Would Benteen and Reno arriving in time to help Custer meant success of the expedition? We’ll never know. Utley was merely pointing out that past, similar expeditions and tactics had always worked. Custer had no reason to believe it wouldn’t have worked again. Maybe there were too many Indians for the army plan to work. But some historians do believe Custer was not necessarily reckless.
“...But some historians do believe Custer was not necessarily reckless...”
Agreed, it’s just that you won’t hear that viewpoint in too many forums. They love to portray him as an idiot.
Like they denigrate all of our American historical figures.