The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-17

tercst and the basis of opinion he thought it
would be advisable II the Court would afford the
of the press greater facilities for pro-
curing an accurate report Colonel King took the
matter under consideration and then sad:-During
the rest of the proceedings the reporters viii be
allowed to take notes. Immediately after this order
was given the notebooks the light of day, and
the crossexaminaton of Lieutenant Wallace, who
testified yesterday, was begun.
Lieutenant Wallace said in substance that when the
division of the command was made Colonel Benteen
took ID. II and companies and moved off to the left
Disappearing over hill. he did not see him again
until after Reno's retreat Reno took A, and NJ
companies. numbering about ITO to rs men. and
moved forward. at the order Of Custer. to charge
the Indians being the understanding. ut least of
the witness, that he (Custer) would support him
Qseno). He knew of arrangement for the
reuniting of the commands Custer had @. +.
I and / companies, numbering abont 225 men.
He moved down the right Of the river, and Reno
having crossed moved down the left. witness
rode TO the let of Reno. Lieutenant Hodgeson. who
was killed. being between them. II there had been
any orders to Reno from Custer other than to move
forward and charge the Indians wherever found. wit
ness would be likely to have heard them He did not
know of any one being sent back to Custer by Reno
after he had crossed the river He knew of two men,
named McIlargey and Mitchell. who We're killed
The soldiers armed with carbines and revovers
no sabres The revolvers loaded. did
not know how many additional rounds the
men had; for the carbnes they had fifty
rounds their bodies and the same number in their
saddlebags. Clusters adjutant and Captain Kehoe
started with Reno, Witness did not know when they
turned back. but they must have done so, their
bodies were found with Clusters. Witness company
81 had twenty recruits in II, many of whom
had never been on horseback until they started on
that campaign. He had good deal of trouble keep
ing them straight when they dismounted and formed
the skrmish line; fourth of the were detailed
horse holders, and took the animals into the
woods. Up to this time he had seen about two hun
dred Indians; but there was large cloud OF dust
ahead indicating much larger body Of Indians, who
were mounted and apparently on the Jump"
sKnsaiIsH LINE.
Mr.. Gilbert asked Lieutenant Wallace to point
out the position OF the skirmish line in
respect to the Indian village. and he replied
that he couldn't do it on Lieutenant Maguires
map, rs it not accurate There were about
seventy five in the skirmsh line and they were
deployed about five yards apart. The Indians began
to move around toward the ford where the troops
had crossed, and at the same time much larger
number appeared in front. The skirmish line moved
forward the firing at will until the right came to
the little stream in front of the Indian village then
firing until the lett obliged TO fall back then
the centre line moved back. Major Reno took q
company into the woods to reconnotre Lieutenant
Mcintosh, who was killed on the retreat, was with
witness, who said he didn't think the troops could
have been better handled than they were. saw no
Indications of cowardice unsodierly conduct on
the part of Major Reno. In the burial of that day
Major Reno gave the required orders. The body of
General Custer was found with several men about
him, and around in that vicinity were twenty or
thirty bodies. There were no indications of pro-
longed struggle He did not think that General
stand; was the ground adapted to it.
He did not believe the struggle had continued more
than half an hour. The only indications of u pro-
longed struggle that were found on the battle field
We're where Captain Calhoun and his men were found.
Major Reno could have done after his skirmish line
forced back was to retreat, as he did IL he had
remained in the timber to which the Major first re-
treated the troops would all have been killed 1t was
the duty of Major Reno, in the opinion of witness,
to retreat to the opposite side OF the river.
in order to his 1t not
necessary for commanding officer to wait until a
large number of his men had been killed before re-
treat was ordered An officer sent out Major Reno
was had witness considered, more less liberty to
make such changes as were deemed necessary. While
i'll the timber during the retreat Lieutenant Wal
lace testified that Major Reno showed no signs of
fear and appeared perfectly collected When Benteen
came up Major Reno rode forward to meet him.
When Lieutenant Hudson was killed Major Reno.
in company with others, rode down to where the
body lay and took a ring from his finger.
himself and the witness did not think he would have
done so IL he had been shaken with fear. At that
time twenty-seven men had been Killed, besides Dr.
Dewolfa,ld an interpreter The pack train came up
about an hour after Colonel Benteen arrived. Acorn
pany ordered out to meet them. 1t was in the
direction toward where General Custer was found
few preparations made about this time to
take the seven wounded men along with them
in case the column ordered to
move. The column ordered to
advance but the officer in charge OF the wounded
sent word that he could not follow and they had to
fall back. Major Reno led the command. Another
reason why the column retreated was that heavy
firing in the front prevented any advancing They
retired to the hill from which they had advanced and
where they remained on the afternoon OF the 2Sth
DISPOSITION OF THE TROOPS.
The disposition which Major Reno made of his
troops the witness believed was as good rs could
have been effected. They had no rifle pits nor
other protection the men stretching themselves on
the ground from six o'clock till dark. About
nine O'Clock continuous fre was kept up by the
Indians, and witness said he heavier firing
than then. During the night there no firing.
The employed the time in making such rifle pits
as they could with their spades and few tin cups.
ON the morning of the 10Th the firing again
menccd, but it ut intervals and it in this
way that it was kept up during the day. In the after
noon their position changed somewhat, in order
escape the stencil of the dead horses and men, In
order to get water for the men they had TO
rush out at the mouth of ravine and dish up what
they could under fire. About nine o'clock
the following morning, that is the 9th. cloud Of
n sse rs IN e Wpsss
to meet him and direct him to where Major Reno
and his troops were.
MIR. Gilbert asked what conversation witness had
with General Terry. and in reply he said that
after explaining Major Reno's condition and
position he asked General Terry where Custer
He told that the General and his men were
killed. This the first intimaton Lieutenant Wal
lace had received of General Clusters fate 1t had
General Custer had been defeated and had reiterated
to meet General Terry and left them seno's mem to
their fate.
The cross-examination of the witness closed with
the following question:
Mr.. Gibcrt-Search your memory through and
recall what you deem cowardly action on the part
of Major Reno.
Lieutenant Wallace remember nothing of
the kind: not q single act of cowardce.
The Court then adjourned until tomorrow at eleven
O'Clock.
THE BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIG HORN
REASONS WHY CONGRESS SHOULD INvEsTI-
GATE THE CONDUCT OF THE ACTORS IN IT.
NEW YORK. Jan. Is. 1879.
To THE EprTon OF THE HERALD
read with interest the despatch of your correspon-
dent from Fort Lincoln. dated September 20, 1876
rcpublishcd in the HERALD of Tuesday. the 18th inst
and in view Of the serious statements therein made
public am at a loss TO understand why official in