Testimony of Private Peter Thompson
PRIVATE THOMPSON'S TESTIMONY ON MAJOR RENO
source: Robert Nightengale, Little Big Horn, FarWest Publishing, 1996, p.164
As I stood looking at [Major Reno] I could not help wondering if he knew what his duty was. Here he was with about four hundred men surrounded by hordes of savages. If ever soldiers needed a good example it was here.
Did he show such an example ?
Did he show how a true soldier should act under difficulties? And die if needs be in the defense of his country ?
No !
Instead of this he kept himself in a hole where there was no danger of being struck and no doubt he would have pulled the hole in after him if he could [have].”
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Private Peter Thompson, Company C, 7th cavalry, after Little Bighorn, Medal of Honor for bravery at the Little Bighorn
