The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-26
GEN. CUSTER AND MAJ. RENO.
ONE VINO DIED Ar THE LITTLE BIG
HORN and ONE VINO Rim AWIK.


To THE EDITOR OF The sun Sir: Ever
since the nation was startled in 1876 by the news
that Custer and five companies Of United States
troops had been massacrcd by the Indians Of
Sitting Bull spccuations as to tho reasons for
his fate have been rife. The so-callcd official
reports. cmanatng from Gen. Terry and from
Major Rcno who had been second in command
to Custer himself in the Seventh Cavalry. ex-
pressed little doubt Terry openly ascribed the
defeat to the rashncss and disobedicnce Of Gus
ter. The ciderdh second in command now
become first by Clusters death, proceeded to
critcisc the orders he had received from Gus
ter. attrbuting the death Of that officer to un-
wise measures and m alleged state OF exhdus-
ton among the horses Of the regiment pro-
duced by overmurching. under Clusters direc-
ton. A few months later appeared the biography
OF Gen. Custer. This book published just six
months after tho battle. openly charged that
had Reno fought rs Custer fought. the battle
OF the Little Big Horn might have been Clusters
last and greatest Indian victory II further
charged Reno with timidity and decentralization.
and with standing an idle spectator OF Custcr's
battle for at least two hours. after needless
retreat and the arrival OF rc5ntorcements to
Rcno's help
Time passed on. and Reno. in 1877. in the full
dignity Of post commander at the West. had n
an officer and n gcntoman. One oi the Captains
under his command had n Young wife. whom
he LEFT behind him in the fort while he went out
on scouting duty With the rest OF the com
mand. 1t scans that tho regiment had had
enough OF Reno as n field commander. 50
he remained Mt the post. The history
OF the rest Of the niTair as lar M Reno was con-
cerned, is told m the records ot "a general court
martial convened "a few weeks later. IL seems
that Reno addressed insulting proposals TO the
wife of his absent comrnde. and when these
were repuscd with indignntion. he made use
nj uap III sn ipnr a YNr
cute this helpless woman 10y branding her in
public orders ~ a person ct bad character. At
had pissed. aud "A, once sought Reno. He had
two courses open to hiin-to Kill Reno or TO
have him tried 10y court martial Fortunately
for Reno's skin the Captain WIS cool man. oi
great sell control. He satisfied his natural
IN terms that hare would have resented. hut
Reno would not fight Then the Captain brought
charges against him. On these charges Reno
WIS tried. and the unanimous verdict Of the
court was that he be " dismissed the service"
THE SENTENCE HAYES COMMITTED.
Now comes the best part Of the whole pro
whore res Dies a person by the name OF Ruther-
ford Burrhard Hayes. and this person COM
puted the sentence OF the model MAJOR 20
suspension OF two years. on the ground OF
Reno's supposed gallant conduct " in the war
o. the rebellion and the battle Of the Little Big
theless true. that Hayes did this. knowing we'll
The public accusations made against Reno.
THEREFOR. the present status OF that remark
able officer is that OF n suspension from rank.
which expires mex, spring.
In May. ls7s-nd quits two years after the
battlc-H solemn official accusation was laid be-
fore Congress- referred TO the Military Com
mittee OF the House, and favoraby reported by
them. This accusation. contained IN letter TO
Mr.. Corlctt OF Wyoming. charged MAJOR Reno
with showing cowardice in the battle In which
Custer WAS killed with abandonment OF his
commander. and with making a false report H.
beous Ia Clusters memory
The report OF the Military Committee. owing
to the hurry Of BUSINESS at the close Of the
spring session. was not brought up. After
the adjournment OF Congress without action.
deserves credit. Waiting until June %. 1878
Just two, years from the date when Gus
the gallant MAJOR boldly asked the AdIutant-
General-ior what? Not for court martial but
In the battle Of the Little Big Horn. The non
military reader may not comprehend the smart
ness q this trick, but glance at the state OF the
court martial on any person must be ordered
me oe 1MS eT When Se is charged otherwse
he escapes scot free No officer can be dismissed
the service save by sentence OF court martial
or by special net Of Congress. Thus, even II
Reno's request were granted he could not be
dismissed the army. The court. at the worst.
rccorl shows how much he would care for cen
sure. however severe. As u to show him that
WIS not uniounded. the Adlutant- General con-
siderately DELAYED ordering even the court OF
INQUIRY for another SIX months ana no at last II
1t consisted Of Col King. Ninth Infantry;
Col Merritt. Fifth Cavalry; and Lieut.. Col.
Adiutant Ninth Infantry, for Recorder But
for Recorder Lee the case would soon have pro-
Thanks to his efforts, the following facts We're
developed on the trial. which can never be CON
tradicted hereafter:
THE FACTS PROVED.
On the morning OF the 25th June. 1876. Gen.
Custer. in command Of the Seventh United
States Cavalry. advanced down the valley OF the
unknown force. He hnd with him twelve com
panios, or about 600 men OF the regiment, ana
a pack train OF 100 mules. Within twelve miles
OF the village. he dctailed Capt Bcntoen 10 the
left with three companies o. scuur me country
upto certain point. 70 slrlke any Indians ne,
might meet. to report If he found them. and. II
he found none TO return Ia the main trail ~ a
certain point. These orders were very strict
and precise. ana were delivered by three di1"r-
ent PERSONS ut Overwhelmingly. AdJutlnt
Cooke. the chiei trumpSgter' and the Sergeant
Custer kept on until within five miles OF the vii
lge. when he detailed Mayor Reno TO the len
M sIi Indians ana i" CHARGE them" These or
ders were explicit. and made no mention OF re-
treat unless driven back, They were aeon nc, On
These orders given. Custer and Reno both nd
t. the left and crossing the Little Big Horn
while Custer kept on the right bank following
the arc OF which Reno had the chord They
arrived in sight Of the Indian village almost NJ
the same time the Indians running from be
fore Reno IN cloud Of dust caused 10y drN YIN,
surprised in the valley, and by panic whicl
had seized them. Within thousand yards o
the village Reno suddenly halted, dismounteC
his men, and sent his horses into patch o
timber on the left bank Of the stream, whore .
perfect natural fertilization existed. All aroun,
was an open prairie, and the timber WAS sunk
below the prairie bordcred by a steep bank
AS soon as the Indians saw Reno halt they lool
heart. and began to come back 10 defend theil
women and children. The troops opened IRON
the prairie a wild. uimless fire in which Mhln
Reno himself joined with n carbne the ON
Gers paying very little attention to regnHt
ing the expenditure Of ammunition. Aite
about ten minutes. the men OF sudden tel
back to the timber. when the line first openet
fire Custer heard them on the right bank OF TN
river. left his column along with Adluthnt Cooke
galloped to the edge OF the bluffs. looked dowI
and waved his nat 10 cheer them on in the light
then wont back To his column 10 attack the In
dinns in rear He WIS sren by one ohicer II
the fight. Lieut. de Rudio. From thnnce tn
lay OF the ground hid each column from th'
other Custer had hardly been gone five min
utes when Reno suddenly made up his ma Il
retreat and accordingly ordered his men Il
their horses. While this WINS doing the fire o
the troops ceased. and the Indians came nea
the timber. When all were mounted In column O
fOuTs headed away IRON the village, a low IN
dams who had sneaked clear around the col
umn during the lull in the action, sudden
fired killing Clusters iaNOrite lnlhn scout
Handy utfn - who on hat day WIS intend M