Source: James Donovan. A Terrible Glory: Custer and Little Bighorn -
the Last Great Battle of the American West (2009)
the Last Great Battle of the American West (2009)
In July 1866, Congress expanded the mounted cavalry with four more regiments (a rare expansion in the climate of Post-Civil War military downsizing), and they all headed West. George Armstrong Custer was a Lieutenant Colonel in the 7th Cavalry; he was once again in command, even if not the overall commander. In the next decade, Custer would only command in one battle (Washita, 1868), with the rest classified as skirmishes . . . until Little Bighorn in June, 1876.
The fawning press still loved him, and Custer was always accommodating to the media. By 1872, his letters were regularly published in newspapers and magazines under his own name. Custer enjoyed his celebrity enormously . . . much to the chagrin & irritation of some.
(Pictured: Lt. Colonel Custer shortly before the Battle at Little Bighorn)
The fawning press still loved him, and Custer was always accommodating to the media. By 1872, his letters were regularly published in newspapers and magazines under his own name. Custer enjoyed his celebrity enormously . . . much to the chagrin & irritation of some.
(Pictured: Lt. Colonel Custer shortly before the Battle at Little Bighorn)
In October, 1866, Custer (and his wife Libbie) went to Fort Riley (KS) to organize and train his new regiment within the 7th Cavalry. Under Custer's command was
Captain Frederick Benteen (31, 5 yrs older than Custer), a cantankerous Virginian that served with distinction in the Civil War. Benteen took an instant dislike to Custer when he first met him in January, 1867; many historians have argued that this may have been due to similarities in their personalities. Benteen viewed Custer as a blustering, bragging, press-created peacock . . . he was jealous, upset that he wasn't in command. Benteen's bitterness would infect the 7th Cavalry all the way to Little Bighorn on 25 June, 1876.
The 7th Cavalry was ordered to protect settlers and railroad crews pushing West. In the Spring of 1867, Custer joined up with General Winfield Scott Hancock's 1400 soldiers, cavalry, and artillery, but the joint mission was an abject failure, in that hostilities actually increased in the Great Plains.
Captain Frederick Benteen (31, 5 yrs older than Custer), a cantankerous Virginian that served with distinction in the Civil War. Benteen took an instant dislike to Custer when he first met him in January, 1867; many historians have argued that this may have been due to similarities in their personalities. Benteen viewed Custer as a blustering, bragging, press-created peacock . . . he was jealous, upset that he wasn't in command. Benteen's bitterness would infect the 7th Cavalry all the way to Little Bighorn on 25 June, 1876.
The 7th Cavalry was ordered to protect settlers and railroad crews pushing West. In the Spring of 1867, Custer joined up with General Winfield Scott Hancock's 1400 soldiers, cavalry, and artillery, but the joint mission was an abject failure, in that hostilities actually increased in the Great Plains.
On the Great Plains, Custer was introduced to guerilla tactics for the first time, and he became very frustrated with the lack of success. He was also experiencing supply problems, inferior rations, desertions, excessive heat, deceitful Native guides/scouts, but most of all, he missed Libbie. As a result, Custer the "Tyrant" resurfaced, alienating many of his men, and then he went back to see Libbie in Fort Riley (pictured: the front of the Custer home in the fort) without permission . . . Custer went AWOL (he missed her, but he was also concerned that she was cheating on him with a captain stationed at the fort).
Custer was court-martialed two months later, and he basically dug his own grave. The Court of Inquiry gave Custer multiple chances to help himself, but Custer remained imperious. After a month of deliberation, Custer was found guilty on all but three charges, and was suspended from rank and command without pay for a year. It was actually a very mild verdict, and at the time, being convicted in a court-martial was not the career-ending humiliation that it would become in the 20th Century. Custer blamed many others in the 7th Cavalry for his situation, never once reflecting on his own decision-making . . . it widened a rift that would never heal in the regiment.
Custer was court-martialed two months later, and he basically dug his own grave. The Court of Inquiry gave Custer multiple chances to help himself, but Custer remained imperious. After a month of deliberation, Custer was found guilty on all but three charges, and was suspended from rank and command without pay for a year. It was actually a very mild verdict, and at the time, being convicted in a court-martial was not the career-ending humiliation that it would become in the 20th Century. Custer blamed many others in the 7th Cavalry for his situation, never once reflecting on his own decision-making . . . it widened a rift that would never heal in the regiment.
On the surface at least, the Custers treated the year as an extended vacation. Custer's suspension would only last ten months, because General Philip Sheridan (pictured, now in overall command of the departments on the Plains) requested that his sentence be reduced. The War on the Plains was going poorly, and Sheridan (still a huge Custer supporter) gave Custer a virtual "blank check" in terms of what he could do on the Plains.
When Custer returned, he was energetic, purposeful, and itching to find Natives. Custer was allowed to retain his regiment, and Sheridan made sure that the regiment was properly supplied. Custer was still the disciplinarian: officers late to meetings actually had their tents put on fire. One month after his return, the 7th set out to find Natives . . . during the winter. Sheridan calculated that it would be easier to find Natives along their winter camps by rivers and creeks.
When Custer returned, he was energetic, purposeful, and itching to find Natives. Custer was allowed to retain his regiment, and Sheridan made sure that the regiment was properly supplied. Custer was still the disciplinarian: officers late to meetings actually had their tents put on fire. One month after his return, the 7th set out to find Natives . . . during the winter. Sheridan calculated that it would be easier to find Natives along their winter camps by rivers and creeks.
The 7th Cavalry headed towards the Washita River on 23 November, 1868. Custer followed a trail of over 100 Cheyenne warriors from Kansas to a winter camp. He didn't know if the Native camp was hostile, but the trail of the Cheyenne warriors led straight there; Custer assumed that the 100 warriors were in the village's 51 tepees.
Custer led the charge from the north (with the rising sun at his back) into the village, but he had ordered multiple simultaneous charges from different directions. The engagement lasted a mere ten minutes, but there were two alarming developments. First was Major Elliott and his sixteen missing men, and Custer had reports that some warriors were heading his way. The village Custer attacked was actually one of several that had over 1000 warriors (very poor reconnaissance), and they were advancing in mass. Custer decided to burn the village, kill 900+ ponies, and abandon Major Elliott and his men on the field (Elliott and his men were eventually found, dead and frozen, riddled with arrows and badly mutilated).
Custer led the charge from the north (with the rising sun at his back) into the village, but he had ordered multiple simultaneous charges from different directions. The engagement lasted a mere ten minutes, but there were two alarming developments. First was Major Elliott and his sixteen missing men, and Custer had reports that some warriors were heading his way. The village Custer attacked was actually one of several that had over 1000 warriors (very poor reconnaissance), and they were advancing in mass. Custer decided to burn the village, kill 900+ ponies, and abandon Major Elliott and his men on the field (Elliott and his men were eventually found, dead and frozen, riddled with arrows and badly mutilated).
Instead of retreating as the 1000 warriors advanced, Custer (pictured in 1868) gave the order to move TOWARD the warriors, and the Cheyenne retreated (Native warriors preferred to chase down their enemies; they often retreated when advanced upon, preferring guerilla tactics). The Washita was heralded as a major triumph by the U.S. Government, military, media, and Westerners. Some denounced the Washita as a massacre on defenseless and peaceable Natives.
Of the 40-50 Natives killed, over half were noncombatants; Osage scouts, not troopers, were the main reason for the deaths (to the Osage, it was a chance to gain revenge against the Cheyenne from past events). The Washita was harsh, but it wasn't a wholesale massacre; Custer actually halted some of the killing. Custer's superiors were pleased with the result, in that it was the first piece of good news to come from the Plains after the Civil War. While it was a morale-booster for the government, it demoralized Southern Plains Natives . . . no longer could Natives feel safe during the winter in their camps by rivers.
Of the 40-50 Natives killed, over half were noncombatants; Osage scouts, not troopers, were the main reason for the deaths (to the Osage, it was a chance to gain revenge against the Cheyenne from past events). The Washita was harsh, but it wasn't a wholesale massacre; Custer actually halted some of the killing. Custer's superiors were pleased with the result, in that it was the first piece of good news to come from the Plains after the Civil War. While it was a morale-booster for the government, it demoralized Southern Plains Natives . . . no longer could Natives feel safe during the winter in their camps by rivers.
The 7th Cavalry continued rounding up hostile Natives in the Southern Plains during that winter (1868-1869). Captain Benteen took Major Elliott's death very hard, and blamed Custer; he even wrote a scathing letter that was published in Eastern newspapers. Custer just couldn't believe or understand why one of his officers could be so disloyal (when Benteen freely admitted in an officer's meeting that he wrote the letter, Custer, disbelievingly, walked out of the tent).
From that point on, there was a Custer "Clan", and Benteen's "Anti-Custer Clan"; however, most officers remained neutral, wanting nothing more than to do their duty (and when off duty . . . drink). Benteen would continue to rail against Custer, loudly, for the next seven years . . .
From that point on, there was a Custer "Clan", and Benteen's "Anti-Custer Clan"; however, most officers remained neutral, wanting nothing more than to do their duty (and when off duty . . . drink). Benteen would continue to rail against Custer, loudly, for the next seven years . . .