BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIG HORN OR BATTLE OF THE GREASY GRASS — RENO, Marcus A. (1834-1889) — Manuscript letter, in a secretarial hand, to Captain E. W. Smith, aide de camp to General Alfred Terry, “Hdqr’s 7th Reggie/ Cavalry, Camp on Yellowstone...

BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIG HORN OR BATTLE OF THE GREASY GRASS — RENO, Marcus A. (1834-1889) — Manuscript letter, in a secretarial hand, to Captain E. W. Smith, aide de camp to General Alfred Terry, “Hdqr’s 7th Reggie/ Cavalry, Camp on Yellowstone River, July 5th 1876.”

22 pages, 258 x 200mm, bifolia.

Marcus Reno’s controversial report on Custer’s defeat at the Battle of Little Big Horn, a contemporary copy. Reno, the most senior officer to survive the battle, submitted his official report ten days following the overwhelming defeat of the 7th Cavalry detachment that attempted to subdue a combined force of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho on 25-26 June 1876. He chronicles the events from 22 June as Custer's column marched northward along the Rosebud River and Custer's orders to divide the command into three prior to the attack. Reno recalls Custer ordering that he should charge "and that the whole outfit would support me. I think those were his exact words." Reno advanced and once he had realized how much larger the enemy village was situated than anticipated, reported to Custer "that I had everything in front of me, and that they were strong." Reno believed he "was being drawn into some trap," but he "could not see Custer or any other support, and at the same time the very earth seemed to grow Indians". Reno found himself outnumbered, and soon after retreating and regrouping, he was joined by the Benteen's column and the combined commands, according to Reno, attempted to make contact with Custer's column, "having heard firing in that direction and knew it could only be Custer." But Reno was unable to get close enough to open a line of communication. The next day he would discover Custer and his men, slain in the field, having been overrun by the village's defenders. As to the cause of the debacle, Reno concluded that "had the regiment gone in as a body, and from the woods from which I fought advanced upon the village, its destruction was certain. But he was fully confident they were running away, 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 obtain for the misfortune; His rapid marching for two days and one night before the fight; attacking in the day ... and lastly, his unfortunate division of the regiment into three commands." Supporters of Custer would later accuse Reno cowardice for his initial retreat and of not advancing to the aid of Custer, noting that Benteen's column was meant to relive Custer and not Reno, and found his blame of Custer for dividing his command self-serving. Reno would also face accusations of drunkenness on the night before the battle. In 1878, he demanded a court martial to clear his name and was exonerated the following year. Unfortunately for Reno, he would be dismissed from the Army in 1880 over another alleged incident involving alcohol.

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PROPERTY FROM THE ROGER D. JUDD COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL LETTERS, DOCUMENTS & MANUSCRIPTS