Posted on 01/16/2008 8:43:47 AM PST by drzz
LIES ON GENERAL CUSTER AND THE LITTLE BIGHORN
http://www.custerwest.org
1) Custer never massacred Indians. (see the Battle of the Washita)
2) Custer was one of the most brilliant cavalry generals of his times (see Custer in the Civil War)
3) Custer understood how to fight Indians (see the Battle of the Washita, the Battle of the Little bighorn -LBH)
4) Custer never underestimated his enemy at Little Bighorn (see before the battle).
5) The Indians at LBH were 1'500, exactly the number of warriors Custer expected to surprise with his 647 soldiers (an usual tactic in Indian warfare). There has never been "thousands of Indians" in Sitting Bull's village or "an impossible victory" as some still say without knowing what the evidence say. (see "LBH: before the battle, Custer's plan).
6) The Indians never ambushed Custer, never flanked him. They were surprised by the attack and most of their actions were late and disorganized. (see Accounts by hostiles, Last Stand)
7) The entire 7th cavalry wasn't massacred at Little Bighorn. 2/3 of Custer's troops, who had to lead front and flank attacks, were out of the battle after 30 minutes and never reached Custer. This military betrayal by Major Reno and Captain Benteen can be proven with strong evidence shown on this website. It also explains why the army never did any inquiry on the battle (see Little Bighorn cover-up, Benteen's scout, Reno Hill, Captain Weir), and let the American public dream about the "reckless Custer".
8) Custer's attack at Little Bighorn has been supported by such figures as US general in chief Nelson Appelton Miles, the most successful Indian fighter in US history (see Little Bighorn cover-up), and many historians and others.
Having sat and read further on plains Indians wars, I read that Reno had disobeyed orders and went along the Rosebud Creek just prior to returning to Custer and General Crook to tell them that the Indian village was further West and along the Little Bighorn River. He was later court martialed for the offense. Seems like he was used as a scapegoat for the Last Stand.
Reno did travel beyond the area he was ordered to scout and moved over to the Rosebud prior to his return to camp on June 19th. Gen. Terry was not happy with him. However, this allowed him to discover the Indian trail up the Rosebud, which Terry then assigned Custer the task of following. Terry would take the balance of the expedition, Including Gibbon’s command, over to the Big Horn and ascend that stream. Had it not been for Reno going beyond his orders, this trail would not have been found at the time.
Much has been written of Custer’s ascent of the Rosebud in context of Gen. Terry’s orders, both written and verbal. I have a copy of those orders hanging on my office wall and have read them often. I have to tell you, I can’t see where Custer violated the spirit of Terry’s orders. He did not continue South as directed once the trail proved to go over the divide toward the Little Big Horn, and he did not scout the upper portion of Tullock’s creek. But the trail was so large and fresh by that time, that heading further South may have seemed impractical as would have a scout of Tullock’s creek. And, Custer was not one to move away from the presence of the enemy.
Once the Indian camp was found, Custer decided to encamp for the day, but believing his command had been discovered by Indians (a false belief - the camp wasn’t notified), he decided to move on his own. Terry’s orders explicitly state that “...the Department Commander places too much confidence in your zeal, energy, and ability to wish to impose upon you precise orders which might hamper your action when nearly in contact with the enemy”. I’m sure Custer understood the spirit of these words, and acted accordingly. I, for one, can’t fault him for that.
Custer’s top priority was to have a great victory to prop himself up socially in Washington
to do that he had to make sure the indians did not escape at the Little Big Horn
the rest is history
“Custer’s top priority was to have a great victory to prop himself up socially in Washington”
That’s a myth without any historical evidence
Hey Hans
Thank you very much! Custer’s story is awfully misunderstood
Hello bcsco
I never said that Custer was the best. McKenzie was a great fighter, although the BEST was Nelson A. Miles, who smashed Crazy Horse, Geronimo, Sitting Bull and Chief Joseph!
What’s interesting is that Nelson Miles, when he became US General-in-chief, defended Custer in a book and in public. He said that Custer had been betrayed and that Custer himself was a great fighter.
“Seems like Reno was used as a scapegoat for the Last Stand.”
No, Reno was a pure disaster.
Here is Lieutenant Godfrey’s testimony, Little Bighorn veteran:
“Reno was already in the fight and his (Custer’s) own battalion was separated from the attack by a distance of two and a half to three miles. He had no reason to think that Reno would not push his attack vigorously. A commander seldom goes into battle counting on the failure of his lieutenant; if he did, he would provide that such a failure should not turn into disaster.”
“During a long time after the junction of Reno and Benteen (on Reno Hill) we heard firing down the river in the direction of Custer’s command. We were satisfied that Custer was fighting the Indians somewhere, and the conviction was expressed that “our command ought to be doing something or Custer would be after Reno with a sharp stick.” We heard two distinct volleys which excited some surprise, and, if I mistake not, brought out the remark from some one that “Custer was giving it to them for all he is worth.”
“At no time during the battle was Reno’s conduct such as to inspire confidence. His faltering advances down the valley, his halting, his falling back to the defensive position in the woods in the old river bed before his command had suffered a single casualty in the ranks; his disorganized, panic retreat to the bluffs with practically no resistance, his conduct up to and during the siege, and until the arrival of General Terry was not such as to inspire confidence or even respect, except for his authority; and there was a time during the night of the 25th, when his authority, under certain conditions, was to be ignored. We thought he ought to go, his attention was called to the firing on the Custer field; it was suggested that he go; he was waiting for the ammunition packs to replenish the ammunition; then he waited for the delayed pack train.”
Oh! I forgot to apologize before talking about the bad, bad Whites :-)
“He did not continue South as directed once the trail proved to go over the divide toward the Little Big Horn, and he did not scout the upper portion of Tullock’s creek.”
That’s a myth. Custer asked his scouts to travel in Tullock’s creek valley and report to him any discover of tracks. They didn’t find any.
He DID scout the Tullocks Creek valley. Terry used this lie to cover his ass, but the truth is, Custer never ignored any of the general’s advice.
It is very interesting country to be sure. I was there on an absolutely spectacular autumn day, the path of the river marked with yellow and red trees among the green. The hill itself was bare and grim by comparison. The gravestones outside the fenced area seem to pop up out of bare ground - it must be one eerie place under moonlight on a clear night.
He DID scout the Tullocks Creek valley. Terry used this lie to cover his ass, but the truth is, Custer never ignored any of the general’s advice.
Well, you're in possession of information I've never seen. The time to scout Tullock's Creek was when the scouts were sent out at the Busby Bend of the Rosebud late on the 24th. Scout George Herendeen was expressly with the command to report back to Terry on what Custer's command had found. Custer did send his scouts out that evening, but there's no evidence they actually scouted the Tullock's Creek area (that I'm aware of). They returned saying the trail was fresh, and moved up Davis Creek to the pass in the Wolf Mountains. And George Herendeen remained with the Custer command throughout the battle. He was never dispatched to Terry with any kind of a report.
Jeffry Wert, in his book "Custer" goes on from here..."For Custer, the information demanded a decision. Much has been written since about his disobedience of Terry's orders that recommended a movement to the headwaters of the Tongue before turning west, and a scout down Tullock's Fork. The general prepared the instructions, however, uncertain about the village's location and believing it to be, most likely, on the upper Little Big Horn, not on the lower section of the river as the Crow had discovered. Although Custer had intended to scout the Tullock's Fork region, the evidence indicated no lodges had moved down the stream. Confronted with the new information, he concluded to follow "a hot trail," in Herendeen's words. Except for Crook's command, of which Custer knew nothing, the Indians had eluded the army for months, and now he had them within grasp. He chose to use the discretion that Terry had given him.
"After Varnum departed, Custer met with his officers and recounted the intelligence. He planned to cross the divide before daylight, conceal the regiment during the twenty-fifth, and attack at daylight the next day, he explained."
Other volumes I have on the battle (which are in my nephew's possession at this time and aren't available to consult) also support this contention; Custer may have wanted to scout the Tullock's Creek area, but the trail led up Davis Creek to the divide. He chose to follow the trail.
I'm not criticizing Custer. As I stated in an earlier post, he was not one to go off on a tangent because of orders when the evidence showed otherwise. I see no fault with that, and, apparently, neither did Terry because his orders gave a certain degree of latitude in exactly these types of circumstances.
If you have conclusive evidence that a scout of Tullock's Fork was indeed made, I wish you would present it.
I believe you can access the bookstore online. If not, you can write them and have them send an order form.
Especially if a rancher nearby decides to take pot shots at some coyote bothering his sheep, or whatever :)
Yeh - or if the visitor center happens to leave the tape of the singing on all night. I’d stop running right about Billings...
to do that he had to make sure the indians did not escape at the Little Big Horn
That's possible. Much has been written about his aspirations (especially in regard to the Presidency). The problem with that is it's speculation based mostly on anecdotal evidence. And we'll never know the answer since Custer's aspirations died with him.
Then you'd be stopping far sooner than I would.
Oh, I forgot to mention that Custer did ask Herendeen earlier on the 24th to begin a scout of Tullock’s Creek along with Charlie Reynolds, but Herendeen, supported by Mitch Boyer, suggested it would be better to do that later as the command would be in a better position. Custer postponed the scout.
This conforms with his wishes to scout the area, but in no way supports an actual scout being made. Sorry for the omission.
Lieutenant Edgerly testified that the scouts DID enter the Tullocks Creek valley to look for tracks and reported to Custer that they were none
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