The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-26
RENO'S RETREAT.

1
APpRovAL-To SAVE THE coMMAND-THE DE-
| FENsrBLE POSITION on THE HILL PREFERABLE
| TO THE TIMBER--No SIGN OF cowARDIcE-
| CLUSTERS MEN DEAD IN ROWS AFTER THEIR
HEROIC FIGHT.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
CHICAGO. Ill., Jan. 25 1879.
The Reno trial to-day developed nothing partcu-
larly startling The entire day occupied in TAX
ing the testimony of Captain Moylan. all of which
was favorable to Major Reno. noticeable feature
in the Captain testimony is that he talks without
restraint or embarrassment and gives his opinions
though he had formed them definitely from in
telligent comprehension OF the circumstances. He
did not know what was done to ascertain the number
of Indians in Major Renos in the timber. Major
Reno was down there himself. The witness could
not estimate the number of Indians there: he saw
perhaps forty or fifty, but there might have been
great many more.
''Mght thore have been COOP asked the Recorder.
''rhere room for 300" was the tart reply. The
witness did not think the command could have been
disposed to hold the position and protect itself
under the circumstances. OF the 100 rounds of am
muntion which each man had--ffty on his person
and fifty in his saddle bags-the men of the witness
company had fired away about all they had on their
persons and were obliged to go back to their horses
for more. They were about forty minutes in getting
away with that amount of ammunition. and. as far as
the witness could judge, about wo.thirds of it
judciously expended
OBJECT OF TIRE RETREAT.
The Rccorder--state what the object of getting
ont of the timber?
wtnossI rather think the object of getting out Of
the timber was to save the command
Tho Recorder-Do you not think now that it would
have been more judicious for the command to have
remained in the timber than to have exposed itself to
witness-I believe that in view of the uncertainty
regarding support the retreat was less injurious
than it would have been to remain in in
command could have remained there thirty min
utes longer without losing many more men than it
had followed up the troops and closed In upon them
on the hill the command could not have held ont
against them until relief came. for its ammunition
would have given out do not know how many
were killed ut the river crossing and did not
think the crossing covered by organized body
of men TO protect the rest in getting over.
MORALE OF THE COMMAND
The Recorder-State whether tine command
exulant or dcnoralized when it reached the top of
the hill =?
witness-wel don't think it was utterly demon
allied particularly exultant; in a few minutes
after reaching the top of the hill the command
in tolerably good condition, much that skir-
mish line thrown ont. Witness did not know at
whose order the skrmish line was thrown out; did
not know who had any authority to give such
der unless Major Reno himself. Witness knew moth
ing about the expectations or the command while
the timber az to receiving support except what was
told him by Captain Hodgckins to the effect that Ma
jor Reno had been made to understand that he would
be supported by General Clusters command.
CusTER's
About hour after reaching the top of the hill.
where Reno took his position the witness for the
first time heard iripg in the direction Of what
afterward ascertained to be Clusters battlefield and
called Captain McDougall's attention to It, asking
him what he supposed it to be- he replied he sup
posed it General Custer fighting at the end of the
village down the bottom; the firing very faint,
frte
the evidences of desperate fighting on the part of
Clusters men, the witness said that the body
been found he was called down to iden-
tify IT. he found Captain Calhounss
killed in regular rows. and around one maus body
counted twenty-eght cartridges; there were traces
in the ravine showing where the had crept along,
helping themselves down with their hands cliuging
to the grass and bushes; three officers and about
fifteen men of Clusters command had never been
accounted for: he could not tell what the general
belief in regard to these men; his belief
that the men were buried there with the rest, but
never identified
RENo's CONDUCT
In answer to the concluding question of the Re-
corder as to whether IN his opinion Reno's conduct
in the bottom was brave or cowardly. the witness
said:-At times Major Reno rode at the head of the
column at other times at the centre and again at the
In all the orders which he give to witness he
manifested much self possession any man
would under the circumstances. and he nothing
in Major Reno's conduct indicative of cowardice On
crosscxaminaton by Mr.. Gilbert the witness
again asked whether he at any time anything
in Major Renos conduct indicative of cowardice. to
which he replied. NO, sir; there were probably on
his face indications of such excitement every
naturally felt under the circumstances but saw no
evidences of cowardce
BEEN.
The testimony of Captain Moylan concluded as fol-
lows:-
Mr.. Gilbert-What in your opinion. would have
been the result If Major Renos command had con-
tinued on its charge down the bottom
Witness-Wel, think If he had kept on charging
and had gone far enough he'd have been there
Mr.. Gilbcrt--You testified, believe. that the
mand was Withdrawn from the woods in order to
it. Now, what do you think would have been
the result il 1t had remained in the TIMBER
Witncss-I think it would have been annihiated.
Mr.. Gilbert-Was there any pretence that the
treat out of the timber TO the top of the hill
triumphant march
wtness--I never heard of anybody who viewed the
movement in that light.
The Recorder-State, please. whether you would
not rather he detected top of the hill than dead in
the timber?
Witness am under the impression would rather
be detected anywhere than dead in the timber in
any other place.
few questions were asked Captain Moylan re-
direct examination, but they Of importance.
The Court adjourned until Monday.