Post by bc on Mar 14, 2013 19:48:40 GMT -6
Hello everyone. I started something on the other board regarding a reprint in the March LBHA newsletter. Fred and maybe others have read it but I thought there might be some interest here to comment on it. Some of it is new stuff to me.
In it are a copy of the interviews conducted by a correspondent of the New York Herald which were printed in the Herald in August 1876 and reprinted in the Chicago Tribune on 8-10-1876 where these come from. The interviews are quite remarkable. I can't retype the whole thing but will type some excerpts from Benteen's interview first. I will save Reno's for later but his last paragraph was so profound to me that I will bring it up now.
Benteen: Starts with comments by the reporter:
..... The Colonel, who has covered himself with glory in the fight, and is popularly known as the savior of the Seventh, is an older man than Col. Reno .....
.... The Colonel, ..... took his note-book and made a rough sketch of the plan of the battle. The Colonel said:
Col. Benteen's Statement: ...... I was sent with my battalion to the left, to a line of bluffs about 5 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 farther in that direction, to rejoin 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 west bank of a branch of the Little Big Horn River, which made into the main stream about 2 1/2 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 were 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 inducements for the Indians. No valleys were visible, not even the valley where the fight took place until my command struck the river. About 3 miles from the point where Reno crossed the ford, I met a Sergeant bringing orders to the commanding officer of the rear guard, Capt. McDougal, Company B, to hurry up the pack trains. A mile further I was met by my trumpeter, bringing a written order from Lieut. Cooke, .......
(I note that Benteen confirms what Kanipe was doing.BC)
.... A mile or 1 1/2 miles further on I first came in sight of the valley and the 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 the time. Capt. 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 it was clear they had been beaten. I then marched my command to their succor.
(Who were these dismounted men? Was it McIntosh and others fighting a rear guard action on their own? BC)
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. The rest of the story you must get from Col. Reno, as he took command, and knows more than anyone else.
(note that Benteen seemed to get into cya mode here but also that Reno didn't take command until the return back to Reno Hill. bc)
Now for the last part of Reno's story:
..... Among the gallant deeds in the Custer fight, the splendid conduct of Lieut. Cooke deserves especial mention. He was the last officer to fall, and he remained mounted to the last. After Custer's death the command of the survivors fell on him, and with his small band he repeatedly charged the Indians. The Crow scout, who is the only known survivor, says that the Sioux warriors scattered time and time again before the desperate onslaught of Cooke and his handful of men, who fell at last, overwhelmed by innumerable enemies. (end of statement)
(wow, Was Cooke the mounted officer noted in an NA account as being so brave? bc)
bc
In it are a copy of the interviews conducted by a correspondent of the New York Herald which were printed in the Herald in August 1876 and reprinted in the Chicago Tribune on 8-10-1876 where these come from. The interviews are quite remarkable. I can't retype the whole thing but will type some excerpts from Benteen's interview first. I will save Reno's for later but his last paragraph was so profound to me that I will bring it up now.
Benteen: Starts with comments by the reporter:
..... The Colonel, who has covered himself with glory in the fight, and is popularly known as the savior of the Seventh, is an older man than Col. Reno .....
.... The Colonel, ..... took his note-book and made a rough sketch of the plan of the battle. The Colonel said:
Col. Benteen's Statement: ...... I was sent with my battalion to the left, to a line of bluffs about 5 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 farther in that direction, to rejoin 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 west bank of a branch of the Little Big Horn River, which made into the main stream about 2 1/2 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 were 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 inducements for the Indians. No valleys were visible, not even the valley where the fight took place until my command struck the river. About 3 miles from the point where Reno crossed the ford, I met a Sergeant bringing orders to the commanding officer of the rear guard, Capt. McDougal, Company B, to hurry up the pack trains. A mile further I was met by my trumpeter, bringing a written order from Lieut. Cooke, .......
(I note that Benteen confirms what Kanipe was doing.BC)
.... A mile or 1 1/2 miles further on I first came in sight of the valley and the 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 the time. Capt. 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 it was clear they had been beaten. I then marched my command to their succor.
(Who were these dismounted men? Was it McIntosh and others fighting a rear guard action on their own? BC)
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. The rest of the story you must get from Col. Reno, as he took command, and knows more than anyone else.
(note that Benteen seemed to get into cya mode here but also that Reno didn't take command until the return back to Reno Hill. bc)
Now for the last part of Reno's story:
..... Among the gallant deeds in the Custer fight, the splendid conduct of Lieut. Cooke deserves especial mention. He was the last officer to fall, and he remained mounted to the last. After Custer's death the command of the survivors fell on him, and with his small band he repeatedly charged the Indians. The Crow scout, who is the only known survivor, says that the Sioux warriors scattered time and time again before the desperate onslaught of Cooke and his handful of men, who fell at last, overwhelmed by innumerable enemies. (end of statement)
(wow, Was Cooke the mounted officer noted in an NA account as being so brave? bc)
bc