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Reno, Marcus A., 1835-1889, (Marcus Albert) / The official record of a court of inquiry convened at Chicago, Illinois, January 13, 1879, by the President of the United States upon the request of Major Marcus A. Reno, 7th U.S. Cavalry, to investigate his conduct at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, June 25-26, 1876
(1951)
Twenty-fourth day, pp. 509-529
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Page 510
Q W Where did you lose it? A. In the bottom., or in the tiiaber0 Q. Stcte if you brought your carbine with you to the top of the hill,, A. Yes., sir; I didc Q. Did you ever tell any person you lost your carbine in the bottom? A. No, sir; I dont think that matter would be a subject of conversation under the circumstances0 I had no time to talk about it. Stnte if you fired your revolver on the top of the hill when the Indians were a considerable distance from you, A. No, sir; I fired ray revolver several times coming across the bottom. I don't think when I got on the hill I had a chzirre in it. Q. State whether it was cowardice or not that prompted you to leave the timiber and the bottom. A. No, sir. Q. Have you already sufficiently stated your motives in leaving, the timber? A. Yes,, sir, tby idea was, we had an itanense force against us, and nobody came to our assistance. I was not certain that anybody 'new where I was, unless directed by the firing,, The wsition in my judgqientr, war not tenahle, and I thought that by placing my cournTand on the hill, the scattered portions of the regiment could get together0 Qi. That was your motive? A. Yes, sir; and it contwinued so all the time, It was my opinion that was the only means of getting anybody away alive Q. Do you rernemnber about a guidon being placed at a point termed Capt. Weir s Hill? A. It was done. Q. For what purpose and when? A, It was thought it might be discovered by the scattered men and detachments, It was done at the suggestion of Capt. Benteen. I think he did it. 'What time was that? A. I canst state the hour; it was after the commrand started down the river on the 25th of June 1876. Q. State with respect to the amunt of firing you heard, and the impression it made on your mind At the time0. a. I heard no firing till after we moved down some distance., Then I he(Ard a few scattering shots. I could not locate thex.vi I would not swear whether they were from the direction in which General Custer's body was afterwards discovered or from the village. I thought it- wa-'s -fronm the village. ,r Was it so severe as to give you the irnpress:LO. of a general engagement?3 AV To,, sir. I' 1(2I
Copyright 1951 by W. A. Graham.| For information on re-use see: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/Copyright