The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-18
THE CASE OF MAJOR RENO.

Still Hunt in His Interest-His Military
Exploits and Trial by Court Martial.
Special to the Indiananolis Journal
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE friends Of Major
Reno. late of the Seventh Cavalry. have been
making a still hunt in his interest this winter to
get him restored to the army Major Reno's
story is familiar enough to the generation which
remembers his excellent war record. His sad
downfall was in striking deplorable contrast to
the excellent service he did during the Rebellion.
He reached the rank of brigadier-general during
the war, and was recommended by General
Sheridan for prominent commission. General
Sheridan said of him in 1864 ''The cavalry
service has no better general officer. Reno is
full of energy and ability and has been in all the
cavalry engagements of the present campaign.
He is one of the most promising young cavalry
officers of the army and will do great credit to
the position for which he is reco,nme nded.
Major Reno graduated from West Point in 1857,
aud continued in the service until his court
martial and dismissal, in 1880 He served under
Custer in the Sioux campaign, and was present.
it will be remembered, on that June day, on the
Little Big Horn when Sitting Bull, Gaul and
Rainn- the Face slaughtered the command of
Custer, and left not one alive TO tell the tale.
But for Renos prudent conduct, according to
General Terry, his seven companies would also
have been massacred. It was impossible for
him to 60 to the rescue of Custer, and he and his
men barely escaped like fate. In July, 1876,
the survivors of the Seventh Regiment of cav
ally sent petition to the President that Major
Reno be nominated lieutenant-coonel in
nf
said, few days later THE judicious
and skilful conduct of Major Reno is appre-
clated, but tho promotions caused by General
Clusters death have been made by the President
and confirmed by the Senate When the Sioux
campaign is over shall be most happy to recog
nize the valuable service of Major Reno and his
men by granting favors and recommending
actual promotion"
In 1879 Major Reno was tried on the charge of
conduct unbecomng an officer and gentleman.
on three specifications. The first related to fist
fight with Lieutenant Nicholson in a saloon at
Fort Meade. The second that he was drunk in
saloon at the same place, and the third was
that he was intoxicated at the post
traders at Fort Meade. He was tried, also,
on the additional charge of unbecoming
conduct with specification that late at night he
crept up and peered into the window of General
Sturgiss house and sorely frightened Miss Mel
lie, his daughter. who is to be married this week
at Prairie du Chen. He was found guilty of
this last charge but not guilty of the general
charge of conduct unbecoming an officer and
gentleman. General Terry disapproved the find
ing on the charge of peering into Colonel Stur-
giss house, but upon this charge alone the re-
viewing officer found himself pledged to recon-
mend the sentence Of Major Reno to dismissal
from the service. Five members of the court
recommended merciful consideration, these being
Colonel Wood. of the Eleventh Infantry; Lieu
tepant-coonel Alexander of the Second Cavalry;
Major Moore, Sixth Infantry; Major Conrad,
Cav axax,th T,fo H1i~
win Colonel Barr. then judge advocate of
the Department of Dakota, and since private
secretary to the Secretary OF War; also wrote
letrer explaining away the charges against Reno,
saying that he had apologized to Mrs. Sturgis for
his unbecoming conduct and asking mercy for
him. General Terry wrote strong letter in his
behalf, and General Sherman followed the gen.
eral recommendation for mercy, and urged the
President to modify the sentence to suspension
OF commission for one year and the loss of half
pay, with confinement at Fort Meade during that
time; and also reduction In rank FIVE files in
the list of majors of cavalry. Notwithstanding
this President Hayes confirmed the sentence Of
dismissal. His friends now think there is a
strong case in his behalf to obtain his restoration
to the army. Major Reno is in the
prime of life, being forty six years old. He is
wholly untitled to enter into any other profession
than the one in which he was bred and in
which he served during his life. Ii his friends
fail to secure his restoration by act of Congress
it is said that they will petition the President
to appoint him to any place in the army to
which he could appoint any other civilian Ac-
companying his petition Major Reno submits
letters as to his general character and fitness by
Congressman Singleton, Of Illinois; Commits
sioner Sparks; Senator Cameron, of Pennsyla-
n a; Tom Young and Ben Butterworth, of Ohio;
Gen. Joe Wheeler, of Alabama; Major Barr, of
the army, and others. He is also strongly in
doIsed by Gen. Rufus ingalls,, and there is
letter from General Grant submitted, in which
he says: ut seems to me- in view of the recon
mendation of the court which tried Major Reno;
of the fact that he was found mot guilty of the
most serious parts of the specifications; and that
the reviewing officers found the accused mot
guilty is full justification for reviewing his
case" This was written in 1881 There is also
letter from ex Secretary McCrary, who was
Secretary OF War at the time of Reno's dismis-
sal, in which he speaks good word for him