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.
“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.”