The New York herald., 1879-02-09
MAJOR RENO'S CASE.

CONCLUSION OF THE MAJORS TESrIMONf-HE
WAS NOT AFFECTED BY LIQUoI-No con-
FIDENcE IN CUSTER AS A soLDIER-THE DE-
FENCE RESTS AFTER SUBMITTING DOCUMENT
AIRY MATTER.
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
CHICAGO. H.. Feb 8. 1872
Major Reno continued his testimony to-day before
the of inquiry. After testifyng in regard to
some iminaterial points Mr. Gilbert asked witness
the following questions
1T is delicate question, but should like to ask
If it cowardice that made you move from the TIM
ber to the hill ?"
''No. SIR" said witness. with emphasis. He testi-
fed that he heard firing down the river until
after the command began to move down, and then
only few scattering shots. He had no idea that
there was serious engagement and at no time did
it occur to him that General Custer in serious
trouble or dead.
THE MAJORS soBRIETy.
Mr.. Gilbert-with regard to your sobriety, Major.
I should like to have you state how much liquor you
had with you.
witness-well sir. had some whiskey with me.
Icarried it in small flask in my coat pocket. got
the liquor at the Rosebud. 1t was a small flask.
did not drink drop Of its contents until long after
the firing ceased the first night the hill at about
twelve o'clock
Mr.. Gilbert-It becomes my duty to ask if you
were ut any time affected by liquor?
Witness-I not The whiskey in the flask was
used the morning of the 9th on the Custer battle
field. the stencil being that the officers used
the liquor 1 had several times been to the pack
train the night Of the 25th. and driven out skk
ers. At about ten o'clock l found man there and
asked him what he doing. cannot recall the
mans answer, but 1t angered me. and. as that was
not time for moral suasion, l struck
the man. and may have told him that
if l caught him there again would shoot him. |
carried my whiskey flask in my pocket and cannot
see how any whiskey could have escaped without
THE MAJORS MOVEMENTS
The witness next described his movements on the
two days in question saying that he was on the line
Lacy down at knoll shooting at Indians as they gal
loped past them every now and then in troops of half
men, for they appeared to be doing well. He
saw Captain Godfrey sometimes. but some Of
e %ens oysr whers they He
received any communication from the inter-
prefer. Girard, at the crossing "a" On the
night Of the 25th he tried to get communications to
General Custer. but the men would not go. The
Grow scouts talked about going but would not do it.
On the morning Of the 2Ith he succeeded IN sending
| . communication to General Terry. Witness then
identified the communication which asked for aid
and assistance.
Mr. Gilbert-State whether it does not embody
the sense Of the communication you tried to send
the 26th. and whether that communication which
| you could hold your position?
Wtness-I think it did. for surely thought at the
| time that could hold the position. When went
away from Custer understood that was to be sup
| ported and had right 20 expect support from the
commanding officer. think that my action through
| out was right, aud that subsequent proceedings
| ought to justify me. This concluded the direct
| testimony
On cross examination, the witnesses said he made
| reply to the order delivered to him by sAdjutant
Cook. He did not ask whether he would be
aI for ha had fficia infO
| he would be supported. He had no reason to sup
| pose that he would be supported in any other way
| than by General Clusters following him. Any Hank
| attack by Custer would be, under these circum-
| stances, essentially not a support.
CONFIDENCE IN CUSTER.
Recorder-Did you 90 into that engagement with
| feelings OF distrust of General CusterY
witness-My feelings toward General Custer were
| friendly and il my own brother had been with Gus
| ter's command could not have done more to sup
port him.
| strictly.
Court-Answer the question.
witness-Well, sir had no confidence in General
| Custer as soldier ! had known him all through
| the war (sensation).
He testified further that to have held his position
in the timber it would have required 600 700 men
| The whole regiment could have held it very nicely
da not Know & Waas became T or ,ne en a
let him take of them The order had already been
given for the movement to the hill before Bloody
| Knife killed. Witness gave command to move
| when 1t WAS reported TO him that the column was
| ready. Witness was positive that he did not fire
revolver about the time Colonel Benteen's command
| came up. He was sure he did not.
THE wHIsKEY FLASK.
Recorder-In regard to the whiskey Colonel?
should not touch that had it not been that Mr.. Gil
| bert had gone into it.
witness-No objections, sir. The witness testified
that his orderly Davern. did have charge OF his
flask either the 25th or 26th The witness carried
| 1t himself.
Recoi der-You have stated. Colonel. that you
thought subsequent events justified your conduct
| Do you think that you made mistake?
Witness-H had to do again. l should do just
| what did then. under the circumstances and with
the knowledge had then think that Custer s
! command was dead when got on to the hill.
obeyed his orders, which sent me into the timber.
This concluded the testimony.
CLOSING THE FOR RENO.
Mr.. Gilbert concluded the defence by submitting
| some documentary matter which the Court and Re-
corder agreed should be- embodied in the proceed
ings. He first read paragraph from General Sher-
mans report of the battle OF the Little Big Horn.
| saying that the salvation of the remaining COM
| of Major Reno.
The next was q communication from General Sher-
man, through the Adjutant General, Il. d. Townsend.
| dated August TO- 1876. from Washington. in reply
| to u petition by the men of the Seventh
| cavalry to the effect that Major Reno
to positions vacated by the deaths of the murdered
officers, Major Reno 10 take the place of General
| Custer lieutenant colonel OF the regiment.
| The communication from the department
stated in reply to the petition that
Major Renos and Colonel Benteen's conduct
be granted for the that the President had
already appointed and the Senate confirmed other
appointments This closed Reno case and the Court
| adjourned until Monday ut eleven O'Clock.