For reasons buried far too deeply in my psyche to bear examination, I’ve always been interested in military history. For instance, I have read, twice, David Chandler’s magisterial — and long — history of Napoleon’s campaigns. Normal civilians probably don’t do that sort of thing. So, those of you disinterested in
Custer’s Last Stand, more properly the Battle of the Little Bighorn or the Battle of the Greasy Grass, are excused.
Napoleon, by the way, was Custer’s favorite general.
Almost 400 men lost their lives that hot day in June, 1876; 263 soldiers and about 100 warriors. Nobody knows how many civilians were killed. Acres of paper and tanker trucks of ink have explored how the Native Americans won the battle. I just read one of the latest efforts, A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn by James Donovan. Donovan does a credible job, resolving as best anyone can, many of the historical discrepancies that remain 133 years later. His portrayal of Custer is nuanced and realistic. Custer is neither a bungling fool nor a glorious hero in Donovan’s telling.
Custer lost for a number of reasons, mostly because he was out fought by a larger force using superior tactics. Sitting Bull was smarter. Still, the list of Custer’s mistakes is daunting.
He didn’t just divide his force; he splintered it. First he sent Captain Benteen on a wild goose chase, or at least that is how Benteen, who hated Custer, saw it. Probably, Donovan surmises, Custer was worried about any Indians escaping and wanted Benteen to find and stop any small groups of them. In the event Benteen and his three companies of soldiers found no Indians on his useless side trip.
Modern View of the Site of the Indian Camp
Then Custer sent Major Reno with three companies up the valley floor. Reno was probably drunk at the time. If his job was to get attacked, he did it well, even drunk. That was about all he did right, but one can blame Custer for that. Reno had been his immediate subordinate for years. Shouldn’t Custer have trained him better? Then, instead of helping Reno by riding down from the bluffs east of the river and attacking the Indians’ flank — perhaps because he couldn’t find a good place to get down to the river? He had done no reconnoitering of the scene — Custer literally waved at Reno and rode off 4 miles to the north, leaving Reno’s men to face the charge from the Indians unaided.
His command already divided in thirds, Custer continued dribbling men out of his formation as he galloped north. And why did Custer lead his remaining command that far north? Nobody knows for sure, but Donovan posits that Custer was still worried that the Indians might escape. That would account for his long ride north . Perhaps he wanted to fall on the Indian camp from the opposite direction of Reno and prevent escape. Apparently he never considered that the Indians would fight instead of running.
But whatever Custer’s plans, the Indians reacted quickly and well to the surprise attack and soon seized the initiative. After that, what Custer thought no longer mattered.
A Remarkable American
Like Hannibal’s great victory at Cannae, the Indians’ victory at the Little Bighorn (And at the Rosebud, a week earlier) preceded their ultimate defeat. As Hannibal was forced to leave Italy and watch as the Romans sacked and burned Carthage; so the slaughter at Wounded Knee 14 years after the Little Bighorn was the final end of a way of life.
But the Native Americans won the last two major battles of the war.
Custer was no Napoleon, but he read everything he could about Napoleon’s campaigns. Not that it did him any good. Custer misunderstood the strategic goal of the campaign; lacked a clear idea of his tactical goal; ignored his Indian scouts; underestimated his foe; failed to reconnoiter the terrain; over-estimated the ability of his troops; neglected to adequately train his junior officers, splintered his command; and imagined that a small fast-moving force could conquer anything. All in all, he behaved with remarkable hubris.
After Custer was dead for awhile, he reincarnated as Donald Rumsfeld.
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Tags: Battle of the Greasy Grass, Battle of the Little Bighorn, Cheyenne, Crazy Horse, Custer’s Last Stand, David Chandler, Donald Rumsfeld, Frederick Benteen, George Armstrong Custer, James Conovan, Marcus Reno, Napoleon, Sioux, Sitting Bull
