Strange Things That Never Made Sense About Custer’s Last Stand Exposed | Eyewitness Account PT. 2

Meet Edward Godfrey, a seasoned cavalryman, and one of the few surviving officers of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, who witnessed the Battle of Little Bighorn with his own eyes. His harrowing account of that fateful day has become a crucial piece of the historical puzzle, shedding light on the triumphs and tragedies of Custer's Last Stand. In our last episode, we delved into Godfrey's eyewitness testimony, and today, we're going to dig even deeper, exploring new aspects of the battle.

General Custer received written instructions, dated June 22nd, 1876, at the Mouth of Rosebud River, Montana Territory, which read:
Lieutenant-Colonel Custer, 7th Cavalry,

The Brigadier-General Commanding directs that, upon readiness of your regiment, you shall proceed up the Rosebud in pursuit of the Indians whose trail was discovered by Major Reno a few days prior. As it is impossible to provide definitive instructions for this movement, and even if it were possible, the Department Commander has utmost confidence in your zeal, energy, and ability, and thus does not wish to impose precise orders that might hinder your actions when nearing the enemy. He shall, however, convey his views on your intended course of action, and desires that you conform to them unless you deem it necessary to depart from them. He suggests that you proceed up the Rosebud until you ascertain the direction of the aforementioned trail. Should it lead towards the Little Horn, as appears likely, he recommends that you continue southward, possibly as far as the headwaters of the Tongue, then turn towards the Little Horn, constantly feeling to your left to prevent the Indians' escape to the south or southeast by passing around your left flank. Colonel Gibbon's column is presently en route to the mouth of the Bighorn. Upon reaching that point, it will cross the Yellowstone and advance up to at least the forks of the Big and Little Horns. Naturally, its future movements will be dictated by circumstances as they arise, but it is hoped that the Indians, if located on the Little Horn, will be nearly encircled by the two columns, rendering their escape impossible. The Department Commander requests that, en route up the Rosebud, you thoroughly examine the upper part of Tullock's Creek and attempt to dispatch a scout to Colonel Gibbon's column with information regarding your findings. The lower part of the creek will be examined by a detachment from Colonel Gibbon's command. The supply steamer will be navigated up the Bighorn as far as the forks, if the river permits. The Department Commander, who will accompany Colonel Gibbon's column, desires that you report to him there no later than the expiration of your troops' rations, unless you receive further orders in the interim.
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#oldwest #custer #hiddenhistory #americanhistory #untoldhistory

[RootHistoryChannel]

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[jamesmilton]

The tribes were within their own territory, 'ceded' in the 1868 treaty, and were attacking no-one, nor were they obligated to register at an agency. The US army attacked them because Grant ordered it. The real reason was the gold in the Black hills, which the Indians refused to sell. Custer planned to outflank and surround the village, but he was outsmarted by Crazy Horse, who never himself had military training, and Custer's section of the command he split, wound up surrounded themselves. Whenever the Indians were wiped out the papers called it a 'battle', but when the army lost, they called it a 'massacre'. Custer wanted all the glory, so he did not wait for Terry, and he got it, postumously!

[ktloz]

Never ASSUME THE SIZE OF THE ENEMY. ALWAYS make certain!!!!

[carolynnichols]

Custer wasn't a General when he was involved in this action. That was his wartime rank. He was a Lt. Colonel

[controlfreak]

I'm 60yo and my 5th grade history teacher spent an entire class crapping on Custer and his martyrdom after his death. It was decades later before this narrative became the norm. That same history teacher was also the first educator that taught us about the Tesla-Edison conflict during a period when Edison was considered a genius/hero.

[justcause]

I was born less than 100 years after this battle. My first experience with this battle was reading Time Life books series “The Old West” in hardback. I always believed Reno was a poor officer, and after serving in the military, I know my original opinions were justified. It may or may not have changed anything regarding the battle, but as an enlisted NCO, Reno’s actions were the epitome of distain that seasoned NCOs have for weak leadership. The NCO has two jobs; he must follow orders, and he must protect his men. Those two always come in conflict. But in the case of Custer’s engagement, it’s more direct, whether Custer made the right call or not isn’t important. You are there, now motivate and support your troops. In Reno’s case, I can only imagine the frustration and anger, then overwhelming fear, the NCOs had when being ordered, then the order remanded, only to be ordered again, and having troops left behind, lost, or abandoned in his “leading the retreat.” Of course he did. He certainly wasn’t the last man out, was he? Arrogance and aggression can get you killed. However, so can loss of control and discipline. In my opinion, Reno may have started strong, but completely lost his bering and panicked, killing his troops. It has been stated by actual warriors that Reno was in a strong position in the woods, and as evidenced by surviving troops who hid there, they had a very defensive position.

[MJ-wevu]

As the 7th separated from Terry's column Gibbon called out to Custer to save some Indians for them and Custer said you know I wont and everyone had a good laugh. Terry knew what he was doing when he cut Custer loose. Terry and Sheridan went to a lot of trouble to get Custer reinstated for the expedition. And Terry's orders are a masterpiece of covering your own rear. They allowed Terry to share in the credit of a victory and put the blame on Custer if defeated.

[pauldourlet]

Custer ....was incompetent .His Scouts told him the village was bigger than any they had ever seen.He did not believe them .Was this because of racisim ? Maybe .He has an enemy his Scouts are telling him is gigantic in size .He splits his command in to 3 parts ..Is it possible that the bad blood between he and Benteen cause him to make stupid foolish decisions? It would not be the first time in Military History that the animosity between Officers would cause horrible blunders (see The Charge of Then Light Brigade ).The deciding factor in the fight was that the troops were armed with the 1873 Springfield Trapdoor rifle .These rifles had a habit of jamming if they were fired fast .The empty cartridge would get jammed and you would need to use a knife to clear the cartridge. So you have all these men firing rifles that are not dependable and are jamming .With the rifles useless the men would have to use their sidearms -the Colt revolvers.At this point with their rifles useless -jammed- the balance shifts towards the Sioux -their Bows and Arrows have more range than the sidearms that Custer's men are carrying.My question is WHEN WAS IT KNOWN THAT THE SPRINGFIELD WOULD OVERHEAT AND JAM? Was it the Battle at the Little Big Horn that made it clear ? Or was it known before that ? Because if those in authority knew this rifle jammed up , to my mind that is criminal neglect to send men in to combat with weapons that will not work.Just saying.

[glenrobinson]

Don’t forget who had written the history of Custer’s Last Stand. The military, the media and that they had their own bias and should not automatically believed.
I’m 73 years old. When I was a young boy the history of Custer’s Last Stand was known, talked about and caught my interest. Wiped out to the last man was a shocker then and now 65 years later it still captures attention!

[AlanCooke-vg]

The Native people were fighting for their children, women, and their freedom in their own country; what wrong did they do ?

[TubeOnRichard]

I find it surprising that so many people in the comfort of the present can look back at the events that brought us here with distain. I also doubt most would have even had the fortitude to face any of the hardships of the time or the dangers of the frontier

[AnnDroid]

"Civilized warfare, " whatever that means. Because the troops were forced to travel all night and must've been exhausted and sleep-deprived, the experience was probably especially surreal and nightmarish.

[vuduball]

It it is emotionally moving to hear how egar custer and his men were to prevent the indians, "escaping!". They rode joyfully, expecting a great victory to their deaths. What an emotional moment it must have been when they realized their error.

[ZharelAnger]

"Dark Undercurrents" by Zharel Anger uses eye-witness reports and diaries to follow a Miniconjou tribe from Little Crow's war, to Sully's campaign, and finally to the Battle on the Rosebud and the call to wipe out Custer (they knew exactly where his column was as reported in this video). It paints a compelling picture on the occurrences that end up sealing Custers fate. It focuses mainly on Sitting Bull, Big Bear, and Buffalo Calf Road Woman, a heroine of the Battle of the Rosebud who knocked Custer off his horse with a club, allowing a sniper group to deliver a mortal chest wound with a Sharps rifle. Interestingly, Fred Gerard is involved in the saga as early as the burning down of Fort Berthold and was trusted by both the Crow and Lakota tribes despite the tensions between the groups.

[jagernavet]

Custer was a Lieutenant Colonel .... NOT a General.
He had left the Army in February of 1866 and did not rejoin it until July of 1866, then as a Lieutenant Colonel, not a General.

[terikennedy]

The three converging columns were designed to squeeze, contain and encourage the Indians to concentrate. Gibbon's column had straight leg infantry which wouldn't be a threat to mounted Indians. Crook's column was the blocking force to prevent the Indians from raiding south. Crook didn't pursue because the Indians would have scattered and the Army needed them to concentrate. Custer was the tip of the spear. He would surprise the Indians, neutralize the mobility by destroying and capturing their horses and destroy or capture what the Indians left behind when they scattered. Impoverished, the Indians would be forced to return to the reservation.

[Draconisrex]

This crap is always so eye rolling. The Native Americans broke passage treaties, murdered, raped and enslaved other Native Americans as well as White settlers and BLACKS. Don't act like they were just poor little innocents. After the Civil War the US had to go to war with the 'Five Civilized Tribes, " many of whom fought on the side of the South, to free their Black slaves.

Also, it's not like the conflicts were one-sided. The US Army had a confirmed body count of 30, 000 Natives from the time we became a nation until the last of the Indian wars. They also had a confirmed account of 30, 000 settlers and soldiers killed by them.

Maybe ya'll should read an ACTUAL history book instead of the superficial 'White People Bad' bullshit you've been fed. This was complex and everybody back then did what people, back then, did. No matter how much it offends your modern sensibilities.

[rickscott]

If you want a great insight to the story. Read the Book
Custers Fall. The Native Americans side of the story

Its a fantastic read.

[tntprice]

Custer was a maniac his relentless contempt for the Indians and was the reason for his end at Little Big horn.

[silkkdread]

Custer balled that letter up after reading the first three sentences 😂😂😂