from the skirmish line as a matter of
safety for his troops, for the Indians had SO
worked in to their rear that they were almost
completely surrounded. The only advanta-
geous point where stand could be made was
on the crest Of the hill across the Little Biz
Horn river, where Reno eventually took up
his position.
The witness states that he heard Custer tell
Reno to charge the Inians and I'VE will sun
port you" In his opinion, as a soldier, Reno
did the most advisable thing he could when
ne changed his position. Reno, he said, made
an attempt to move out where it was supposed
Custer was, but not being able to keen the
wounded up with the column it became neces-
sary to fall back to the original position on the
nil and there remain. When they went into
the light Renos men were worn out and the
animals fatigued, having made forced marches
and both going without regular food nearly
day.
When asked if he saw anything during that
engagement to reflect upon the military char
acter of Major Reno, the witness replied that
he had told what he knew about it.
During the examination to-day, the question
was raised by Reno whether the inquiry should
cover anything more than the movements of
his command and the court decided that
everything connected with that battle from the
25th to the 26th of June, should be taken into
consideration.
Western Associated Press.
CHICAGO, Jan. 15.-It is claimed by the
friends of Major Reno that yesterdays evidence
before the court of inquiry was important in
that it shows that Major Reno could not have
heard the noise of the skirmlshing from the
position which he occupied. when as it will be
attempted to prove by subsequent witnesses,
he should have taken hand in the fight, The
allegations Of Whitaker, six in number, and
summed as being gross cowardice and neglect
of duty, are before the court in the form of a
letter.
Lieut.. George D. Wallace, of the Seventh
cavalry, was the first witness and was intro
duced by Recorder Lee. He detailed the
method of dividing Gen. Clusters forces Ho
said Gen. Reno's forces, when they came upon
the scene were exhausted with swift marching,
and. when they met the Indians, were over
matched for the the time and compelled to re-
treat.
Lieut.. Wallace testified that Clusters COM
mand, on the 10Th of June, at Little Big Horn,
consisted of twelve companies of the Seventh
regiment and were SO disposed as to march
down the right bank of the river. At about
noon Col. Benteen had four companies. Major
Reno three and Gen. Custer the rest. After
the division of forces Major Reno crossed to
the left bank and the two columns, Reno's and
Clusters, moved down tributary to the Little
Big Horn about twelve miles, on opposite
banks. Then Reno recrossed and thew pro-
ceeded together. Witness was riding with
Reno's command. The orders given Reno were
that the Indians were about two and half
miles ahead, that he should ride forward brisk
~ and charge them as soon as he met them
Again crossing at deep ford they galloped
forward with this command of about 40 men,
who had been marching three days and all the
night preceding. They were exhausted and
breakfastless.
Witness gave an account of the Indian viii
lage as being about three miles long and of a
width varying from 100 yards to half mile
He recounted the maneuvres of the savages.
AS the troops approached they did not mass
but skulked about in all directions. Reno
halted l5O yards from the stream near quick
bend in the river. The Indian village was be-
yOnd the bend, but on the same side of the
river. They dismounted and advanced, when
skirmishiag Immediately began. This was be-
tween and o'clock, and some 800 Indians
were IN slgnG. lney seemed perfectly informed
as to the movements of troops for days preced-
ing this. The engagement began, and Reno,
after dismounting. went back to see to the
horses. Aft:r that witness did not hear Of him
again until they began to retreat from the vii
lage. All ammunition gone from their
saddles before the retreat was commenced. Re
treat was ordered because they were in danger
of being surrounded on all sides by Indians
without natural defenses. He did not see Reno
until after he crossed the creek on the retreat.
He last saw Custer after he gave the order to
move.
The court decided to take all the testimony
relative to the engagement that was offered.
Adjourned.