Custer was a pompous jackass with an overblown estimation of his own abilities.
He was no hero, he dragged his men into a fight he should have never gotten himself involved in.
His orders were to find the indians and maintain contact with them.
When he thought he had been discovered, he convinced himself the indians were going to run. (thus the reason for sending Benteen on that circuitous circle jerk that kept him and the packtrain out of the battle for most of the day).
He then compounds his problem by sending Reno with his command down into the valley to attack the south end of the village.
Reno quickly realizes he’s in over his head, due to inaction, incompetance and fear, he then gives several contradictory orders. Finally orders a full retreat across the river to the heights on what is now called Reno Hill.
Custer proceeds up the ridgeline to Medicine Tail coulee where he THINKS the North end of the Village is. (It’s actually the halfway point). After realizing his mistake he has to fight a pursuing force that finally pins him down on Custer hill. His command by this time has become disjointed and scattered.
Reno is soon joined by Benteen and after some discussion they decide NOT to go to Custer’s aid. Who can say whether they were right or wrong. Had they left the defensive location they were in it’s more than reasonable to expect that they too would have been wiped out. The ground between Custer Hill and Reno hill is perfect for ambush and light cavalry attacks. They would have been hammered from all sides the entire trip.
One unit did try to go to Custer’s aid. But when they reached saddle hill they didn’t see a battle, they saw people moving among bodies scattered on the slope (most likely the village women and children looting the corpses). This was 2 hours into the battle. After retreating back to Reno hill they reported what they saw to Reno and Benteen.
The fact still remains.
You were not there, I was not there
Neither of us know and to say otherwise is mere fantasy. All we have to go on are the reports of the Men both Indian and White that WERE there.
This is totally untrue.
Custer’s orders were to follow his own judgement when he would be in contact of the enemy.
Custer was brigadier-general at 23 years old and major-general at 24. He won numerous Civil War battles and was known was one of the best cavalry officers of his time.
Custer’s scouts told him that the Indians would run, and every officer and scout had reasons to think that the Indians would run, for it was what they usually did.
Benteen moved far too slowly and disobeyed orders. That’s why he didn’t join Custer in the battle. Benteen is responsible of dawdling.
Reno was in a very good position in the timber acccording to his men and foes. He ran away.
Custer never thought that he was going in the North side of the village, it’s a myth spread by a popular mini-serie called “Son of the Morning Star”. Custer was actually waiting for Benteen and was attracting warriors because he probably thought that Reno was still engaged.
Reno and Benteen had no threat around them and Captain Weir decided to join Custer without any order.
Your facts are not facts. It’s the classical happening of the battle according to tradition. Testimonies however said that Custer took Indians by surprise twice, and that Indians thought that defeat was near. But Reno and Benteen didn’t do their duty. They totally failed to support Custer and didn’t obey any order. They simply betrayed, and it’s a totally accurate thesis according to all the testimonies available.
I was not at LBH but witnesses told the story. Watch the videos, for example:
VIDEOS: US General in chief Miles on Little Big Horn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6tFXzvKJTc
The Little Big Horn case (I): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKeTsG2JpQA
The Little Big Horn case (II) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lwpHpq-iP0
The real story of Washita: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4534E1cCLyQ
Watch the videos:
Heard about Custer’s brother who was with Custer that day and the Injuns really wanted that dude and got him. Wasn’t much left but ground up bones. They didn’t like him.
The curator of a Western art museum commissioned a local artist to paint a mural-sized painting of Custer’s Last Thought. The artist was told to make it highly symbolic of Custer’s mindset during the debacle at the Little Bighorn. Deep in thought, the artist went to his studio. After many false starts, he proceeded to paint an enormous oil painting.
Finally, after months of work, the opening of the exhibit drew a crowd of people for the unveiling of this, the centerpiece of the exhibit. The canopy came off revealing the artist’s large painting:
In the foreground was a beautiful crystalline blue lake with a single fish leaping. Around the fish’s head is a halo. In the background, the hills and meadows are covered with naked Native American couples copulating.
The curator was both disgusted and baffled by what he saw. In a rage he turned to the artist and asked, “What the hell has this got to do with Custer’s Last Thought?” The artist replied, “It’s simple. Custer’s last thought must have been, ‘Holy Mackerel! … Look at all these f*cking Indians!!’”
Cheers!