|
|
Post by fred on Oct 30, 2007 16:57:16 GMT -6
Reno is in the water. His column is crossing... He is standing there with... His orders are... He reforms once across... He leads his command... They see... Suddenly... !  Reno's 1st skirmish line ran from the far treeline-- probably from the right edge of the timber-- past the red-roofed museum, through the plowed field (far right). One hell of a haul! This picture gives you a fairly good idea of how large the distances were and how much they factored into the battle. Also, the trees today are larger than they were in 1876. Best wishes, Fred. |
|
|
|
Post by crzhrs on Oct 31, 2007 8:43:45 GMT -6
<Reno is in the water. His column is crossing...>
Herendeen stated: "When scouts called out to him to hold on . . . the Sioux were coming in large numbers to meet him . . ."
<He is standing there with...>
Couldn't find anything just yet.
<His orders are...>
Herendeen: "Custer sent word to push on the scouts rapidly and head for the dust."
<He reforms once across...>
John Sivertsen: Reno gave the command: 'Right front into line . . . load pistols . . . gallop."
<They see...>
Sivertsen: "We saw Indians on every side, the bluffs crowded with them."
<Suddenly... !>
Sivertsen: "The command was given: 'Dismount and fight on foot!"
|
|
|
|
Post by clw on Oct 31, 2007 10:33:40 GMT -6
from Command and General Staff College....
"After receiving his instructions and leaving Custer for the last time, Reno recrossed to the left bank of Reno Creek and followed the stream to its confluence, with the Little Bighorn, where he briefly stopped to water the horses. Five minutes later, Reno's battalion forded the Little Bighorn and deployed into a line across the narrow, flat valley. For the first time, Reno could see the edge of what now appeared to be an enormous Indian village."
"At 1503, Reno, ordered his men to advance down the valley. As their horses accelerated to a fast trot, several officers and men in the advancing line could see troopers from Custer's battalion on the bluffs to the east, beyond the Little Bighorn. They could also see a swarm of Indian warriors gathering at the southern edge of the village. At the same time, Reno's Indian scouts, who initially formed the left flank of his line, veered westward toward the Indian pony herd on the bench above the Little Bighorn. Their task was to drive off as much of the herd as possible to prevent the Indians' escape. At 1513, officers and men in the charging line once again saw soldiers on the crest of the hill across the Little Bighorn. Several of Reno's men later testified that they could clearly see Custer waving his hat to the line of horsemen in the valley. Within a few minutes, Reno concluded that without immediate support, his 135-man force could not attack through the village and hope to survive."
"At 1518, Reno ordered his men to dismount and form a skirmish line."
|
|
|
|
Post by elisabeth on Oct 31, 2007 11:19:51 GMT -6
<He is standing there with ...>
... Cooke and Keogh. (Wallace's RCOI testimony, as one of many sources.)
|
|
|
|
Post by conz on Nov 8, 2007 7:59:03 GMT -6
Fred's pic is from the Native point of view, so here is some narrative to go with it...
"The cavalry was first seen by some squaws who were about seven miles distant from their village, digging roots and gathering herbs. These squaws were mounted on ponies and, being chased by the soldiers, hastened back to the Indian village and gave the alarm, one of them being overtaken and killed in the flight.’ – White Bull… note: these women were fired upon by Ree Scouts who were operating in the valley ahead of Reno's advancing battalion. After the battle, burial details found the bodies of six women in a little ravine in front of Reno's skirmish line.”
"To their left front, the scouts saw Major Reno's command. He had already forded the river and was now preparing to charge down the open valley. The Arikara scouts were racing ahead, intent on running off the Sioux pony herds. A few Sioux warriors maneuvered to and fro in Reno's front, hoping to delay his advance." – White Man Runs Him
"The charge was from the upper end of the camp. The Indians gave way slowly, retreating until they got their horses and got mounted. Just as soon as they got sufficient force - for our warriors were rushing to help them as fast as they could - they drove the white warriors back, and they retreated. These were Reno's men." – Hump
"We all looked east at the bluffs and saw three bodies of soldiers. The south body moved first and went south. Then the middle body moved and crossed. Everybody was running for horses. I saw Reno's men crossing the river. I saw two divisions of Reno's men coming, each carrying a flag. The soldiers who went north went behind the ridges. They rode bay and gray horses. I got on my horse and so did other warriors, and Reno's men shot into the Hunkpapa camp." – Little Soldier
|
|
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they