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                 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 de-
volved 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 fresh-
ening with every mile until we had made 28 miles, and we then
encamped and waited for information from the scouts. At 9.25
P. Mr., 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 im-
possible to do so in the da time 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