The New York herald., 1879-02-07
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.l


BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
CHICAGO. Feb. 6. 1879.
The Reno inquiry opened this morning with Cap
tain Thomas McDougaI. of the Seventh cavalry.
the witness stand. The Captain certainly gave
concise account Of the Custer battle than has
been given by any previous witness during the
inquiry. He briefly and rapidly described
how he. being left in charge Of the pack
train, led it. along with rear guard.
on Custer's trail; how the mules got stuck
in the morass; how the train came along at last to
the "teepee" with dead Indian in it. and how at
last they all arrived on the hill where Reno was;
here he Reno and reported to him that the pack
train had come up; then Reno told him he
(McDougalD had lost his lieutenant; McDougall
called Reno's attention to the dull sound of firing
down the river. and then went away to throw out
skirmish line; the next evening he
walking with Reno, and Reno told him
that he (Reno) would have to make
change in the line for the filth and stencil be-
coming such that the men would become sick a
little later that evening the Indians drew of. and
then the change in position made; it about
quarter of four in the afternoon when the witness
first arrived on the hill; tho command was quiet and
orderly, so that the witness did not know that any
thing had occurred; the attempted movement down
ness arrived he did not Reno after reporting to
him until the next day, when walking with him; the
firing Of the Indians at that time was very severe
EVERY MAN THERE WAS BRAVE"
In reply to the usual question relative to the con-
duct OF Major Reno witness sad:-"When Ifound
him he didn't appear to be particularly cool, OF
he appeared to be perfectly cool; think he
brave; every man there was brave
The Recorder-State whether his conduct was cal
culated to inspire his men with courage.
Witness-I do not think Major Reno's conduct
would especially do That's there was difference in
men; some irritable and some not, and some
had quiet, calm manner that would inspire their
troops.
to justify you in forming estimate OF whether he
manifested cowardice?
witness-I did not see much of it until the next
better opinion of him then; thought he seemed
to have good deal of nerve; the bullets We're yng
pretty thick, but he didn't seem to mind them.
SAW NO wHIsKEY.
Captain NcDougall then gave description of the
Indian village and the Custer battle field the general
conclusions which he arrived at in accordance
with those of the preceding witnesses, and his de-
scrptions substantially the same. On the cross-ex
animation witness testified that he saw no whiskey
during after the engagement and did not hear OF
any one being intoxicated.
RENo's REPORTS.
At the close of the witness testimony Lieutenant
Lee said that he had witnesses to introduce
US Recorder. but he held in his hand official
battle Of the Little Big Horn to the department
and to General Terry, both of which he desired to
Reno said there objection to the introduc-
ton of the reports, and Mr.. Gilbert made brief re-
marks to the effect that the reports made. they
were, hastily after the battle. must be received
with some degree of allowance for estimates of
department recounted the movements Of the
command under Reno's control, saying that when
he entered the bottom he soon discovered that he
was being decoyed into place where he would have
been cut to pieces. 1.-The very ground seemed to
grow Indians" and he that the only way to pre-
serve his command was to charge to q high hill
across the stream, which he did. The report then
described the position OF peril on the hill. and said
that the fire OF the Indians was such as the
very graphic description Of the circumstances OF the
two days siege, the desperate fighting of the men
and the reckless daring with which the savages sailed
to within few feet of the intrenchments. 1t made
special mention of Colonel Bentoens gallantry, and
said great deal more. all of which the public
familiar with. After reading the second report the
Recorder declared that his side OF the case was
closed.
MAJOR RENo's DEFENCE.
Mr.. Gilbert, addressing the Court, said that he
wished behalf of his client. to express his recog
milton OF the very honorable manner in which Re-
corder Lee had conducted his part of the Major
Reno would surely be able to close his defence by
Saturday. He desired. that a charge Of drunk
enness had been preferred since Girard and Heron
deem had been on the stand, the Recorder should
be instructed to telegraph them for an answer to
the inquiry whether they had ever heard anything
about Major Reno's being intoxeated? Lieutenant
Wallace. who had been the stand in the early part
behalf of the defence. He testified that he kept
the time record on the advance. and read the docu
recounting much that is already proven he
said that he had never until reaching Chi
cago to attend the present investigation, heard
any intimation that Major Reno drunk
during those two days or during the whole advance.
lie next drew map of Rcnos Hill. laying before the
Court the typographical relations of all the forces
under Reno during their heleaguerment-the nrst
such map that the Court has had before it,
THE CUSTER BATTLE PIELD.
Lieutenant Colonel M. G.. Sheriden, military
secretary to Lieutenant General Sheridan.
stationed at Chicago. was the next witness.
He testified that year after the Custer
massacre he visited the of the conflict
to sec to the buried dead; he knew the nature of
the country, and gave considerable information
gardng 10 He produced map showing the place
where Custer and his were killed. lie estimated
that the point where Custer was was about the only
place where any resistance was made, and Judged
from the nature of the ground that the struggle
could not have lasted more than hour. The Court
adjourned until halfpast ten tomorrow, when Major
Reno will probably take the stand.
THE RRODSKY-PATTERSON CONTEST