Chapter VI: Reno's Battles on the Little Big Horn

After the battle in which Lieut. Col. Custer lost his life, the command of the 7th Cavalry regiment devolved on Major Reno. The following is a copy of Reno's official report to Gen. Terry, excepting that a few unimportant paragraphs are omitted. It is dated July 5th, 1876.

"The regiment left the camp at the mouth of Rosebud River, after
passing in review before the department commander, under command of
Brevet Major General G.A. Custer, Lieutenant Colonel, on the
afternoon of the 22d of June, and marched up the Rosebud 12 miles
and encamped. 23d--Marched up the Rosebud, passing many old Indian
camps, and following a very large lodge-pole trail, but not fresh,
making 33 miles. 24th--The march was continued up the Rosebud, the
trail and signs freshening with every mile until we had made 28
miles, and we then encamped and waited for information from the
scouts. At 9.25 P.M., Custer called the officers together, and
informed us that beyond a doubt the village was in the valley of
the Little Big Horn, and that to reach it, it was necessary to
cross the divide between the Rosebud and Little Big Horn, and it
would be impossible to do so in the daytime without discovering our
march to the Indians; that we would prepare to move at 11 P.M. This
was done, the line of march turning from the Rosebud to the right,
up one of its branches, which headed near the summit of the divide.

"About 2 A.M. of the 25th, the scouts told him that he could not
cross the divide before daylight. We then made coffee and rested
for three hours, at the expiration of which time the march was
resumed, the divide crossed, and about 8 A.M. the command was in
the valley of one of the branches of the Little Big Horn. By this
time Indians had been seen, and it was certain that we could not
surprise them, and it was determined to move at once to the attack.

"Previous to this no division of the regiment had been made since
the order was issued on the Yellowstone, annulling wing and
battalion organizations. General Custer informed me he would assign
commands on the march. I was ordered by Lieut. W.W. Cooke,
Adjutant, to assume command of Companies M, A, and G; Capt. Benteen
of Companies H, D, and K; Custer retaining C, E, F, I, and L, under
his immediate command; and Company B, Capt. McDougall, being in
rear of the pack train. I assumed command of the companies assigned
to me, and without any definite orders, moved forward with the rest
of the column, and well to its left. I saw Benteen moving further
to the left, and, as they passed, he told me he had orders to move
well to the left, and sweep everything before him; I did not see
him again until about 2:30 P.M. The command moved down the creek
towards the Little Big Horn Valley. Custer with five companies on
the right bank; myself and three companies on the left bank; and
Benteen further to the left, and out of sight.

"As we approached a deserted village, in which was standing one
tepee, about 11 A.M., Custer motioned me to cross to him, which I
did, and moved nearer to his column, until about 12:30 A.M., when
Lieut. Cooke came to me and said the village was only two miles
ahead and running away. To 'move forward at as rapid a gait as I
thought prudent and to charge afterward, and that the whole outfit
would support me.' I think those were his exact words. I at once
took a fast trot, and moved down about two miles, when I came to a
ford of the river. I crossed immediately, and halted about ten
minutes or less, to gather the battalion, sending word to Custer
that I had everything in front of me, and that they were strong.

"I deployed, and, with the Ree scouts on my left, charged down the
valley, driving the Indians with great ease for about 2-1/2 miles.
I, however, soon saw that I was being drawn into some trap, as they
certainly would fight harder, and especially as we were nearing
their village, which was still standing; besides, I could not see
Custer or any other support; and at the same time the very earth
seemed to grow Indians, and they were running toward me in swarms,
and from all directions. I saw I must defend myself, and give up
the attack mounted. This I did, taking possession of a point of
woods, which furnished near its edge a shelter for the horses;
dismounted, and fought them on foot, making headway through the
woods. I soon found myself in the near vicinity of the village, saw
that I was fighting odds of at least five to one, and that my only
hope was to get out of the woods, where I would soon have been
surrounded, and gain some high ground. I accomplished this by
mounting and charging the Indians between me and the bluffs on the
opposite side of the river. In this charge First Lieut. Donald
McIntosh, Second Lieut. Benjamin H. Hodgson, and Acting Assistant
Surgeon J. M. De Wolf were killed.

"I succeeded in reaching the top of the bluff, with a loss of the
three officers and 29 enlisted men killed, and seven men wounded.
Almost at the same time I reached the top, mounted men were seen to
be coming toward us, and it proved to be Capt. Benteen's battalion,
Companies H, D, and K; we joined forces, and in a short time the
pack train came up. As senior my command was then Companies A, B,
D, G, H, K, and M, about 380 men; and the following
officers:--Captains Benteen, Weir, French, and McDougall, First
Lieutenants Godfrey, Mathey, and Gibson, Second Lieutenants
Edgerly, Wallace, Varnum, and Hare, and A.A. Surgeon Porter. First
Lieut. De Rudio was in the dismounted fight in the woods, but
having some trouble with his horse did not join the command in the
charge out, and hiding himself in the woods, joined the command
after nightfall of the 26th.

"Still hearing nothing of Custer, and with this reinforcement, I
moved down the river in the direction of the village, keeping on
the bluffs. We had heard firing in that direction, and knew it
could only be Custer. I moved to the summit of the highest bluff,
but seeing and hearing nothing, sent Capt. Weir, with his company,
to open communication with the other command. He soon sent back
word by Lieut. Hare that he could go no further, and that the
Indians were getting around him. At this time he was keeping up a
heavy fire from his skirmish line. I at once turned everything back
to the first position I had taken on the bluff, and which seemed to
me the best. I dismounted the men, had the horses and mules of the
pack train driven together in a depression, put the men on the
crests of the hills making the depression, and had hardly done so
when I was furiously attacked. This was about 6 P.M. We held our
ground, with the loss of 18 enlisted men killed and 46 wounded,
until the attack ceased, about 9 P.M.

"As I knew by this time their overwhelming numbers, and had given
up any support from the portion of the regiment with Custer, I had
the men dig rifle-pits; barricaded with dead horses, mules, and
boxes of hard bread, the opening of the depression toward the
Indians in which the animals were herded; and made every exertion
to be ready for what I saw would be a terrific assault the next
day. All this night the men were busy, and the Indians holding a
scalp dance underneath us in the bottom and in our hearing.

"On the morning of the 26th I felt confident that I could hold my
own, and was ready as far as I could be, when at daylight, about
2:30 A.M., I heard the crack of two rifles. This was the signal for
the beginning of a fire that I have never seen equaled. Every rifle
was handled by an expert and skilled marksman, and with a range
that exceeded our carbine; and it was simply impossible to show any
part of the body, before it was struck. We could see, as the day
brightened, countless hordes of them pouring up the valley from out
the village, and scampering over the high points toward the places
designated for them by their chiefs, and which entirely surrounded
our position. They had sufficient numbers to completely encircle
us, and men were struck on the opposite sides of the lines from
which the shots were fired. I think we were fighting all the Sioux
nation, and also all the desperados, renegades, half-breeds and
squaw men, between the Missouri and the Arkansas and east of the
Rocky Mountains. They must have numbered at least 2,500 warriors.

"The fire did not slacken until about 9:30 A.M., and then we
discovered that they were making a last desperate attempt, which
was directed against the lines held by Companies H and M. In this
attack they charged close enough to use their bows and arrows, and
one man lying dead within our lines was touched by the 'coup stick'
of one of the foremost Indians. When I say the stick was only about
10 or 12 feet long, some idea of the desperate and reckless
fighting of these people may be understood. This charge of theirs
was gallantly repulsed by the men on that line led by Capt.
Benteen. They also came close enough to send their arrows into the
line held by Companies D and K, but were driven away by a like
charge of the line, which I accompanied. We now had many wounded,
and the question of water was vital, as from 6 P.M. of the previous
evening until now, 10 A.M. (about 16 hours) we had been without it.
A skirmish line was formed under Capt. Benteen, to protect the
descent of volunteers down the hill in front of his position to
reach the water. We succeeded in getting some canteens, although
many of the men were hit in doing so.

"The fury of the attack was now over, and to my astonishment the
Indians were seen going in parties toward the village. But two
solutions occurred to us for this movement--that they were going
for something to eat, more ammunition (as they had been throwing
arrows), or that Custer was coming. We took advantage of this lull
to fill all vessels with water, and soon had it by the camp kettle
full; but they continued to withdraw, and all firing ceased, save
occasional shots from sharpshooters, sent to annoy us about the
water. About 2 P.M. the grass in the bottom was set on fire, and
followed up by Indians who encouraged its burning, and it was
evident it was done for a purpose, which purpose I discovered,
later on, to be the creation of a dense cloud of smoke, behind
which they were packing and preparing to move their tepees.

"It was between 6 and 7 P.M. that the village came out from behind
the clouds of smoke and dust. We had a close and good view of them,
as they filed away in the direction of the Big Horn Mountains,
moving in almost perfect military order. The length of the column
was fully equal to that of a large division of the cavalry corps of
the Army of the Potomac, as I have seen it on its march.

"We now thought of Custer, of whom nothing had been seen and
nothing heard since the firing in his direction about 6 P.M. on the
eve of the 25th, and we concluded that the Indians had gotten
between him and us, and driven him toward the boat, at the mouth of
Little Big Horn River; the awful fate that did befall him never
occurring to any of us as within the limits of possibilities.
During the night I changed my position, in order to secure an
unlimited supply of water, and was prepared for their return,
feeling sure they would do so, as they were in such numbers. But
early in the morning of the 27th, and while we were on the _qui
vive_ for Indians, I saw with my glass a dust some distance down
the valley. There was no certainty for some time what they were,
but finally I satisfied myself they were cavalry, and if so could
only be Custer, as it was ahead of the time that I understood that
General Terry could be expected. Before this time, however, I had
written a communication to Gen. Terry, and three volunteers were to
try and reach him (I had no confidence in the Indians with me, and
could not get them to do anything). If this dust were Indians, it
was possible they would not expect any one to leave. The men
started, and were told to go as near as was safe to determine if
the approaching column was white men, and to return at once in case
they found it so; but if they were Indians to push on to General
Terry. In a short time we saw them returning over the high bluff
already alluded to; they were accompanied by a scout who had a note
from Terry to Custer, saying, 'Crow scouts had come to camp saying
he had been whipped, but it was not believed.' I think it was about
10:30 A.M. that General Terry rode into my lines, and the fate of
Custer and his brave men was soon determined by Capt. Benteen
proceeding with his company to the battle ground.

"The wounded in my lines were, during the afternoon and eve of the
27th, moved to the camp of General Terry; and at 5 A.M. of the
28th, I proceeded with the regiment to the battle ground of Custer,
and buried 204 bodies, including the following named citizens:--Mr.
Boston Custer, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Kellogg. The following named
citizens and Indians, who were with my command, were also
killed:--Charles Reynolds (guide and hunter); Isaiah (colored)
interpreter; Bloody Knife (who fell from immediately by my side);
Bob-tailed Bull and Stab of the Indian scouts.

"After following over his trail, it is evident to me that Custer
intended to support me by moving further down the stream, and
attacking the village in flank; that he found the distance to the
ford greater than he anticipated; that he did charge, but his march
had taken so long, although his trail shows he moved rapidly, that
they were ready for him; that Companies C and I, and perhaps part
of Company E, crossed to the village or attempted it at the charge
and were met by a staggering fire; and that they fell back to
secure a position from which to defend themselves; but they were
followed too closely by the Indians to permit him to form any kind
of a line. I think had the regiment gone in as a body, and from the
woods in which I fought advanced on the village, its destruction
was certain; but he was fully confident they were running, or he
would not have turned from me. I think (after the great number of
Indians that were in the village) that the following reasons
obtained for the misfortune: His rapid marching for two days and
one night before the fight, attacking in the day time at 12 M. and
when they were on the _qui vive_, instead of early in the morning;
and lastly, his unfortunate division of the regiment into three
commands.

"During my fight with the Indians I had the heartiest support from
officers and men, but the conspicuous services of Brevet Colonel
F.W. Benteen, I desire to call attention to especially, for if ever
a soldier deserved recognition by his government for distinguished
services, he certainly does.

"The harrowing sight of the dead bodies crowning the height on
which Custer fell, and which will remain vividly in my memory until
death, is too recent for me not to ask the good people of this
country whether a policy that sets opposing parties in the field,
armed, clothed, and equipped by one and the same government, should
not be abolished. All of which is respectfully submitted."

The following is Capt. Benteen's account of his detour to the south and junction with Reno:--

"I was sent with my battalion to the left to a line of bluffs about
five miles off, with instructions to look for Indians and see what
was to be seen, and if I saw nothing there to go on, and when I had
satisfied myself that it was useless to go further in that
direction to rejoin the main trail. After proceeding through a
rough and difficult country, very tiring on the horses, and seeing
nothing, and wishing to save the horses unnecessary fatigue, I
decided to return to the main trail. Before I had proceeded a mile
in the direction of the bluffs I was overtaken by the chief
trumpeter and the sergeant major, with instructions from Gen.
Custer to use my own discretion, and in case I should find any
trace of Indians, at once to notify Gen. Custer.

"Having marched rapidly and passed the line of bluffs on the left
bank of a branch of the Little Big Horn which made into the main
stream about two and a half miles above the ford crossed by Col.
Reno's command, as ordered, I continued my march in the same
direction. The whole time occupied in this march was about an hour
and a half. As I was anxious to regain the main command, as there
was no signs of Indians, I then decided to rejoin the main trail,
as the country before me was mostly of the same character as that I
had already passed over, without valley and without water, and
offering no inducement for the Indians. No valleys were visible,
not even the valley where the fight took place, until my command
struck the river.

"About three miles from the point where Reno crossed the ford, I
met a sergeant bringing orders to the commanding officer of the
rear guard, Capt. McDougall, to hurry up the pack trains. A mile
further I was met by my trumpeter, bringing a written order from
Lieut. Cooke, the adjutant of the regiment, to this
effect:--'Benteen, come on; big village; be quick; bring packs:'
and a postscript saying, 'Bring packs.' A mile or a mile and a half
further on I first came in sight of the valley and Little Big Horn.
About twelve or fifteen dismounted men were fighting on the plains
with Indians, charging and recharging them. This body numbered
about 900 at this time. Col. Reno's mounted party were retiring
across the river to the bluffs. I did not recognize till later what
part of the command this was, but was clear they had been beaten. I
then marched my command in line to their succor.

"On reaching the bluff I reported to Col. Reno, and first learned
that the command had been separated and that Custer was not in that
part of the field, and no one of Reno's command was able to inform
me of the whereabouts of Gen. Custer. While the command was
awaiting the arrival of the pack mules, a company was sent forward
in the direction supposed to have been taken by Custer. After
proceeding about a mile they were attacked and driven back. During
this time I heard no heavy firing, and there was nothing to
indicate that a heavy fight was going on, and I believe that at
this time Custer's immediate command had been annihilated."

In a letter addressed to the _Army and Navy Journal_, Lieut. E.L. Godfry, of Benteen's battalion, gives the following information:--

"Captain Benteen was some six miles from the scene of action when
he received Lieut. Cooke's note; he had no intimation that the
battle had begun, of the force of the Indians, or plan of attack.
Benteen pushed ahead; the packs followed, and not until he reached
the high bluffs over-looking the river valley and near to where the
troops afterwards were besieged did he know of the battle or
immediate presence of the troops to the enemy; he could only hear
occasional shots, not enough to intimate that a battle was going
on. Soon after reaching this point two volleys were heard down the
river where Gen. Custer was, but his force was not in sight. Soon
after this Reno and Benteen joined. By accident Benteen's column
constituted a reserve. It was well it was so. As soon as
dispositions were made on the bluff, Weir's company was sent to
look for Gen. Custer. He went to a high point about three-quarters
of a mile down the river, from which he had a good view of the
country. From it could be seen Custer's battle field, but there was
nothing to indicate the result. The field was covered with Indians.
He was recalled from the place; the packs closed up; ammunition was
issued and the command moved down the river to, if possible, join
Custer. Upon reaching this high point we could see nothing, hear
nothing, to indicate Custer's vicinage. But immediately the Indians
started for us."

The following is the narrative of George Herndon, a scout, published in the _New York Herald_:--

"At 11 P.M., June 24th, Custer followed the scouts up the
right-hand fork of the Rosebud. About daylight we went into camp,
made coffee, and soon after it was light the scouts brought Custer
word that they had seen the village from the top of a divide that
separates the Rosebud from Little Big Horn River. We moved up the
creek until near its head, and concealed ourselves in a ravine. It
was about three miles from the head of the creek where we then were
to the top of the divide where the Indian scouts said the village
could be seen, and after hiding his command, General Custer with a
few orderlies galloped forward to look at the Indian camp. In about
an hour he returned, and said he could not see the Indian village,
but the scouts and a half-breed guide said they could distinctly
see it some 15 miles off. Custer had 'officers' call' blown, gave
his orders, and the command was put in fighting order. The scouts
were ordered forward, and the regiment moved at a walk. After going
about three miles the scouts reported Indians ahead, and the
command then took the trail.

"Our way lay down a little creek, a branch of the Little Big Horn,
and after going some six miles we discovered an Indian lodge ahead
and Custer bore down on it at a stiff trot. In coming to it we
found ourselves in a freshly-abandoned Indian camp, all the lodges
of which were gone except the one we saw, and on entering it we
found it contained a dead Indian. From this point we could see into
the Little Big Horn valley, and observed heavy clouds of dust
rising about five miles distant. Many thought the Indians were
moving away, and I think Custer believed so, for he sent word to
Reno, who was ahead, to push on the scouts rapidly and head for the
dust. Reno took a steady gallop down the creek bottom three miles
to where it emptied into the Little Big Horn, and found a natural
ford across Little Big Horn River. He started to cross, when the
scouts came back and called out to him to hold on, that the Sioux
were coming in large numbers to meet him. He crossed over, however,
formed his companies on the prairie in line of battle, and moved
forward at a trot, but soon took a gallop.

"The valley was about three-fourths of a mile wide. On the left a
line of low, round hills, and on the right the river bottom,
covered with a growth of cottonwood trees and bushes. After
scattering shots were fired from the hills and a few from the river
bottom, and Reno's skirmishers had returned the shots, he advanced
about a mile from the ford, to a line of timber on the right, and
dismounted his men to fight on foot. The horses were sent into the
timber, and the men formed on the prairies and advanced toward the
Indians. The Indians, mounted on ponies, came across the prairies
and opened a heavy fire on the soldiers. After skirmishing for a
few minutes Reno fell back to his horses in the timber. The Indians
moved to his left and rear, evidently with the intention of cutting
him off from the ford. Reno ordered his men to mount and move
through the timber. Just as the men got into the saddle the Sioux,
who had advanced in the timber, fired at close range and killed one
soldier. Reno then commanded the men to dismount, and they did so;
but he soon ordered them to mount again and moved out on the open
prairie. The command headed for the ford, pressed closely by
Indians in large numbers, and at every moment the rate of speed
was increased, until it became a dead run for the ford. The Sioux,
mounted on their swift ponies, dashed up by the side of the
soldiers and fired at them, killing both men and horses. Little
resistance was offered, and it was a complete route to the ford.

"I did not see the men at the ford, and do not know what took place
further than a good many were killed when the command left the
timber. Just as I got out my horse stumbled and fell, and I was
dismounted--the horse running away after Reno's command. I saw
several soldiers who were dismounted, their horses having been
killed or having run away. There were also some soldiers mounted
who had remained behind. In all there was as many as 13 men, three
of whom were wounded. Seeing no chance to get away, I called on
them to come into the timber and we would stand off the Indians.
They wanted to go out, but I said 'No, we can't get to the ford,
and, besides, we have wounded men and must stand by them.' They
still wanted to go, but I told them I was an old frontiersman,
understood Indians, and, if they would do as I said, I would get
them out of the scrape, which was no worse than scrapes I had been
in before. About half of the men were mounted, and they wanted to
keep their horses with them; but I told them to let them go, and
fight on foot. We stayed in the bush about three hours, and I could
hear heavy firing below in the river, apparently about two miles
distant. I did not know who it was, but knew the Indians were
fighting some of our men, and learned afterward it was Custer's
command. Nearly all the Indians in the upper end of the valley drew
off down the river, and the fight with Custer lasted about one
hour, when the heavy firing ceased.

"When the shooting below began to die away I said to the boys,
'Come, now is the time to get out; the Indians will come back, and
we had better be off at once.' Eleven of the 13 said they would go,
but two staid behind. I deployed the men as skirmishers, and we
moved forward on foot toward the river. When we had got nearly to
the river we met five Indians on ponies, and they fired on us. I
returned the fire and the Indians broke, and we forded the river,
the water being breast-deep. We finally got over, wounded men and
all, and headed for Reno's command, which I could see drawn up on
the bluffs along the river about a mile off. We reached Reno in
safety. We had not been with Reno more than 15 minutes when I saw
the Indians coming up the valley from Custer's fight. Reno was
then moving his whole command down the ridge toward Custer. The
Indians crossed the river below Reno and swarmed up the bluff on
all sides. After skirmishing with them Reno went back to his old
position which was on one of the highest points along the bluffs.
It was now about 5 P.M., and the fight lasted until it was too dark
to see to shoot. As soon as it was dark, Reno took the packs and
saddles off the mules and horses and made breastworks of them. He
also dragged the dead horses and mules on the line and sheltered
the men behind them. Some of the men dug rifle pits with their
butcher knives and all slept on their arms.

"At the peep of day the Indians opened a heavy fire and a desperate
fight ensued, lasting until 10 A.M. The Indians charged our
position three or four times, coming up close enough to hit our men
with stones, which they threw by hand. Captain Benteen saw a large
mass of Indians gathering on his front to charge, and ordered his
men to charge on foot and scatter them. Benteen led the charge, and
was upon the Indians before they knew what they were about and
killed a great many. They were evidently surprised at this
offensive movement. I think in desperate fighting Benteen is one of
the bravest men I ever saw. All the time he was going about through
the bullets, encouraging the soldiers to stand up to their work and
not let the Indians whip them. He never sheltered his own person
once during the battle, and I do not see how he escaped being
killed. The desperate charging and fighting was at about 1 P.M.,
but firing was kept up on both sides until late in the afternoon.

"I think the Indian village must have contained about 6,000 people,
fully 3,000 of whom were warriors. The Indians fought Reno first
and then went to fight Custer, after which they came back to finish
Reno. Hordes of squaws and old, gray-haired Indians were roaming
over the battle-field howling like mad. The squaws had stone
mallets, and mashed in the skulls of the dead and wounded. Our men
did not kill any squaws, but the Ree Indian scouts did. The bodies
of six squaws were found in the little ravine. The Indians must
have lost as many men in killed and wounded as the whites did."