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
“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.