The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-24
RENO'S RETREAT.
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Jan. %. 1879.
The Reno inquiry reopened this morning in the
little room the third floor of the Palmer House.
The spectators were not numerous as at the pre-
cedipg sessions though they waxed stronger as the
morning waned. Lieutenant Charles A. varnum. being
cross examined. showed by the map where the men
deployed on the skirmsh line. The map did not
appear to him to be accurate and ne could only APP
proximate it, He next repeated the time. place and
circumstances under which he last saw General Gus
ter. all of which is familiar to the readers of tho
HERALD. and once more traversed the banks OF the
river point out the place where he the famous
gray horse company. He thought it would take
about half an hour for Clusters column to go
from the point where he the gray horse COM
pany to the watering place 3D. the point where
Custer attempted to to the Indian village. He
thought that as it was about half an hour from the
deployng of Reno's skirmish line to the time when
the retreat began Custer must have had time to get
to the ford and become engaged with the Indians in
the interval. He believed Custer must have known.
for he must have what Reno's men were doing
at least, the gray horse company in q position
to see what Renos men in the timber doing
He had to believe anything but that Gen.
era Custer, as careful officer, must have kept him.
self informed, and known that Reno's men were
on the skirmish line If there had been desperate
fight at the ford "B,' there would have been dead
men and horses found there Witness was unable to
estimate bow far away from this ford it to the
point where the first dead bodies were found,
MIR. Gilbert--Then you say that for about half an
hour Major Reno stood IN the woods and created
diversion?
Witness-Yes, sir. Witness did not believe there
were less than four thousand or hve Thousand
observed of any attempt on the part OF General
Custer to return to the point where he separated
ffYt ha
his lack of knowledge of the battle field, to say
whether any attempt had been made by Custer men
to make concerted stand against the Indians. The
bodies were scattered all over.
RENo's FORCE TOO SMALL.
When the men were in the timber there were not
enough men, the witness thought to cover the whole
ground and hold the position against SO many
Indians. Possibly Major Reno depended on Colonel
Benteen or Captain McDougalps coming into the
timber to support him. but the witness wished it
understood he did not know whether Major Reno
had any knowledge of the orders OF those two OH
come to his relief his place in the timber was i'm
practicable, and he was justified in moving out and
WHAT THE TROOPS THOUGHT.
Mr.. Gilbert next examined the witness on the gen.
eral belief Of the command as to whether General
Terry was or not coming up the river. Lieuten-
ant Varnum said that lie had idea as to the belief
or amount Of information that the troops in general
had on this score but he himself knew that General
Terry was then probably on his way down the Vel
lowstone ortup the Little Big Horn he had concep
ton at the time that General Clusters men had al
been killed; he could not say what the rest of the
command might have thought, but it was his idea ut
the time that either Cusers had been1corralled
like Renos, or had gotten down toward General
Terry.
Witness then asked in regard to the contents
Of letter sent out by the scouts from Major Reno
Witness said that he remembered the letter
which was to General Terry set forth that Clusters
force had been divided and that Major Reno's CON-
mand was beleaguered on the hill and in need Of
medical aid and assistance
Ibid it not say" asked Mr.. Gilbert, 'that Major
<a1k he af1 N hn1d he
was in need Of medical aid and assistancey'
mo. sir think not as strong as that, replied the
witness, 'but that the command was there and
needed medical aid and assistance"
This virtually ended this testimony, although q
great deal Of time occupied in going over the
ground for details.
DR. poRrER's TESTIMONY.
After short recess new witness appeared in the
person of Dr. H. II. Porter. of Bismarck He testified
that the 18th and 2eh OF june 1876 he acting
assistant surgeon under Custer with Renos battalion
He was standing by and heard the Ad5atant deliver
the ford and charge the Indians. Reno asked the
Adjutsnt II Custer was going to support him. and the
and would support him. Reno's command then
crossed the ford. many of the horses stopping to
tns to Ma
jor Reno along with gun ACROSS
his saddle. and seeing the witness With,
not want the gum but the witness said he did not.
He believed that Reno was numbered with the
weapon and wanted get rd Of it. he aid not see many
into the river. The men quickly formed skirmsh
line. The witness stood Watching the fight for .
WHILE and then, learning that man had been shot,
went down into the timber to lind him.
RETREAT.
There he saw Major Reno, and heard him say,
"Weve got to get out of here-we've got to charge
the Indiansi" The dismounted and 30
the witness. Going back after his horse he saw
the men mounting and running their horses and the
Indians after them. He expected when he
got out Of the timber to see the men
charging the Indians, but surprised to
SEQ the reverse. Having described the crossing Of
the stream, retreat. the witness said that he had
heard Lieutenant Varnum say. For God sake. men,
don't runl There several men wounded and
killed the river and we've got to go back after
them" Seeing Major Reno little later the witness
said The men were pretty badly demoralizcd.
werut they, Colonelr' But Major Reno replied,
mo; that was CHARGE.
ONLY A INDIAN FORCE IN nENo's FRONT.
When they had got to the top of the hill. after
time. the men began to shout. Here comes Custer y
But il was Benton Tho Recorder then asked the
witness as to Reno condition after receiving the
der-its effect upon him-saying physicians judged
of q mans condition by his appearance. Mr..
Gilbert objected unless the testimony pertaincd
to word or act. He did not object
to the witness feeling the pulse OF man to test his
physical condition, but he did object to his testing
the pulse Of the mind. Tho Court sustained the OBJ
lection. Witness gave the number OF Indians who
confronted the soldiers at the time the column dis
mounted o. ffty; thought they increased until they
numbered perhaps one hundred; thought there were
moro further down. At this point the examination
rested until tomorrow.