What Should He Have Done?

[crazycanuck]

Did Reno run or retreat chaotically with every man for himself ? He did stop at the top of the bluffs. That's got to count for something . Yes he may of wanted to abondon wounded later but he didn't.

[joewiggs]

CC, with all respect, even those who supported Reno's decision to "charge" away from the village admit that the manner in which it was done was deplorable. This movement was described as an "everyman" for himself situation.

DeRudio stated (off the record) that, "we would have all perished had we not been led by a coward." At the Inquiry the Lt. was called upon to verify his statement and did so.

Doctor Porter, upon arriving safely upon Reno Hill, stated to the Reno that the men were very "demoralized" weren't they Major.
Reno responded, "That was a charge sir!"

Many of the men did not hear any orders to "charge" from the timber. Even his orderly Sergeant Davern, only saw the men mounting their horses. He said, "no orders were given about leaving the timber." As a result, men were left behind.

Notification of this nature (under the harsh conditions of battle) is the sole responsibility of the commander via trumpeter.

Despite the justifications of his action by Reno and his defenders, the words spoken by his own adjutant, "It looks most damnably like a rout," speaks volumes.

One soldier yelled, "For God's sake don't lets us run."

[crazycanuck]

Jiggs, " I concur with the court in it's exoneration of Major Reno from it's charge of cowardice". Along with Reno, I suppose you think OJ Simpson and Casey Anthony were quilty as well. Of course they were, as well as Reno's partial quilty touch of cowardice at LBH, but the army said no to that charge(I understand the thinking if Reno's a coward the public may think the Army are cowards). Anyways Reno implodes later as well as Simpson and so will Anthony. You are correct in the idea that many of the answers can only be found by studying the Inquiry and other primary sources ,letters etc. Maybe Reno expected his soldiers to read his mind and follow his "charge" because in extreme conditions(tougher conditions than harsh) there is no time to yell retreat and summon the trumpeter. Do I believe this ? No.

[joewiggs]

CC, do we not own it to ourselves and to the subordinates who must follow the military"Leaders" that we appoint, that they be held to a higher standard? You and I probably would not have done as well as Reno but, we didn't spend four years at the Academy or receive rank during the Civil War either.

During the era of this battle, trumpets were the sole, effective type of communication the military possessed that was capable of being heard over the "din" of battle.

To anticipate that any trooper was capable of hearing a "shouted"oral command when hundred of horses are whining, hundreds of rifles are being discharged, and hundreds of men are shouting is just not reasonable.

The commander of the unit (if alive) has the sole responsibility to order a command via the trumpeter! The authority can not be usurped without the possibility of Court martial. The only reasonable conclusion to draw from Reno's haste to leave is that he "forgot" to give the order.

The Court did not absolve Reno of cowardice, they simply did not charge or affirm his guilt.

I do not think Reno should be burden with the entire package of responsibility for this battle and I think your response is sensible and thought provoking. In my humble opinion, however, the students of the battle will be better served with the realization that Reno's "charge" was a total collapse of responsibility and resulted in other irresponsible decisions.

[crazycanuck]

Thank-you Jigs but I'm pretty sure they exonerated him from charges of cowardice rightly or wrongly but I could be wrong.

[joewiggs]

Thank you GCC (Gentleman Crazycanuck) too for your posts that always keep me on my toes!

[strange]

Aug 22, 2011 8:19:49 GMT -5 crazycanuck said:

Jiggs, " I concur with the court in it's exoneration of Major Reno from it's charge of cowardice". Along with Reno, I suppose you think OJ Simpson and Casey Anthony were quilty as well. Of course they were, as well as Reno's partial quilty touch of cowardice at LBH, but the army said no to that charge(I understand the thinking if Reno's a coward the public may think the Army are cowards). Anyways Reno implodes later as well as Simpson and so will Anthony. You are correct in the idea that many of the answers can only be found by studying the Inquiry and other primary sources ,letters etc. Maybe Reno expected his soldiers to read his mind and follow his "charge" because in extreme conditions(tougher conditions than harsh) there is no time to yell retreat and summon the trumpeter. Do I believe this ? No.

He's also tooting the official policies of the day with some of what he says on there.

[crazycanuck]

Jigs,a jig involves lively steps with the use of the toes,how ironic,"keeping you on your toes", with all your practice here, should be easy for you. I was hoping General Crazycanuck but hey I will take "gentlemen",mind you, a bit of a stretch.

[joewiggs]

Hence forth, I present to you the Honorable, tenacious, and the obtuse, General CrazyCanuck! ;D

[crazycanuck]

Thank-you Jig but you misspelled acute. You had OBTUSE. Imagine that, a person with your grasp of the vocabularies and grammar making such mistake. I forgive you.

[joewiggs]

Aug 24, 2011 7:26:19 GMT -5 crazycanuck said:

Thank-you Jig but you misspelled acute. You had OBTUSE. Imagine that, a person with your grasp of the vocabularies and grammar making such mistake. I forgive you.

Ladies and Gentlemen, sorrowful news is among us. After reading the above statement, Jigs's gut busted from laughing to hard. Please send all donations of grief to the "Good-by Jigs" foundation headed by the Honorable General CrazyCannuck (GCC).

Mr. Jig would like the forum to know that he did commit an error when he referred to GCC as "Obtuse." He, in fact, meant acutely hackneyed. ;D

[crazycanuck]

Nice sparring with you Jigs but be careful , when we talk in the third person for example "Jig's gut busted" and "Mr. Jig would like the forum" you may be displaying Illusions of Grandeur. Just trying to help you before it gets any worse. You know back to reality.

[whitebull]

Just what in hell are you both talking about?

[joewiggs]

GCC is just being amusing! He helps me to remember the importance of maintaining a micro of "reality" when posting.

I must confess that I tend to get carried away on occasion!