The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1926-05-27

part of the responsibility for the disaster upon
the "cowardice" of Major Reno in not going to the
support of Custer. Z. A. Brnnstoo historian
who has made special study of this campaign
and who has brought to light many important
facts about It, has definitely disproved this mpu-
tatiOn of cowardice the part of Major Reno
and has done much to show that the man who for
long "the goat in this unfortunate affair
in reality was something of hero.
1t has remained for Prof. 0. G. Libby of the de-
partment of history at the University of North
Dakota to remove the stigma from the of
other brave men connected with the Custer bat
tie. In addition to the Grow scouts who accom-
panied the Custer expedition there also
number of Arikara Rec Indian scouts. The
of referring to their part in the battle by
most historians is to say the cowardly Rees fled
at the first fire" Professor Libby's investigation
among the surviving members Of this group of
scouts published by the North Dakota Historical
society under the title of The Arikara Narrative"
shows conclusively that the term "cowardly Rees'
is utterly unfair and untruthful When the Arik-
ara scouts fled" they did expressly upon the
orders of General Custer who told them that they
were to guide him to the Indian village but were
to take no part in the fighting.
But for all the disputes, controversies, charges
and counter-charges connected with this battle
to make it unique among Indian fights and for
all that the general features of its story well
known to most Americans there Is much that is
interesting and thrilling and inspiring which has
never yet become widely known There is the
story of the narrow escape from death of Lieut..
Charles c. De Rudio Sergt. Thomas ONeill,
Scout Billy Jackson and Interpreter Fred Girard
who became separated from Reno's detachment
during the first days fighting and, after numerous
narrow escapes from death, managed to rejoin
their command while it beleaguered on the
hills to which Reno forced to retreat.
There is the story of the brave in Renos
command who in the face of persistent Indian fire
risked their lives to creep down to the river to
get water for wounded and dying comrades. They
received congressional medals of honor for their
deeds it is true but they are almost unknown ex-
cept to few historians of the Custer battle and it
is to be hoped that emblazoned high on the new
memorial will be their names. They were the
following: Nell Bancroft, Abram ]. Brant, Thomas
T. Callan Frederick Decline, Theodore W. Gold
in. David w. Harris, William. M. Harris, Rufus p.
Hutchinson James Pyn Stanislaus Roy, George
Scott Thomas w. Stevens Frank T0lan. Peter
THOMPSON Charles III. WEIGH, George H Geger,
Henry w b. Meching, Charles Windolph and OF
to Volt Along with their names should be those
OF Sergt Richard P. Hanley Sergt. Benjamin c.
Crsswell Sergt Thomas Murray, Corp. Charles
Cunningham and Private Henry Holden, all of
whom were awarded similar medals for various
acts Of gaIantry during the two days of the battle
and siege.
4 reunion Of the survivors Of the battle was
held on the field in 1885, the tenth anniversary Of
the fight and at that time Chief Gall of the Sioux
and Chief Two Moons Of the Cheyennes went over
the field with officers of the Seventh and de-
scrIbed the battle in detail as they remembered It.
Gall Is long since dead. are all the other
indian leaders on that fatefu day But their spirits
may be there this June, not so much to rejoice
again over one Of the greatest victories the In
dams ever won over the whites, as to rejoice
when the misunderstanding" ceremony signallzes a
final and lasting peace between red men and
white.