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Surviving the Little Bighorn | The Reno-Benteen Defense Site
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- Опубликовано: 15 авг 2024
- George Custer's annihilation at the Battle of the Little Bighorn grabs all the headlines, but it's only half the story. Watch this video to learn about the Reno-Benteen Defense Site. Thanks!
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Timestamps/Chapters:
0:00 My Wife Doesn't Let Me Smoke Inside
0:28 The Namesake
1:44 Trying to Reach Safety
3:41 The Hilltop
5:38 Digging In
7:31 Take the Fight to the Enemy
10:00 Sideshow
My great grandfather was one of the water carriers and earned the Medal of Honor. His name is last name is Murray, sorry I don't remember his first, I did when I looked it up several years ago, but I am now getting older (75) myself and memory is getting a little well you know. It's interesting that my family has a history of military service, and it seems that we are survivors of big battles, #1, this Murray at Little Big Horn, my father was at Wheeler Field on 7, December 1941, I was in Vietnam for the first Tet offensive, 1968.
I know I'd get along with you. My dad drove truck. WW2 in Burma. India
His name was Thomas Murray
Thank you for your service 🙏 ❤️
I thank you and your family for your service and for your great grandfather bringing water to save the troops. My great grandfather also fought on that hill and was wounded, part of company D. Our family kept one of his letters describing how they scratched out those shallow fighting positions on the hill with cups and spoons and held out for two days. My great grand father wrote he proudly served under Custer for two years until his untimely death. When I visited the battlefield, I recall thinking of all those families that never were and how other’s sacrifice and fate allowed my family’s history to flourish to this day.
Bloody great......I also have a long family history within the military. I'm Gibraltarian and my family all fought for King and Country. My great grandfather Alexander fought in WWI, lucky to survive the carnage that was the Somme and the 3rd battle of Ypres (also known as Passchiandaele). My Grandfather Joseph, like many others, joined up to fight in WWII, fought in North Africa,Italy and Northern Europe,went through hell and survived whiles my Uncles Tommy and Alex did not. My Father Eliott also joined up and fought the IRA during the troubles and i joined up and was part of the British Army during the 1st Iraq War. Ironically, serving in the same unit as my Grandfather, the 8th Army.
I never thought that walking your dog in your neighborhood while telling the Reno Benteen story would work, but you pulled it off in spectacular fashion. Your pictures and maps bring it all into focus. Kudos!
If
I was hoping you would mention my relative James De Wolf and I was especially excited that you pointed out where he fell as I have never been able to visit the battlefield myself so far (I live in eastern Canada). Thank you
Wow your relative was Dr Dewolf ?
Simply astonishing!!
I can't imagine what he seen that day..
Absolutely fascinating my dear..
I was infantry combat (wounded) in Vietnam and was also in the 2003-2010 Iraq war. I have also been a military historian my whole life, having come from a military family. I have been to many battlefields of many wars, but the two that totally surprised me by their size were Omaha Beach and the Little Bighorn. To truly under stand the scope and flow of the Little Bighorn battle I suggest riding the battlefield on horseback. There are Native American guides who will ride with you and give detailed explanations of the battle.
Have any stories you'd share?
That’s amazing, thank you for your service. If you feel comfortable with it you should most definitely give an interview on your experiences. Too many war stories are lost to time.
Waterloo Battlefield always surprised me with how small the area involved actually was.
I’m an Aussie who loves history including American history. I visited the battlefield in 2009 and like Meanstreet was blown away by the landscape and the wide area the battle encompassed. But I wish I had you as my guide. Thanks for the insights.
Graeme, visited Sidney back in 1968 while I was serving IN Vietnam, never had to buy a drink... My first wife's Dad was in WW2 and was in your GREAT country and loved it. MY Dad was all over Asia in the early 1930's. If I had to moved there are 2 countries I would go to first, yours and Canada (have family history there).
Thanks for the video. I am fascinated by Reno and Benteen's stories. Growing up, I was led to believe no one on the American side survived.
Same with Isandlwana, I was always informed the whole column was lost, I didn't know for years that it was only a part of the column involved and that even than, there were a fair number of survivors of the actual battle.
Thanks for sharing these videos. Myles Keogh was born only an hour away from where I live in Ireland. I've always been fascinating by this battle, it has a sort of mythical quality to it.
Love history and have been to that battle site a few times, the thing that really blew me away is just how immense of a site it is, before going there I wasn’t aware of how big it was and the distance that the battle took place over! Really humbling to stand at those places where so much happened. Love the content, subscribed!
I visited Reno Hill and was "in awe" seeing those gun emplacements dug into the earth. I turned and gazed down the hill toward the River and visualized the soldiers making their retreat up that hill and realize that alone a quite an ordeal. They had to cross the river twice and climb the embankments just to get that hill.. Then there's water carriers going back down to the river and back under great danger with very little in the way of vessels to carry water because Custer had ordered for the the pack horses left behind so that the jingling of supplies would not alert the Indians of their impending attack.
My great great grandfather, William Ephraim Morris was 17 years old ( lied at 16 to join the military) when he was thrown into this. I was almost not here!!! After escaping from Renos mess across the river, was shot with a 50cal ball in the left breast. His account is in the archives. Actually saw a TV show, what really happened at the little big horn, they used his statement. I was very surprised!! You can look up his name and find his account of the battle. When the men decided to get the hell out of there, they were fighting each other for horses cause the Indians had killed a bunch of the horses. In his account, he had to fight for his!! It should have never happened!! Cost a lot of lives over greed and racism. Sad. Glad he lived!! I've been to the park when I was young. His half brother is one of the names on the monument. Byron Tarbox. A shame this all had to happen.
I've read a lot of books on this battle, but your videos really bring it to life. Thanks for doing this fine work
Its one of those places like Gettysburg or Shilo. You walk the ground and feel something important happened there. It brings chills.
Only because you know what happened there…we’ve likely all walked over ground who’s story didn’t come down to us. Time is big
You have that right @@swayback7375
Benteen gets a lot of criticism for not following Custer's last order, but, in my opinion, if he had the entire 7th would have been wiped out!
It is clear Reno was falling to pieces and in no fit state to command, and Benteen was the one who decided on the defensive position, and for sure showed great bravery on many occasions. Not forgetting that the slow moving pack train had by now happened upon Reno/Benteen's position. So, I believe that if Benteen hadn't stopped to help out, Reno's command would have been destroyed.
If Benteen had gone to Custer, he'd also have been wiped out. How do I know? Because had three companies, and Custer had five IN DEFENSIVE positions. If five companies in defensive positions were wiped out, then three companies strung out over paths would certainly have been wiped out before they rejoined with Custer.
Other people's opinions may vary, but for me. Benteen prevented the annihilation of the entire 7th cavalry.
I hope you keep making these. You’re a great storyteller.
Thanks for this. I have a full library of this Big Horn fight, and Re: Custer in general ,and this will certainly be added to it.
Good video, not much popular knowledge is known about the Reno/Benteen Fight.
Thank you!
You graciously did not mention that Reno was intoxicated throughout the battle, start to finish. Benteen was the hero of the day. He bravely exposed himself time and again to hostile fire. He later claimed that his wife had prayed over the shirt he wore on the expedition and promised that he would not be shot while wearing it. And he wasn't. Excellent presentation.
Im not sure if Reno was actually drunk or not. If he had been during the defense he would have had to get the liquor probably from Dr. Porter. I would think that was used for the injured soldiers instead. I don't know it for certain. Just my humble opinion.
At the later Reno hearings concerning the battle, evidence was submitted regarding his fitness to command. Some soldiers claim to have smelled alcohol on him and heard liquor bottles clanking in his saddlebag. I think his lack of visibility during the 26th, when it was Benteen who effectively assumed command, that speaks to his incapacitated state.
The remaining traces of those hasty rifle pits are so small and pitiful...you can sense the desperation of claw-scrabbling at the hard-baked stony turf with improvised tools and bare hands. Profoundly moving experience
Would you be willing to also talk about Cpt Miles Keogh's failed breakaway relief column effort?
If you mean Capt Weir’s attempt, I have something in the works
@@TheStoryOutWest Mea culpa! Yes, good catch, that's exactly what I meant. Loving the content and delivery style. Keep up the tempo!
I have to say, you never hear much about Benteen and Reno’s defense. Say what you will about are Reno, but Benteen? Benteen did his duty as an officer, no matter what anyone says, I believe Benteen did a good job with what he had.
An amazing video, you have done an outstanding job and would love the hear more from you.
I don’t know about Benteen. He had a pathological jealousy of Custer which clouded his judgement, disobeying orders, verbal and written, to ‘come on quick‘ and delays and drags his feet all the way on the back trail.
Benteen probably knew he and Reno would be court marshalled anyway, for leaving Custer and his men to their fate - so had nothing to loose, accounting for his bravado, plus of course now he’s fighting for his own life. That’s my opinion.
@@drstrangelove4998 Benteen and Reno were smart enough to not be wiped out which is more than can be said about your custer
@@williamallencrowder361 I don't think it was a case of "smart enough" not to be wiped out. It was just more of a case of being lucky enough not to have to fight the larger number of indians that were wiping out Custer.
Linda My great Grandfather thanks you, my father thanks you and I thank you. Long may this country live...
Fascinated since the seventies once I learned John Mckenna of E Company assigned to the pack train is my ancestor. I served with the Seventh in Korea on the DMZ and finally visited the battlefield in 2018 and 2021. My Bucket list associated with the Seventh complete.
On this side of the pond all we learn about this battle is from films. Came across this quite by chance. Two points 1) I wish you had been my history teacher and 2) I'm determined to find out more. Thank you.
Mark, 'A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn: The Last Great Battle of the American West' by James Donovan is, IMHO, the best book on the subject I have read. Donovan also wrote the best book I have read on the Battle of the Alamo, "The Blood of Heroes: The 13-Day Struggle for the Alamo - and the Sacrifice That Forged a Nation". The quest for knowledge is a lot of fun, enjoy!
Very Interesting ! I vacationed out in this area the year after " Dances with Wolves " came out, and we spent 2 1/2 days in this area.
My Great grandfather Michael Madden was there too, water carrier, shot in leg. Lived
I will be heading over from Spokane this summer(in spite of gas prices) and see the memorials for myself. Your vids are very informative. Peaked my interest even more. Thanks for that!
Take tobacco & fresh cartridges to place with the rest at the monument.
My ancestors were in those fights, my Lakota ancestors ❤️💯
this is a great channel 👍 . Fun fact , all the men that got water from water carriers ravine received the MOH.. all except one man .. the man who was wounded in the fight and actually had his leg amputated
I enjoyed your interpretive talk about the battle that took place there on Reno/Bentsen Hill. I’ve always enjoyed studying the Indian wars out west. You made the battle scene realistic in my mind. Thanks.
Excellent commentary, informative and entertaining.
It's good you cover aspects of the battle that never really get covered.
A very nice casual history lecture, I really enjoyed it.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE ❤️ LOVE ❤️ LOVE ❤️ LOVE THIS VIDEO....EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE AND MADE ME WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT "CUSTER'S LAST STAND"..OR "THE BATTLE OF GREASY GRASS"..
I AM EXTREMELY IMPRESSED..
THANK YOU FOR UPLOADING THIS VIDEO..
Very well done. Thank you.
This entire battlefield, and all it's storied past, is a reminder that egos can win battles, but lose wars. Appreciate an inside perspective into our history as Americans. Especially from the Indigenous Americans, whose land was taken, along with many lives lost because of the moral ineptitude humans often possess.
Well done sir! Love the pipe. You tell the story well. And engaging so.
It is like we went for a walk with you and you entertained us. Nice approach.
Very good video, it filled in a lot of information missing from other accounts. Well done. I look forward to watching more of your videos. Charlie had a good walk!
Thanks for Video! I love hearing the inside stories of what the men thought of each other that you don't get in history books. They were for sure brave men.
great information. there is also that reno was giving conflicting orders during the entire battle so benteen was the one who organized most of the defense.
As I recall Dr Porter actually had to do two surgeries including a amputation without morphine. He saved several men a real hero. Also I think Reno was in shock having seen the scout bloody knife get shot in the head right by Reno. The captian actually had brain matter on his face from the scout. Im sure Reno didn't do a great job but he may have had his reasoning.
Much obliged.
No mention of Capt. Weir and D Troop's attempting to break out and find Custer.
Always nice to watch contributions to our history
I've the way you present this time honored history..
Excellent video and really informative. Cheers
Excellent and Outstanding!!!
Excellent Excellent video no foolin'. I have to tell you am a bit of an old hand at the history of the battle. Had relatives who had a ranch just outside of Hardin (1960s) bordering the reservation and visited the battle site many times, last time 2004. Seen every documentary, movie and/or depiction including a reenactment, read every book and pamphlet and heard every story (a lot of...). And I have to tell you that was the best description slash presentation of the, "other battle" I have ever heard, EVER. You definitely get a, BIG FAT WTG!
Reno and Benteen were my favorite officers in the battle on competence and reality of the situation in battle gets you to fight another day waste precious soldiers and resources
Charlie is a determined dog, smart boy. Great series, it's good to see a light shined on these brave souls on both sides of the fighting. Those men didn't die in vain, my freedom as an American is because of brave soldiers who served, then and now. God bless all who serve.🙏
I visited the battlefied many years ago, i hope to go back again someday. Your video is very motivational and inspiring.
Great channel!! Just found it. I have to the Little Bighorn several times. What you know is amazing.
Especially enjoy the marker identification with the drone (?) shots. Really adds a spatial (battlefield) orientation and perspective. Nice.
Videos like this are important to see. Far too many watch TV shows and movies and believe that to be real history. Another mentionable battle, the Alamo was fought over several days but the real fight to the finish was in total darkness of night and over by day break. Tell the "movie historians" that and their eyes will roll around in their head like a slot machine.
Fantastic very very interesting!😊
Well done, you're very a good teller of tales. I hope you do many more interesting stories.👍
Excellent video of a little covered portion of the battle. “Custer and his entire command were wiped out to the last man.” is one of the great inaccuracies that are constantly repeated of this battle. Your video clearly corrects that mistake. Regarding Reno and Benteen being odd ducks, weren’t the Custer clan a bit of odd ducks themselves, especially Audie? He had a reputation as a dangerous egomaniac during the Civil War and thought nothing of disobeying any command he didn’t agree with. That’s sort of what got him killed. Sounds like a command of odd ducks.
Interesting that another famous battle (although quite a bit bigger) where the native population overcame modern soldiers was just two and a half years later at Isandlwhana in Natal, South Africa 1879 when 24,000 Zulus overcame 1000 British troops. The difference with Custer was that the heroic action at Rorkes Drift occurred just the day after which was a significant victory for the British. This distraction saved General Chelmsfords neck so there wasn't the blame game afterwards like with Custer. But Chelmsford was guilty of exacty the same error that Custer made which was splitting his main force within sight of the enemy. In mitigation Chelmsford had no idea where the main body of the Zulu force was, which Custer did, and acted on false intelligence moving out of the camp, whereas Custer could see the Indians but was overconfident and overestimated Renos ability to create a meaningful attack to the South which turned into a rout.
Many thanks! Excellent work 😅
When there, I was amazed just how much of the rifle pits remain.
Lt. Hodgson is buried in his hometown, Philadelphia PA, in the Laurel Hill cemetery, where Civil War Gen. George Meade is also buried.
Great job!
Thank You so much, Major Catherine Norwood USAR/ AV - Ret. C12 j Pilot
You gave a great explanation and made the the battle very real. Much better than clinically reading about it.
Outstanding ! You could have expanded on the subsequent controversy as to why Reno-Benteen didn't rush to the aid of Custer. He wasn't that far as the crow flies. (The terrain there is so riddled with ravines it would have been suicide and just added to the disaster and he was probably dead already,,,imho)
There may be a follow-up video that touches on this in the works, so stay tuned
There was a breakout by Captain Weir to attempt to ride to aid Custer. It was repulsed. But they saw the Indians shooting dead soldiers in the distance. They knew Custer was in trouble. Read "The Godfrey Diary."
@@deaddocreallydeaddoc5244 Reno and Benteen could hear firing and volley-fire, a signal for help, for quite a while whilst doing nothing. At the enquiry they claimed not to have heard anything but other witnesses including scouts said the could clearly.
@@drstrangelove4998 Why are you telling me things I obviously already know? If I read Godfrey's diary, you have to know I have read the other materials as well. But the only reported "signals for help" was the note sent by courier to Benteen requesting haste in bringing up the supply wagons quickly, and one volley repeated three times. The courier quipped, "We've got 'em, boys" which was interpreted as a statement of victory. There was a pervasive psychological state of disbelief and denial among many, including Benteen, that Custer could actually be killed let alone his entire command wiped out. But some, like Weir, were less certain and tried to do something about it. A lot of things and lies were spoken at the inquiry, including that Reno was drinking that day and even as he was facing the village in the battle line. Others defended Reno. But Custer was "thrown under the bus" by many as he was unable to defend himself. In his diary, Godfrey points out in his conclusions that Custer was expected to attack and if he had not and for example avoided the village, he would have been accused of dereliction of duty because his orders were to contact the hostile and attack to drive them toward Crook and Terry's forces. Neither Custer nor Terry had any idea that Crook had suffered a near defeat a week before by the same Indians was had withdrawn twenty miles to resupply. (BTW, the only thing that stopped Crook's men from attacking the village at that time was their location and the narrow canyon approach that guaranteed an ambush). Crook did not even attempt to send a message to warn either men.
@@deaddocreallydeaddoc5244 Sadly Strangelove worships custer
Which there was some more video of the site, a relative on my mother’s side of the family was there that day. Pvt Barsantee B Company…. He ended up deserting eventually, gee..I wonder why!
Not sure they didn’t know about Custer, I thought one of the officers or a few of them requested to Benteen/Reno go help, and got so far to some overlook and then heard the gunfire and maybe even saw the battle, dust kicked up and soldiers going down. I’ll need to look that up again. PS - it was Captain Weir his soldiers and even Benteen plus other soldiers rode north to now Weir Point.
I visited Little Big Horn in 2019. I vlogged my walk around, and I was able to talk to some native Americans (off camera) they gave a good account of what happened. I don't know what happen to the footage, from my visit. If I ever find it I'll post it up. I enjoyed your video, as it brought back my memories of my visit. Like you mentioned in the video, the entrenchments the soldiers dug are still visible today.
I served 29 years and one thing hasn’t changed one bit since that time. Officers still have overinflated egos and most of them are completely incompetent and cause more problems than they solve.
Just discovered your channel. First rate professional job.
Yeppers, strong work by the members at the Reno-Benteen site. They certainly weren't a side show. They were doing some good soldering and survived. Sad that the entire event was not intended, and made into a mess by the one who desired attention.
Just over a minute in, and I wonder if you're going to bring up the deference that was given to Libby Custer, given her status as Custer's widow, and therefore the reason few people tried to contradict her in her lifetime. And the fact that she outlived mostly anyone who could say different.
Great job on this video.
Excellent.
Nicely done.
I am oft agog at the 'Reno should have charged through the Indian village" with his 150 guys line of thought.
Considering there were 5000 Indians in the village, it would have been as suicidal as a Japanese banzi attack during WW2.
Really enjoyed this. Like how you told the story.
Job well done. Thanks for sharing! :)
Great job! I love American history.
great stuff !!
Great videos!! But I believe the dog is walking you. Lol.
Excellent narration my friend
Great wrap. My view is that benteen and Reno did fight the real fight. Custer's situation was a messy withdrawal that became an unsuccessful rout.
In all fairness, the entire battle was a skirmish, nothing more. It's a lesson in what manipulation of popular media can create in terms of perception and mythology...heroes get forgotten, and less deserving get made into heroes.
These stories are wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing.
I greatly enjoyed your video which explains part of the battle better than anything I've heard before.
Good information. Unfortunate that Hollywood painted a different story. Custer was a fool IMHO.
You sir are a gift to YT!!! Thank you for the history lesson
Great video, so much myth around Custer and The Little Big Horn. watching from Durham, England
Great info and detailed retelling of the event, Just would like to refer to mounted troops as Cavalry vice Calvary. Pretty significant difference.
When my mom and dad got married, my dad was a huge history buff,she took him to little big horn he actually found a revolver and a knife and a handful of cartridges that I still have today in a display case
Ricky, if you speak truth that revolver is worth hundreds of thousands if it is a Colt SAA.
WAY COOL‼️ Impressive concept that is uniquely delivered. 💯👍🏼👍🏼
Very interesting !
You tell the stories very well. 👍
"This leash demeans us both."
Custer was the Leeroy Jenkins of the Little Bighorn.
Thx, great content👍👍
good stuff sir....keep em coming
GREAT video!!! Lots of info here!
Not sure why you felt it necessary to make disparaging comments regarding Benteen's decision to support Reno, rather than Custer. At the point when Benteen received his famous order from Custer, he was nowhere near the ammunition mule train. Thus not only was he unable to provide Custer with the ammo he wanted, he was also unable to equip his own men for a prolonged engagement. It should also be noted that Reno's command had suffered significant casualties in the action and subsequent retreat from the Indian village. Consequently, his men were unlikely to survive for long if left alone to face a prolonged attack from a much larger enemy force. All of that being the case, if Benteen had left Reno and attempted to find and then reinforce Custer, in all probability the entire 7th Cavalry force may have been wiped out.
Benteen's actions at the defense were brave and good... except he should have dug in sooner. ( I think a cavalrymen would not think that way.. but an infantryman would... an Engineer even more so.) But I think he realized he really screwed up too. ( I know I cant prove this.) He was supposed to take the far left flank and that would have put him on the left side of the village. But he decided, without orders.,. to meet Reno's column that had retreated . ( I suspect he thought Custer was leaving him out of the Glory.) Then Custer who could see that Benteen was now with Reno... sent his message to bring help and .. Bring packs ( the ammo ) . Benteen gets pissed off because he hates Custer ( and is no longer in charge of the Supply column, ( That duty rotated and he felt it was beneath his dignity to do it.) So he tells the messenger that he is not the Pack officer..and is so angry .. instead of recognizing the Danger and significance of the message, shoos the messenger away to the pack column ! ( Effectively killing the messenger as he doesn't like ,not just the message, but the insult he thinks Custer is giving him.) He should have ordered up the pack column and taken his column up to support Custer. That clearly was his duty. But he was so caught up in his self pity and anger at not being the commander of the 7th ( actually 2nd in command.) and his hatred of Custer , he couldn't see what was obviously his duty. I do not contend the outcome would have been different..maybe support would have changed the events some .. But Benteen's actions were wrong and he clearly is trying to diffuse his actions during the trial and investigations and cast negative remarks about Custer.... Which shows me He knew he screwed up. Reno did admit years later he was drunk and many EM reported the officers in Reno's column drank enough whisky to be drunk. It was a different time, but that didn't help either.
Thanks.. I really like the subject and seeing the locations is very interesting.
Good information and excellent presentation....very well done. Thank You!
I really like history.