The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-25
MAJOR RENO's TRIAL.
Testimony that may Fix upoa Him the Re
sponsibInty for Custer's Death.

epousputt bcNhs
CHICAGO, Jan. 23.-Thc Court OF Inquiry
convened in this city last week at the request OF
Major Marcus A. Reno. Seventh Cavalry. to
examine into and report upon his conduct in
the battle at the Little Big Horn. recalls with
undiminished horror the shocking details
OF that memorable catastrophe. II was
reserved for our centennial year to chronicle
a border conflict as disastrous as the defeats
Of Braddock and ST. Clair-an Indian massa-
ere more terrible than that Of Dade or Of Fct-
tcrmnn The sterncst heart quais at the Oft
repeated story Of how Custer and his gallant
men rode 10 their death. and n mournful in
terest will ever centre In tho lonely yaley-thc
scene OF this awful tragedy.
At the instance Of Major Reno. one OF the par
Elephants and tho ranking survivor. the matter
IL now investigated. and again opened TO con-
troversy. Notwithstanding. Major Reno takes
umbrage at the publication OF what pur-
ports to be an ante-mortem statement OF
Capt. Weir. late Of the Seventh Cavalry. Your
correspondent expressly disclaims any desire or
intention 10 manufacture evidence In the
case. Tho names OF the officers who compose
the court-Col. John King. Ninth Infantry;
Col. Wesley Merritt. Fifth Cavalry and Lieut.
Col. William u. Royal Third Cavalry-guaran-
tee a fair and laborious hearing and an
impartial report 1t will be remembered that
Delegate Corbett OF Wyoming once introduced
bill for the investigation now pending upon
MAJOR Rono's own application; and 1t Is sup
posed that Capt Whitaker. Custer's biographer.
was influential in procuring such action. tho
occasion therefor being certain new and start
ling evidence.
The character Of these developments other
than the statement Of Capt. Wicr referred 10
above. was surmised last summer. when Col
Nelson A. Miles Fifth Infantry. and Lieut.. Ed
ward Mcguire Corps OF Engineers and o.her
officers visited ana made an accurate survey
Of the battlefield. They wcre accompanied
by several Sioux chiefs who participated
in tho massacre. and. II is said. asrcr-
tanned by actual measurement that not only
could the Gring in the engagement between the
Indians ana Clusters Individual command have
been distinctly heard at Reno's intrenchcd po-
sition. but that certain phases Of the conflict
must have been visible from that point. 1t
is further stated that their savage com
panons admitted the perfect surprise
of the village. and asserted that they
woro preparing to abandon everything
seeking personal safety in flight. when Reno
halted HIS column. dismounted. and deployed
Il in line Of skirmishers five hundred yards
from the exterior tips. This unaccountablo
delay enabled them to rally the young bucks
and to secrcte their women and children. Sub
forcing his position and driving him across the
stream to seek shelter upon an elevated knoll
II is said that it was not more than n mile and n
half from this point 10 where Custer and his
five companies fell.
The fact that these officers have been sum-
moned by the Court would seem to be confirm
atory OF this rumor. II false II will doubtless,
DO easily disprovcd by tho defence. But the
public Is entitled 10 know all the circumstances
attending the revival OF this much-dscussed
question.
II would seem that the whole matter resolves
itself into this inquiry: Was or was not Major
Reno aware OF the desperate encounter pro-
crossing between Custer and tho common enc
my2 II answered Rfrmatyely. he should
suffer the extreme penalty OF tho law. Not
even the most positive assurance that he
and his command would share the impend-
ing fate OF their comrades can excuse
| his making no effort 10 save them. In the eXer-
cise OF n soldiers profession. II no do not seek,
at least he should not fear danger and how
much greater the obligation II his brothers in
| arms are being overwhelmed Better had the
| entire Seventh Cavalry persisted in common
aud united effort for victory than that one-half,
| by becoming inactive and impassive spe 'tntors,
| should survive tho destruction Of the otherl
| 1t has been asserted that Capt. Benteen urged
HfuO 10 permit lllHl W gb ~ tllN l'H'h'i hhu NNo
peremptorlly refused; but he In alive. and can
speak for himself. What effect would have been
produced had Reno cut his way through the
Gordon OF Indians in his immediate front and
attacked Clusters assaiants in the flank or renr,
! ii il dinlcult TO say; but the battle Of the Little
| Big Horn might have terminated differently.
On the other hand. Reno may have been too
remote 10 hear the firing or sec any part OF tho
connlct-in short. to have oomprehended the
situation; and he may have had his hands full.
| whether no obcyed or or dsobeyed or
| ders is not OF much consequence except
ns matter Of Justice to Custor's mem
| DRY. subordinate cOmmLndgr when
| separated from his superior must ho MS own
! be foresocn and he foreordered; and, ordi-
| narily we can only nscrlbo to him lack OF or
| an error in Judgment
| And lust here a word for Clusters plans, 30 un:
| Justly criticised. His movements ntter nc maj
| dctermined 10 attack without waiting Tor Terry
| "A fatal mistake, and one to which he was
| probably Ruaded by the rememhrance OF tho
| indigntics he had received In Washington
| have been generally commented by Indian
fl.hters. In civilized. warfare, tho divi;
datachments. numerically inferior 10 the op-
| posing force often enables tho latter. by
| cnority Of movement and execution 10 attack
and deicnt them In detail. Inthis manner were
enined the most signal successes OF Napoleon;
hut no tyrO in the art OF war commits such q
| often exceeding il in rapiditY OF march, is not
| 10 he compared to n mobile army IN the llrld
| The site il always selected for delsn-
| sivo OpOrati0ns. aud its attack parlhk's
| more OF the character OF an assault upon DC,
loagurcd city. In this cnse tho hesiegcd nad
| NJ on 20 their gnunwR md pappOOBOS, OF whom