Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-11-20
fore the savages attacked him as he

lore h SavageS attacked him as n
approached the river from the bluffs
BY this time Reno had retreated ant
the Indians, quick to take advantag
Of the situation, masSed their entir
force around Custer and destroyed
him and his men, although the I'm
equal combat continued until nea
shutdown.
Reno was on the hill unmOleste(
for over three hours while down the
valley, not I'VE three miles away
Custer was fighting his last Crane
battle, while part of his regiment
was within supporting distance
Three hours before Custer was fin
ished Benteen and McDougall had
Joined Reno, but fear and cowardice
held Reno rooted to the bare hill
where he retreated from no danger
Mr.. Girard, an old Indian fighter
and trader at Fort Buford for many
years prior to this time, and a man OF
courage and thoroughly familiar with
Indian life, thus described the hor,
rors of the battlefield as he saw them
in company with officers of Gen.
Terry'scommand two days after.
Capt. Calhoun's company had the
ad vance and met the Indians near the
river. He had evidently been ordered
to hold his ground against the savage
onrush as his company had dismounted
and were found dead in company
formation with Calhoun and Lieut..
Critenden in place in the rear.
Capt. Keogh and his men fell as
they stood fighting on a ridge half a
mile beyond Calhoun, and three
quarters of a mile beyond Keogh we
found the spot on which Custer and
his two brothers and all the gallant
souls with him had gone down to a
glorious death while Reno and $50
men heard the Indian wal song and
answered not.
Capt. Yates and his company sank
in their W blood around Custer, and
Captain Smith and his men and part
Of Captain Tom Clusters company
met a similar fate in a seemingly
bold dash down the slope to gain the
timber on the river. Their bodies
were scattered along a deep ravine
through which they fought like
heroes"
1t was on the strength of Girard's
that the writer wrote to
General Sheridan giving him the
facts, upon which Gen. Sheridan or
dered Reno court marshaled, and
upon the evidence presented to the
court Reno was dismissed from the
for cowardice, and this ought
70 convince Mr.. Robinson who was
5he coward in that fatal encounter.
Custer and his men died heroically
lighting not over three miles from
where Reno and $50 men were hold
ing a hill unmolested, and within
fearing distance of the struggle be-
,ween Custer and his savage foes.
Mr.. Robinson says Reno was ten
niles distant and could have rendered
10 aid. AS before stated Reno was
lot over three miles away and could
lear the firing for three hours. Reno
vas Supplied with fear and cowardioe
nd he allowed his gallant chief to go
lown without an effort t. save him.
Had Reno charged with his full
orce, after Benteen and McDougal
anne up, there is little doubt but the
indians would have retreated, because
he squaws and children we're In full
etreat when Reno retired from the
lmber.
Mr.. Robinson says Reno could not
ave got half way to Custer before
his 1853 men were wiped out.
listers command was not wiped
ut" until near shutdown, said Chief
'aul to the writer at Bismarck, when
e was returning to Standing Rock
18th Sitting Bull from Canada. Chief
,aul vas the real leader In that fight
nd as fine q looking Indian as we
yer saw. Reno could have reached
ne Indians around Custer in thirty
linuteS had he so desired, and we re-
ret that Mr.. Robinson should get
historical facts so badly mixed. I
Had Reno fought as Custer fought,
I'd had Benteen o6eyed Custer's
rders, the battle of the Little Big
orn might have proved Clusters last {
greatest Indian victory. :
The writer never discussed the bat s
. with Benteen, but many times ,
Ith Captains McDougall and Weir, {
It'll splendid soldiers. They were q
It free In speaking Of Reno, but we I
We seen the tears we'll up In the eyes e
gallant Tom Weir = he spoke Of the d
fribie slaughter. S
The writer had . talk with Rain-in- d
e-Eace ct Standing Rock after he \
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