The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-07-11
Lonesome Charley'' Reynolds
Killed With Custer in 1875

lar hero Of the rebellion, was killed
there, with 300 Of his men, and the
blame was laid on Major Reno. Gus
ter's command consisted Of his old reg
iment, the Sixth cavalry, and it went
into action in three divisions. Custer,
himself, went to the head of the Indian
~encampment, which was scattered up
and down the Little Big Horn river in
Montana, for three of four miles. Ma
jor Reno attacked the middle of the
camp, and Captain Benteen attacked
the lower end.
Reno crossed the river and was driv-
en- back. 1t was during this fight that
Lonesome Charley was killed. Ma
jor Reno wrote W. T. Reynolds, after
the fight, that the body of Charley
Reynolds was found stripped naked
and mutilated, but that he had sold his
life dearly. as piles of empty rife and
revolver cartridges attested. He had
apparently fought from behind the
body Of his horse until killed.
A "BIown in the Bottle" Hero.
Charley Reynolds was a real hero;
none Of the advertisers known as
Grizzly Bill, or Broncho Tom, or other
names redolent of the west had equal
fame. And with it all he never dissi-
pated. He used his own name, Charley
Reynolds, throughout his career in the
west, whereas many of those of less
note were compelled. for prudential
reasons, to change their names. AS
trapper, guide Inc scout, he was al
ways a gentleman. and always respect
ed by those with whom he came in
contact. 1t was said of him that he
was the best shot with a rifle among
all the hunters Of his time. He was
chief of scouts on many occasions, in
Guiding the early exploration of the
Black Hills, and during the time troops
were necessary to guard surveyors To-
eating the Northern Pacific.
Every man who took prominent part
in the opening of the west during the
twelve years ending with the Custer
massacre, was familiar with his re-
markable history, but he was a silent
man, and the general public knew lit
tie Of him.
The Death of Custer.
without any desire to revive the
quarrel owe the responsibility for
Clusters death, I may add that after
Major Reno was whipped on crossing
the river, he combined his force with
that of Captain Benteen and fought
the Indians for two or three days.
Finally the indians disappeared, and
then Reno discovered that three miles
above him Clusters entire force of four
= haQ Deen Killed.
Reno was blamed for not going to
Clusters aid, but a courtmartial de-
cided that Reno had as much to do as
he could do to take care of himself, as
he was assaulted repeatedly by sever
al thousand Indians as well armed as
the soldiers themselves.
Gen. George Crook once told me
that Custer killed almost no Indians
he tried to cross the river, as he had
ordered Reno to do, but encountered
quicksand, and this resulted in a fatal
delay. Then he retreated back up the
hill to form a circle, as Reno wild. Dur
ing his retreat his entire force was
killed. Many believe that a part of
Clusters men surrendered and were
massacred. The old Indians now or
the reservation will not talk about the
Custer affair. fearing that they may
yet be punished. Reno's men declared
at the court martial that they did not
know what had become of Custer until
three days after all his men were dead;
that they did not heal firing in his
direction. 1t is believed that Custer
and all his men were killed in twenty
minutes. The bodies We're buried where
they fell, and a small marble stone
erected over each one AT the time OF
the hill a large general monument was
erected. Charley Reynolds name ap-
pears on this large monument as chief
! Of scouts.