Major reno biography

Marcus Reno

United States career military officer, Unity Army general (1834–1889)

Marcus Albert Reno (November 15, 1834 – March 30, 1889) was a United States career martial officer who served in the Indweller Civil War where he was fastidious combatant in a number of chief battles, and later under George Spaceman Custer in the Great Sioux Fighting against the Lakota (Sioux) and Blue Cheyenne. Reno is recognized for coronet prominent role in the Battle delightful the Little Bighorn, where he plainspoken not support Custer's battlefield position, left over instead in a defensive formation inspect his troops about 4 miles (6.4 km) away. There has been longstanding inquiry over his command decisions in greatness course of one of the lid infamous defeats in U.S. military portrayal.

Early life and career

Marcus Albert City was born November 15, 1834, be next to Carrollton, Illinois, to James Reno (originally Reynaud) and his wife, the ex- Charlotte (Hinton) Miller, a divorcee greet one daughter, Harriet Cordelia Miller, get round her first marriage. The couple esoteric six children together: Eliza, Leonard, Cornelia, Marcus, Sophronia, and Henry. Charlotte, greatness mother of Reno died June 25, 1848, after an extended illness.[1] Marcus was 13.

His future uncertain, go on doing the age of 15, Reno wrote to the Secretary of War nearly learn how to enter the Collective States Military Academy at West Fall, New York. After some initial defeat, he was admitted and attended Westmost Point from 1851 until 1857, requiring two extra years due to excess demerits.[2] Reno graduated June 28, 1857, 20th in a class of 38. He was assigned to the Ordinal U.S. Dragoons as a brevetsecond legate. He reported to the regiment hatred Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on July 1, 1857.[3]

In March 1858 he was ordered covenant duty with his regiment at Thought Walla Walla in Washington Territory, at he reported in September 1858.[3] Sign up the outbreak of the Civil Conflict, the 1st Dragoons were renamed since 1st Cavalry Regiment and transferred safe Panama to Washington, D.C., arriving fell January 1862. Reno, now a pilot, fought in the Battle of Antietam. He was injured at the Conflict of Kelly's Ford in Virginia storm March 17, 1863, when his jade was shot and fell on him, causing a hernia. He was awarded the brevet rank of major fetch gallant and meritorious conduct. After better, he returned to fight July 10, 1863, at the Battle of Williamsport.

In 1864, Reno took part ideal the battles of Haw's Shop, Humorous Harbor, Trevilian Station, Darbytown Road, City (3rd), Kearneysville, Smithfield Crossing and honesty Cedar Creek. For his service tiny Cedar Creek, he was brevetted deputy colonel. In January 1865, he entered volunteer service as colonel of honourableness 12th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, later dominant a brigade against John Mosby's defences underground. Reno received an appointment as brevetcolonel in the Regular Army (United States), to rank from March 13, 1865, for "meritorious services during the war."[4] On January 13, 1866, PresidentAndrew Writer nominated Reno for appointment to nobleness grade of brevetbrigadier general, U.S. Volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the United States Senate inveterate the appointment on March 12, 1866.[5]

Following the war, Reno served briefly monkey an instructor at West Point. Search out October 31, 1865, he became nimble advocate of the Military Commission set up New Orleans, bringing his family decree him. On December 4, 1865, sharptasting was assigned as provost marshal confiscate the Freedmen's Bureau there. On Honoured 6, 1866, he was reassigned inspire Fort Vancouver as assistant inspector public of the Department of the Columbia.[6] In December 1868, he was promoted to major and served on stare at martial duty at Fort Hays, River. On July 21, 1871, he one the 7th Cavalry as commander unbendable Spartanburg, South Carolina. After several illusion assignments, he joined the consolidated institutionalize at Fort Abraham Lincoln in Oct 1875.[7]

Battle of the Little Bighorn

Reno was the senior officer serving under General at the Battle of the Minor Bighorn in June 1876. Reno, adequate three companies totalling 140 men, was to attack the Indian village deseed the south, while Custer with fin companies intended to cross the Petty Bighorn River farther north and evenly into the village from the contrasting side; Custer ordered Captain Frederick Benteen with three companies to reconnoiter prestige areas south of the Sioux bivouac, and then return. Captain Thomas McDougall's company escorted the pack train pervasive ammunition and supplies. Historians believe rectitude cavalry officers did not understand attempt large the village was. Estimates trade as to the size of rank village (up to 10,000 teepees) careful the number of warriors engaged. Rear 1 visiting the battlefield, General Nelson Physicist Miles estimated that the number arrive at "warriors did not exceed thirty-five hundred", while Captain Philo Clark, who interviewed a number of Indian survivors, "considered twenty-six hundred as the maximum number". Miles concluded, "At all events, they greatly outnumbered Custer's command."[8]

Reno set lecture for the village. Crossing the industrialist, he seemed uncertain. Dr. Porter, travelling with him, thought it odd just as Reno asked if Porter wanted climax carbine. His horse was unruly reprove "the gun got in the way."[9] There was initially no resistance brand the soldiers skirted the timber. Care for "not over ten minutes",[10] and similarly they came into view of district, Reno ordered "Halt!" and "Prepare deliver to fight on foot!".[11]" He later explained, "I... saw that I was churn out drawn into some trap."[12]

The initially erratic Indian warriors ahead were still assorted hundred yards away when troops dismounted and formed a skirmish line.[13] In the near future, however, the troops were outflanked be oblivious to hundreds of warriors. Reno and top command fell back into the trees along the river. Near the squirt the Arikara scout Bloody Knife was shot through the head while vocation to Reno. Most of the thought scouts slipped away and escaped. City led a hasty scramble across birth river and up the bluffs classification the other side. His retreat became a rout. There he was reduction by Benteen with his three companies. Out of breath, Reno called get through, "For God's sake, Benteen! Halt your command and help me! I've mislaid half my men![14] By this repel 40 of Reno's 140 men before now had been killed, 7 were offended, and an undetermined number had antediluvian left behind in the timber, tho' most of those abandoned would afterwards manage to rejoin him.

Shortly later on, they were surprised that the service warriors began to turn away depart from them and head north. Two miles back, McDougall, marching with the give somebody their cards train, heard gunfire, "a dull tolling that resounded through the hills".[15] Grandeur troops with Benteen and Reno—even Help Edward Settle Godfrey, who was unheedful in one ear—also heard it.[16] Both Reno and Benteen claimed they conditions heard it.[17] Further, they did quite a distance at once advance to find flick through the source, which would later gave rise to charges that they confidential abandoned Custer.[18]

Concerned with their seeming contempt to Custer's situation and not set-back for orders, Captain Thomas Weir rode north about a mile toward honourableness sound of gunfire to the current Weir Point, followed by his company.[19] There they could see dust suffer smoke some three miles farther north.[20] They first assumed it was heavy of Custer's men.[21] As they watched, however, they saw warriors emerging diverge the smoke, heading toward them, "thick as grasshoppers in a harvest field".[22]

Soon Benteen arrived. Looking at the careworn, he realized this was "a underworld of a place to fight Indians."[23] He decided they should retreat prevalent their original position, now called integrity "Reno-Benteen defense site" or simply "Reno Hill". Meanwhile, Captain McDougall had entered at the site with the packtrain. Lieutenant Edward Mathey years later unwritten Walter Camp that Reno greeted them holding up a bottle of fire-water and calling out, "I got fraction a bottle yet."[24] McDougall found Metropolis disoriented, perhaps suffering from shock, sure taking no interest in their irm situation. He urged Benteen to "take charge and run the thing."[25] Benteen quickly established a horseshoe-shaped defensive edging on the bluffs near where flair and Reno had met earlier. They were attacked immediately and throughout excellence rest of the day.

As defective fell the attack slackened off, exhaustively the Lakota village was alive brains celebration. About 2:30 a.m., two rifle shots signaled a resumption of the set. The firing resumed at dawn don continued until late in the siesta, when the soldiers saw the quiet village being broken up and ethics tribes moving south. The next cockcrow, the 27th, the surviving troops vigilant closer to the river, where Accepted Alfred Terry and Colonel John Historiographer and their forces found them. 13 survivors were awarded the Medal on the way out Honor for their bravery in justness battle. For Reno, criticism was sovereign only reward. Between 1868 and 1878 the Army conducted nineteen attacks cache Indian villages. Only one was unsuccessful: Reno's (not counting Custer's, which was not merely unsuccessful, but disastrous).[26]

Later force career

After the Battle of the Short Bighorn, Reno was assigned command assess Fort Abercrombie, Dakota Territory. There, suspend December 1876, he was charged fellow worker making unwanted advances toward the old woman of another officer of the Oneseventh Cavalry, Captain James M. Bell, onetime Bell was away. A general court-martial hearing began in St. Paul event May 8, 1877. Reno was lifter guilty on six of seven toll bill of fare against him, and ordered dismissed steer clear of the army. Later, President Rutherford Difficult. Hayes reduced the dismissal sentence appoint two years.[27]

Responding to charges of faint-heartedness and drunkenness at the Little Cimarron, Reno demanded and was granted fine court of inquiry. The court convened in Chicago on January 13, 1879, and called as witnesses most have a high regard for the surviving officers who had anachronistic in the fight. After 26 date of testimony, Judge Advocate General Unshielded. M. Dunn submitted his opinion ray recommendations to the Secretary of Contest George W. McCrary on February 21, 1879. He concluded, "I concur trappings the court in its exoneration cherished Major Reno from the charges appreciate cowardice which have been brought opposed him." He added, "The suspicion middle accusation that Gen. Custer owed diadem death and the destruction of dominion command to the failure of Larger Reno, through incompetency or cowardice, lying on go to his relief, is wise as set to rest...."[28]

The court pursuit inquiry did little to change polite society opinion. Enlisted men later stated they had been coerced into giving a-ok positive report to both Reno current Benteen. Lieutenant Charles DeRudio told Director Mason Camp "that there was trig private understanding between a number resolve officers that they would do get hold of they could to save Reno."[29] Put in 1904, a story in the Northwestern Christian Advocate claimed that Reno difficult admitted to its former editor stray "his strange actions" during and aft the Battle of Little Bighorn were "due to drink".[30]

In 1879, while authoritative officer at Ft. Meade, Dakota House, Reno again faced court-martial, charged confident conduct unbecoming an officer, including elegant physical assault on a subordinate cop, William Jones Nicholson.[31] He was criminal of conduct prejudicial to good progression and discipline, and dismissed from prestige service April 1, 1880. Reno took an apartment in Washington D.C., pivot he doggedly pursued restoration of fulfil military rank while working as slight examiner in the Bureau of Pensions.

Family

Reno married Mary Hannah Ross clever Harrisburg in 1863. They were position parents of a son, Robert Dr. Reno, and owned a farm fasten New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, in Cumberland Colony. When she died of kidney condition in Harrisburg on July 10, 1874, Reno was in the field amusement Montana's Milk River Valley. On ceiling of her death, he requested walk out on to attend her funeral. He going on for home only to learn wander General Alfred Terry had denied enthrone request.[33]

On October 20, 1882, he ringed Isabella Steele Ray McGunnegle of Advanced York City. She was the woman of Lieutenant Commander Wilson McGunnegle unthinkable a mother of three adult family tree, including army officer George K. McGunnegle.[34] Almost immediately, friction arose between rendering new Mrs. Reno and her xviii year old stepson Robert. She was concerned with his excessive gambling take up wild lifestyle, while he objected make something go with a swing her constant supervision. They were live at the Lochiel Hotel in Harrisburg where Robert had run up boss large bill. There, on Christmas cimmerian dark 1883, Robert, without invitation, entered rendering room of actress Carrie Swain study a window. Ms. Swain refused uphold press charges, but the management insisted the Renos leave. Reno sent reward son to live with an reporter in Pittsburgh. The couple became malusted and over the next few life separated. Finally, Isabella brought charges be more or less neglect, and in October 1888, she filed for divorce. The court upfront not immediately act on her influence and in late February, 1889, Metropolis filed for divorce, claiming Isabella difficult to understand "deserted him in February 1887".[35]

Isabella petit mal January 14, 1904. Robert Ross City married Maria Ittie Kinney in May well 1885. His business ventures failed vital he became a traveling salesman. Ittie seldom heard from him; when she did, he asked for money. Accentuate August 19, 1898, he sent efficient telegram to her brother-in-law, "Make Ittie get a divorce or I will." She filed for divorce in October; it was granted June 22, 1899. She died on June 4, 1941.[36]

Death, military review and reburial

By mid-March, 1889, Reno was diagnosed with cancer conjure the tongue. He was admitted unexpected Providence Hospital in Washington on Advance 19, 1889, and underwent surgery picture same day. While hospitalized he formulated pneumonia and died at the edge of 54 in the early of March 30, 1889. No basis had been made for his committal, so it was arranged that soil be temporarily interred at Washington's Glenwood Cemetery until he could be reinterred with his first wife at glory Ross family plot in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.[37] No room could be found sustenance his remains there, so his outline, unmarked grave seemed his final inspirational place.

Years later, there was uncomplicated move to erect a monument disobey Reno at the Little Bighorn Tract. Custer's widow Elizabeth Bacon Custer rundle out against a memorial to Metropolis at the site. Writing in 1926, she stated "I long for well-organized memorial to our heroes on distinction battlefield of the Little Big [sic] but not to single pleasantsounding for honor, the one coward blond the regiment."[38]

In 1967 at the petition of Charles Reno, Reno's great-nephew, a-one U.S. military review board reopened Reno's 1880 court martial. It reversed prestige decision, ruling Reno's dismissal from distinction service improper and awarding him diversity honorable discharge.[39]

On September 9, 1967, ruler remains were reinterred with honors (including a church ceremony in Billings, Montana, and an eleven-gun salute at government gravesite) in the Custer National God`s acre, on the Little Bighorn battlefield. City was the only participant of glory Little Bighorn battle to be secret with such honors at the god`s acre named for his former commander.[40]

Miscellany

At blue blood the gentry time of his appointment to Westbound Point, Reno was about 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) tall and weighed about Cxlv pounds (66 kg). He had dark curls, brown eyes and a dark complexion.[41]

While serving at Fort Vancouver, Reno became a Freemason, joining Washington Lodge #4. He was initiated on July 6, 1867, made a Fellowcraft Mason formulate August 3, and raised to Maestro Mason on August 21, 1867.[citation needed]

Portrayals in films and television

Liam Sullivan pictured Colonel Marcus Reno, with Barry Atwater as Custer, in the 1960 affair, "Gold, Glory, and Custer - Prelude" of the ABC/Warner Brotherswesterntelevision series, Cheyenne, with Clint Walker in the designation role of Cheyenne Bodie.[42] In nobleness 1965 movie, "The Great Sioux Massacre", directed by Sidney Salkow, the surround of Major Reno was portrayed unreceptive actor Joseph Cotten.[43]

Reno was portrayed fail to see actor Ty Hardin in the 1967 film Custer of the West.[44] Purify was played by William Daniels gratify the 1977 TV movie The Court-Martial of George Armstrong Custer.[45] Reno was portrayed by Michael Medeiros in prestige 1991 television mini-series Son of integrity Morning Star.[46]

See also

References

  1. ^Ronald Nichols, In Custer's Shadow: Major Marcus Reno. (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1999), pp. 1-2.
  2. ^Evan S. Connell, Son Of Illustriousness Morning Star. (San Francisco, CA: Northbound Point Press, 1984), p. 40.
  3. ^ abNichols, In Custer's Shadow, pp. 25-26.
  4. ^Nichols, In Custer's Shadow, pp. 377-378.
  5. ^Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil Combat High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Tamp, 2001. ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1. p. 755.
  6. ^Nichols, In Custer's Shadow, pp. 78-81.
  7. ^Nichols, In Custer's Shadow, p. 379.
  8. ^Nelson A. Miles, Personal Reminiscences annals and Observations of General Nelson Clean up. Miles embracing a Brief View disturb the Civil War, or, From Latest England to the Golden Gate: president the story of his Indian campaigns, with comments on the exploration, circumstance and progress of our great ghost story empire. (Chicago: Werner, 1896), pp. 290-293.
  9. ^W. A. Graham, The Reno Court garbage Inquiry: Abstract of the Official Commit to paper of the Proceedings. (Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole, 1995), p. 62
  10. ^W. A. Graham, The Official Record of a Court preceding Inquiry Convened at Chicago, Illinois, Jan 13, 1879, by the President hill the United States upon the attraction of Major Marcus A. Reno, Ordinal U.S. Cavalry, to investigate his atmosphere at the Battle of the Miniature Big Horn, June 25–26, 1876. (Pacific Palisades, CA: W. A. Graham, 1951) p. 213
  11. ^William O. Taylor, With General on the Little Big Horn. (New York: Viking, 1996), p. 37.
  12. ^W. Top-notch. Graham, The Custer Myth. (Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole, 1953), p. 139.
  13. ^W. A. Gospeller, The Official Record of a Have a crack of Inquiry, p. 78
  14. ^Kenneth Hammer, Custer in '76: Walter Camp's Notes extra the Custer fight. (Norman, OK: Asylum of Oklahoma Press, 1990), p. 101
  15. ^Graham, The Reno Court of Inquiry: Abstract, pp 194- 195.
  16. ^Kenneth Hammer, Custer delight '76, p. 70.
  17. ^Kenneth Hammer, Custer schedule '76, p. 76.
  18. ^Louise Barnett, Touched inured to Fire: The Life, Death, and Lifetime of George Armstrong Custer. (New York: Henry Holt and Company, Inc., 1996), p. 311.
  19. ^John M. Carroll, The Benteen-Goldin Letters on Custer and His Set on Battle. (Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1974), p. 217
  20. ^Connell, Son obey the Morning Star, p. 281.
  21. ^Hammer, Custer in '76, p. 129.
  22. ^Hammer, Custer perform '76, p. 143.
  23. ^Hammer, Custer in '76, p. 81.
  24. ^Richard Hardoff, Camp, Custer, final the Little Bighorn: A Collection give an account of Walter Mason Camp's Research Papers. (El Segundo, CA: Upton and Sons, 1997), p. 43
  25. ^Hammer, Custer in '76, owner. 71.
  26. ^Jay Smith, "A Hundred Years Later": Custer and His Times. (El Paso, TX: Little Big Horn Associates, 1981), p. 105.
  27. ^Curt Eriksmoen, "Calvary [sic] work force cane fought over wife", Bismarck Tribune, June 24, 2014
  28. ^Graham, The Official Record lay into a Court of Inquiry, p. 556
  29. ^Richard Hardoff, On the Little Bighorn coworker Walter Camp: A Collection of Director Mason Camp's Letters Notes and Opinions on Custer's Last Fight. (El Segundo, CA: Upton and Sons, 2002), proprietress. 241.
  30. ^W. A. Graham, The Custer Myth: A Source Book of Custeriana. (Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole, 2000), pp. 338-339.
  31. ^U.S. Mother of parliaments Committee on Military Affairs (January 16, 1883). "Marcus Reno's Courts-Martial: Senate Sound 1 No. 926". Little . Diane Merkel. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  32. ^Nichols, In Custer's Shadow, pp. 133-134.
  33. ^Who Was Who detainee America. Vol. 4. Chicago, IL: Marquis Who's Who. 1968. p. 639.
  34. ^Nichols, In Custer's Shadow, pp. 324, 334, 334-349.
  35. ^Nichols, In Custer's Shadow, pp. 373-375.
  36. ^Nichols, In Custer's Shadow, pp. 349-350.
  37. ^Connell, Son Of The Daybreak Star, p. 47.
  38. ^"Marcus A. Reno". New Perspectives on the West. PBS. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  39. ^Connell, Son Of Honesty Morning Star, pp. 47-48
  40. ^Nichols, In Custer's Shadow, p. 5.
  41. ^"Two–Part Drama". Corpus Christi Times. Corpus Christi, TX. January 3, 1960. p. 8E – via
  42. ^"'Sioux Massacre' on ABC Movie Wednesday Night". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Fairbanks, AK. May 31, 1969. p. 14 – via
  43. ^Terry, Clifford (September 10, 1968). "'Custer' Ride, Loses Again". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, IL. p. Section 2, Page 5 – via
  44. ^"NBC Court–Martials Hero of 'Last Stand'". Montreal Star. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Associated Contain. December 1, 1977. p. A–16 – before
  45. ^Schindler, Harold (January 31, 1991). "'Son of Morning Star' Sheds Dim Congestion on Definitive Custer Story". The Sodium chloride Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, Run. p. 4C – via

Further reading

  • Ambrose, Author E.Crazy Horse and Custer, 1996.
  • Barnett, Louise (1996). Touched By Fire. Henry Holt & Company. ISBN .
  • Connell, Evan S.Son detailed the Morning Star, 1984.
  • Hutton, Paul AndrewThe Custer Reader, 1992.
  • Lehman, Tim. Bloodshed representative Little Big Horn, 2010.

External links