The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-07
CUSTER AND HIS BRAVE MEN
THE REPORT OF THE MASSA GRE BY THE
RENO Court or INQUIRY.
Parting from the Main Commando Driven to n
IIiii-Reno Protecting Himself while Custer
and his Comrndes were stricken Down.

Parting from the MnIn Conmand-Driv to n
IIiII-Reno Protecting Himself while Custer
and his Comrades were stricken Down.
WASHINGTON, March 6.-The Reno court
" inquiry in II report submitted. say that on
the morning Of the 25th OF juno. 1876, the
Seventh Cavalry. Lieut. G. A. Custer command
ing, operating against hostile Indians near the
Little Big Horn River was divided into four
battaions two of which we're commanded by
Col. Custer in person, with the exception OF one
company in charge Of the pack train. one by
Major Reno. and one by Capt. I. w Benteen.
This division took place from about twelve TO
fifteen miles from the scene Of the battle or
battles afterward fought Tho column under
/ Capt. Bcnteen received orders to move to the
| left for an indefinite distance Ito the first and
second valleysl. to hunt Indians. and with
| orders 10 charge any 1t might meet The bat
| TALON under Major Reno received orders to
| draw out of the column. and. doing So marched
| parallel to and only short distance from the
column commanded 10y Col. Custer.
| About three or four miles from the Little Big
Horn River. where the fighting took place.
/ Major Reno received orders to move forward MS
/ rapidly rs he thought prudent until. overtaklng
! the Indians who were reported fleeing he was
| TO charge them ana drive everything before
| HIM and receive the support OF the column
| under Col. Custer.
|
! teri. Capt. Bentecn marched to the l"fi isouthl
| nj m angle Of about IS degrees, hut meeting m
| improbable country. WINS forced 10y Il 10 march
more To his right than he angle above indi-
Gated. and meyer approaching q parallel route
to tho trnil followed hv the rest OF the command.
MAJOR Reno. in obedience 10 the orders given
| him. moved on Mt n fnst irot on the main Indian
trail until reaching Little Big Horn River.
| which he iordcd, and halted Tor few moments
| TO reform his battalion. After reforming. he
| marched the baitnlon forward toward the
! Indian village down the stream. or in a north
! prlV d1rrpf1nu-fWN pOmpWulpS IN llnN ni llftln
and ono In support--uutil about hall way 90 tho
| front where he finally hnltcd Then he brought
! the company in reserve forward 20 Jim" Of
battle. continuing the movement ut q fast trot
or gallon until after passing oyer distnpc,, oi
mounted 20 fight on foot nt = point ot timber
! upon which the right flank Of his battalion
| rested After fighting IN this formation .ss
than half an hour. tho Indians passing TO his
/ left reur and appearing On his front. the
the fight continued for short time,halt an
hour or torty-lvo minutes in nll-wh"n IN"
command or nearly all Of It. was mounted.
formed. and NJ n rapid gait was Withdrawn 20
hill on the opposite side Of the river. In this
movement one officer and about iXteen soldiers
and ctizsns were len In the woods besides ono
wounded nun or more. TWO citizens and
thirteen soldiers reIoining tho command
In this retreet Major Reno's battalion lost
some twenty-nine men in killed and wounded.
and three officers. including DIR. Dcwolf. killed.
In the mean time Capt Benteen having car
rird out. as far ms was practicable. the spirit ~
his order. turned in the direction Of the route
reaching the trail followed II 90 near the cross
INK Of the Little Big Horn. arriving there about
IN" sume time that MAJOR Reno's command was
crossing the river IN retreat lower down. and
finally Joined his battalion with that II Reno on
the hill. Forty niinut"s or an hour later the pnck
train. witch had been LETT behind on the tran hy
the rapid movement of tn" command and the
delays incident 20 It's march. Joined the united
command. which then consisted ~ seven COM
panes. together with about thirty or thrty-nve
men belonging 10 the companies under Cot.
Aftcr detaching Bcntccn's and Rcno's coll
umns Col. Custer moved with his immediate
command in trail. followed hy Reno To n point
within about one mile of the river. where he
diyerged 10 the right Tor northwardl. following
the general direction of the river to point
by Major Reno. where he and his command
were DESTROYED by the hostiles Tho last living
witness ~ this march, Trumpeter Martin. LEFT
Cot. Clusters command when IT WAS about twC
miles distant from the field whore II attcrNard
met IT. fate. There il nothing more in evidence
MS to this command save that hiring WIS hearc
, proceeding from is direction, from about The
time Reno re,reated from the bottom NJ q
7 the limo the pack train was approaching th'
, position on the hill. All the firing which indt
Gated lighting wes concluded before the fna
, ! preparations " MAJOR Renos command for tn,
! movement which was Rlterwurl attempted.
After distribution OF ammunition AM
Eoups euiir" command moved down the river
ia the direction. il WAS thought Clusters col
umn had taken. and IN winch IL was knowr
G"n. Trrry'- command was t. be- found. This
movement was carried ont sum 'lrutiy 10 di-
cover that rs continuance would lmperlI tl'
ftiilA' ''itihltl ANA 10 ltAl l''t 20 Ail'
| position formerly occupied and made "a SUI
ceSsfu. rcsistanca until suroor reached II. IN,
/ defence OF the position On tue hlll WIS a heroic
one against fearful odds The conduct Of tl'
ON 'rr~ throughout WAS excellent; and Will,
! the suhOrlinAtr-. IN some instances. did NOR
Tor the safety Of the command hy brilliant dis
, plays Of c1uraE" than did MAJOR Reno. there
WAS nothing in hiS conduct which requires AM
, | mndversion from this court.
II il the conclusion Of this court in view o.
, all the facts IN evidence. that no further urp
| copding- Hro necessary in this case. and u eN
presses thus opinion in compliance with th
concluding clause ot the order converting the
p | court.
Tn" report is signed Nv Col. George II. Kin!
a. President. and AdlutHnt !. VI. leo as r.
| crrdor. The findings are approved 10y Gen
=, | sherman and 10y GeorEe W. McCrdry. undo
| direction " H. Is. Hayes.