Hello, I am watching part three of 'Captain Weir' on a cold January evening in Nottingham England. What a brilliant trilogy from LBH. You truely capture the feeling of the times Siobhan. You portray the in fighting amongst the Officers of the 7th in such great detail and bring the personalities back to life. French and Weir both suffered greatly, directly after the battle, and both had sad endings. Thank you for your stories from LBH, and hope there will be more.
Masterful production, loaded with information and presented like no one else can surpass. Poor Weir for sure was suffering from a severe case of PTSD and mixed with alcohol can be deadly, as is the case here. The work you are doing on these topics moved me greatly, often bringing tears to my very eyes, you take me there..............................
@@SiobhanFallon7 have you ever considered writing the Custer fight from the time John Martin left the command with a note for Benteen ? I know a lot would be speculation and some guess work , but it would be interesting to to get your expert opinion .
@@SiobhanFallon7 I read Custer’s last campaign by John S Gray . It gives times and places but it seems to me it couldn’t have been over that quick ( approx 1 hour ) . I’ve been to the battlefield a few times . To maneuver around the distances and terrain would seem to take almost an hour itself
I've spent the last few hours continuously watching many, many, many of your videos concerning this part of history (of which we never learn the entire truths/falsehoods in school). Your narration is attentively ultra-superb! Absolutely fascinating and intriguing information, details, photos. sketches, maps, etc.! ... I enjoyed watching, discovering and learning about so much surrounding the legendary and mythical Custer/Little Bighorn-related stories, and all of the people who were either directly and/or indirectly, or peripherally, linked in varying degrees. Thank you so much Siobhan for what you do! Much appreciation, Spruce ❤
Thank you, Spruce! What a lovely message to receive! That's exactly what draws me to this subject -- the sifting of the real lives and day to day fall-out vs. the larger strokes and lack of nuance we too often find in easy recaps. I so appreciate you taking the time to comment 🙏🙏🙏
Some life events are so stressful, that they can actually shorten one's life. What a terrible position Weir was in, during and after the battle. Thank you for your research and presentation. Those of us who have a strong connection with the battle are always grateful.
Thank you as always for these videos! Your research and presentation never fails to pull me right in. I hope you keep up your passion making these because there are so many more people I would love to hear about.
Great stuff. Some of the men in the 7th were good men; some of them were bad men. However, they were all men! The "Custer's Last Fight" lithograph was one of the most successful advertising campaigns in history. Anheuser Busch switching from General Custer and the 7th to Dylan Mulvaney says much about the decline of Western civilization. I would love to own a copy of that lithograph. It is really cool.
You’re an amazing story teller!! As an amateur historian who loves the stories of the frontier and the Wild West, I find myself drawn into the story. Amazing job doing the research and gathering facts. Then telling the stories based on facts and truth. Love it!! Keep up the good work!
Just finished this series. As usual, you knocked it out of the park. Thomas Weir was a tragic personality hounded by his personal demons, and a close look at him is long overdue. Keep them coming!
Thank you, Mark! I have been fascinated with Weir from the moment I first read about the Little Bighorn fight and his lonely trip to Weir Point. I thought it would be too daunting to try to tackle his life but I loved every minute of it.
Wow, thank you for the entire series! I've been fortunate enough to visit the battle site and have been absolutely enthralled ever since... just consuming every grain of information and history i can find really. I've just stumble onto your series here today, and in the few videos I've watched, you've really REALLY put a wonderful emphasis on the humanity of the event. So much more than names and maneuvers. I thank you for this! And I'm heading back to binge watch the rest now!
A great way to spend my Monday morning.... coffee and Siobhan. Until now, all I knew about Captain Weir was, "Sir! Permission to go to the sound of the firing!" --- from the SOTMS movie. Thank you much! 🌹🌹🌹
Hi, Thank you for your lovely series about the lives of military families on the frontier and how the events of those lives led to the LBH. You truly capture the sensibility of those 19th century times. There were so many tragedies resulting in part from the shattering experience of the LBH. Thomas Weir, Alexander French, Marcus Reno, Fredrick Benteen and no doubt many more, all exhibited what people of their time could only vaguely understand. They did try, but they had to skirt around the edges of things because there was no language to truly express what they experienced. What by the late 20th century would come to be recognized and understood as expressions of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was simply not in their thinking. Thank your for beginning to give words to the lives those people lived.
Thanks so much, Siobhan! By pulling together, these accounts, and properly interweaving them in the timeline of events, you have clarified and advanced our understanding of the attitudes, thoughts & dispositions of the participants. This really does have the effect advancing our understanding of the LBH story, as if the true thoughts of of those involved are now in clear (or at least, in more clear) focus. In my opinion, your digital/audio series' contribution to understanding these events is every bit as valuable as those seminal works by Graham, deCamp, etc. Indeed, in many instances, you've advanced the narrative with your inclusion of unpublished, seldom published accounts. Kudos!
You are outstanding! My goodness, Joseph! Such praise! I am blushing and very grateful. I hope I am actually contributing in some small way like you say. I couldn't wish for anything more than that 🙏
Siobhan, I just finished part 3 of Thomas Weir. You were right, I think that is the best I've seen of your work, although I've only seen about half so far. You brought life to this fine man and I almost felt as if I could feel the essence of his nature by what you spoke of him. I knew of course, that there was tremendous strife in Custer's officer and enlisted ranks. I thought that it started during the Indian wars when Custer, because he was filled with boundless energy, drove his men without seeming to care for their well-being. His men used to call him "old iron butt" if I remember correctly, because of the endless hours in the saddle that he rode and required the same of his men. This, of course, made him shine to his superiors. It was further exploited at the battle of the Washita in 1868 when afterward many of his officers blamed him for abandoning Major Joel Elliott (who was a popular officer) and his men during the attack, who were cut off and killed. But what a sad, sad story of Thomas Weir. There is no doubt that the Little Bighorn killed him, just like the Vietnam War killed many former soldiers long after they left the battlefield. I have stood on Weir Point and I agree with you that you could see, with the naked eye, Last Stand Hill. I can only imagine Weir's agony as he was forced to watch the last of his friends meeting their end without going to their aid. Most soldiers would have wanted to share the same fate as their comrades in arms. Reno was, I think, a coward. Benteen wasn't but he hated Custer. Weir suffered for their unwillingness to support Custer in the end. Thank you again for your wonderful portrayal of Thomas Weir...you did a fantastic job!
Another masterful presentation, Siobhan! You bring so many sources together to weave a tale that always keeps me spellbound. Your attention to the details of the whole campaign and the personalities of those involved really brings history to life!
I really needed a comment like this today. Thank you so much. The Weir ones are especially a labor of love. I think he's a key to understanding the battle. And he seems like a genuine good guy who history should remember. Thank you again 🙏
Oh thank you! So glad you watched it all! I am especially proud of this Weir series. I feel like historians don't focus on him enough. Please let me know if there are other videos of mine that resonated with you. I'm hoping to put up a new one about Reno's many court martials tonight or tomorrow so stay tuned!!
This is brilliant! I love the anecdotes and tie-ins to previous videos. Well researched and well presented with great supporting photos. Please keep it up!
Once again you do not disappoint. You illustrate perfectly The fact that the little big horn battle continues to fascinate because of the characters involved not so much the military action. Most writers could not invent This cast of characters. I'd love to know what Weir said to benteen That provoked him so much. Reno I think was unhinged by having bloody knife's head blown up. It was only after this incident That Reno started acting kind of strangely. I recognize that it is the Duty of an officer to remain cool under fire. However he was a human being and we all have our limits. This is why I think that the other soldiers were leery of trusting him on Reno Hill. A commentator on another LBH stream Feela That had Reno and bentine gone to Custer's aid We get entire seventh would have been wiped out. I do not subscribe to this opinion. Again, very well done as usual.
Reno was actinn g strangely from the get go. A lot of people think he was drunk, but I suspect PTSD from the Civil War. From the beginning he was indecisive, halting and forming the skirmish line. At that point he loses control of the battalion which moved into the timber on its own, not on Reno's orders. Once in the timber, it doesn't seem like Reno did anything to organize a defense, then he comes completely unglued and causes the death of a third of his command.
@@maxdavid84 That is a really compelling argument. But I still think he was heavily influenced by the Death of bloody knife and having brains spattered all over his head. If he was subject to PTSD wish I do not deny, This football this would have only made his actions worse. I don't make him out to be A saint, But I do think but he has been victimized unfairly unfairly for being human. Nevertheless I truly respect your argument And think it has great fluidity. I will certainly think about it. I find your argument fairly convincing.
I've read a book on the Northern Boundary Commission of 1873-74. Major Reno was the officer commanding the cavalry assigned as protection to the American surveyors of the 49th parallel, the Medicine Line. Actually Capt. Keogh was also with that detachment. Major Reno didn't get along with anybody. He was in constant conflict with Capt. Elliott Coues the naturalist of the Commission and Asst. Surgeon. Then Reno went AWOL when his wife was ill and was nearly court-martialed(or maybe he was). They refused to give him leave when she did later die. Whether he was given this assignment rather than accompanying the rest of the 7th on their Black Hills campaign because of his natural ability to not get along is open to debate in my mind. He was the wrong man at the Little Bighorn in any case.
Hi, new subscriber here I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the work you are doing putting all of these fascinating bits of information together for us to enjoy. I am a former Marine and retired Deputy Sheriff and have been fascinated by the Little Big Horn saga all of my life and your stories have opened up a whole new angle for me Thank you and keep up the great work!!!
I needed a message like that. Thank you so very much! I love these stories myself. So good of you to tell me they resonate with you as well. Hope to hear from you again 🙏
For many years I have thought of Weir to be a good man. Damn him for dying before talking to Libby. We would have so much more to imagine and talk about if he had! But I often think it's a good thing that we will never know exactly what happened that day because that is what keeps the legend alive.
Would have loved Weir to live longer I find it so frustrating that he died so soon after the battle, R.I.P to him obvs but he'd have been like the main person to interview in the years to come imagine what he would have said
How captivating! I have so many questions: foul play? jealousy? or was it just politics as usual? Whatever the reason for Captain Weir's death, you always have a great way of framing a creative narrative. It would be nothing short of courageous for the likes of Samuel Clemens to grace the same stage as you, Siobhan.
Thank you so much for your videos. I'm in England and have been so interested in the battle since I was a child. I only discovered your channel a few days ago and I’m now caught up. I apologise if I've missed it but could you please do one on Tom Custer, would like to know more about him. Thank you
Thank you so much!! That is so lovely to hear 🙏 Most of my videos are about the LBH and the 7th CAV but I do have a couple that deal with other conflicts, like one on the German Sisters captured by the Cheyenne, and one of the March 1876 Powder River fight, etc, that you might like too. You are not the first to request Tom Custer!!! I need to research him soon!! Great suggestion. I think I will work on scout Charley Reynolds next, but Tom Custer won't be far behind. Much appreciated, Ian! 🎉
The size of the warrior force requires any argument that the remnants of Reno’s battalion, Benteen’s battalion and the pack train security company could have relieved Custer be premised upon the assumption that the relief column could successfully melee with the warrior force. However, melee, as a cavalry tactic, had been abandoned by the Army after the Civil War. The 7th left their sabers behind for this very reason. The tactic available to the cavalry was based upon the superior range of the single shot Springfield carbine. The cavalry would dismount and hold the enemy at bay with its superior range. To a large extent, Custer’s demise on Last Stand Hill may be attributed to the terrain providing defilade cover to warriors within the range of both cavalry and native weapons. Though positioned on defensible terrain, Calhoun Hill fell because Capt. Keogh did not employ two-thirds of his battalion to its defense. Weir, Benteen, and Reno were faced with a forlorn hope to relieve Custer as they stood on their observation point, and they knew it. They wisely retreated to a defensible position which would afford the cavalry fields of fire required to out-range the warriors successfully. Reno’s decision to assume the defense was fully justified, and was ultimately reaffirmed by the Army. The catastrophe at the Little Bighorn was solely the result of the commander’s improvident decision to deviate from General Terry’s plan for a two-prong conversion. Instead, Custer ordered the 7th Cavalry to embark upon an impulsive attack, two days ahead of schedule, on tired horses, and with sleep deprived men. In short, he violated seven on the nine principles of war: he chose the most complicated of military maneuvers without reconnaissance, without a defined objective, without a complete detailed and coherent plan; he provided no coordinating instructions to achieve mass through mutual support, nor security through supplemental mission s for his reserve. Fully a third of the command was left out of the fight. At best Custer's action may be viewed as a reconnaissance in force, which undermined his commander's plan without military necessity. Custer may have been given the liberty to deviate if necessary, but not to be reckless. Arguments contrary to attributing all fault to Custer’s failure in command originate with efforts of Libby Custer and Frederick Whittaker to manufacture and preserve an undeserved reputation for their fallen hero. The false narrative was aided by those in the Army who were so disappointed they could not save Custer that they unjustifiably blamed Reno. Capt. Weir seems to have been one of those officers who could not cope with his disappointment.
Some good points there. But it's not true that Libbie Custer or Frederick Whittaker were the first to criticize Reno and Weir-- as I mention in multiple videos and often quote from eyewitness testimony, plenty of other people pointed out the errors made by Custer's subordinates, including members of the 7th CAV who were actually at the fight. The best counter argument would be General Edward S. Godfrey's writing and published materials. He was a cav officer trained at West Point like Custer, and was at the Washita and LBH and thus familiar with Custer's Indian fighting tactics. As a contemporary source and witness, his view is intrinsic to understanding the 7th cav mindset at the time vs modern military tactics. And you'll remember that Terry got lost and was a day late to the battlefield. Also his official orders in absolutely no way mention a combined fight or pincher movement with Custer. Thanks so much for commenting!
I have often thought that, simply put, Weir, Reno, and Benteen realized they were all outnumbered, and had opened a hornets nest. The best they could do was find the nearest defensive position, and fight for their lives. I wouldn't want to be in their boots. Regards from Canada 🇨🇦
From Gen Terry's order: "it is hoped that the Indians, if upon the Little Horn, may be so nearly inclosed (sic) by the two columns that their escape will be impossible. A pincer by another name?@@SiobhanFallon7
@@SiobhanFallon7 Quote from Terry's order: "... it is hoped that the Indians, if upon the Little Horn, may be so nearly inclosed (sic) by the two columns that their escape will be impossible. A pincer by another name?
You did an especially nice job on this series, Siobhan. I can tell TBW is a favorite of yours. I wish we knew where his original burial site on Governor's Island was. I believe the huge majority of those disinterred from there and re-located in Cypress Hills a couple years later were Confederate POWs. Keep up the good work!
wait-- what? is there a mass grave of unnamed soldiers buried in Cypress Hills? Is it Weir in Weir's grave? Are you sending me down a new rabbit hole? Better get our hiking boots and get ready to tackle a new cemetery soon...
Well informed and communicated series - thank you!! How far is Weir Point actually to Last Stand Hill? Can you actually see Last Stand Hill from Weir Point?
Oh you can certainly see Last Stand Hill from Weir Point with the naked eye. I have walked it many times. I think it's about 2.5 miles away. But both are on peaks so it's hard to miss either one from each vantage point. If Captain Benteen indeed stood on Weir Point and looked at LSH, putting his guidon into the earth to show Custer he was there as he claimed at the Reno Courtof Inquiry, he could see an engagement of some kind, whether it was smoke and dust from the fighting, or actual movements of participants. Weir arrived at least 30 minutes before Benteen so he would have spotted more going on at that point. And he may have even ventured even closer to LSH.
@@SiobhanFallon7 Thanks - and one of the videos in your trilogy shows the view. In the final analysis, it’s clear that Reno/Benteen intentionally and in violation of a written order from Custer to move 2/3 of the 7th Calvary toward LSH to support Custer. I don’t see any justification for not doing so except maybe that by the time they reached Weir Point that observed that Custer had been routed - i.e., they had missed any opportunity to support Custer because Custer had already been entirely defeated. Any other justification for ‘Reno’s second retreat’ back to Reno/Benteen Hill amounts to cowardice and insubordination. The Court of Inquiry’s findings seem out of convenience - i.e., to preserve the Army’s reputation at Custer’s expense (somewhat of a white wash). This is a fascinating topic - until now, I’ve consistently heard that Reno was very far away and without knowledge of Custer’s fatal predicament.
@jimmelino3361 I'm working on another Reno video that examines his other court martials outside of the court of Inquiry and how they al fit together. Please stay tuned and let me know what you think! 🙏
@@SiobhanFallon7 There’s a typo / missing word in my summary: “… failed to moved 2/3 of the 7th Calvary toward LSH to support Custer.” Look forward to your analysis of the Reno court marshals!!
You will! I am simultaneously working on Charley Reynolds (Custer's scout) as well as William Van Wyck Reilly (a young 2nd Lieutenant who joined the 7th just before the campaign, thanks to his ambitious mom).
You do a nice job of explaining the many reasons why history will never know exactly what (and how) happened at the Little Bighorn. One reason is the site itself. I, too, have been at the site more than once, and I’m always impressed how great the distances are and how difficult it is to differentiate the various sites like Last Stand Hill, Calhouns Hill, and Weir Point from the vast and similar landscape. But from your photos it might have been possible for Weir and others to actually see fighting at Calhouns Hill or Last Stand Hill -IF- there was still fighting. My guess is that Calhouns group was already wiped out, and there may have been some mopping up at Last Stand Hill. I think it’s also generally accepted that Weir and others wisely turned back because of the horde of Indians now turning towards them. And I don't fault Reno for not charging into the village, which would have been suicide. Edgerly is probably wrong to fault Reno on that point and right to say if they had continued to ride forward they would also have been killed. You do a good job of explaining also how the testimony of participants was inconsistent and how the code of honor prevented any truth from coming to light at Reno’s hearing. And how Weir had to suppress his own strong feelings in the face of this code and Grant’s, Terry’s and Sherman’s strong comments placing the blame on Custer’s rashness. All in all, we’ll never know, but your summaries are well laid out. Thank you.
Thank you, Thomas! You do a great job outlining the biggest issues. I am always astounded by the size of the Little Bighorn Battlefield myself, with no easy means of communication, and so much withheld from view by the hills and ridges and valleys. In the end, I think that the survivors had no choice but to tell themselves they did the best they could, or else they all might have ended up like Weir. And like you point out, we will never know the truth. Great to hear from you and thanks for the insightful and kind message!!
Weir died a broken man. Military tradition was thrown to the winds that day, when Reno refused to go to the sounds of gun fire and Weir was in no position to take that burden off his heart, because of Military protocol(no whistle blowers). Even those he entrusted with true knowledge of that day, let the man down after his death.
I agree. He seems to have died from torn loyalties-- trying to defend the 7th Cavalry he loved, as well as his fallen friends. Thanks so much for watching!!
So why did Custer by pass Reno and order Benteen to come quick? Why did Custer's brother and nephew leave an understaff pack train to join Custer and did so separately? Your videos are the best I have ever seen on the LBH. Well done.
I think Custer and his scouts saw Reno engaged on the skirmish line in the valley and separately could also roughly see the dust from Benteen's column enough to know he was back on the trail and not far in front of the pack train. Some historians think Custet's order and use of the words "packs" meant he only wanted the pack mules loaded with ammo to be cut from the pack train and hurried forward, much like Lt Hare will do at Reno Hill, and like Lt Bell did at the Battle of the Washita with a wagon of ammo that may have saved that day for the cav. I'm not entirely certain myself.
Also your mention of Boston Custer is very keen. Obviously, as he was found with Custer, and had passed Benteen and spoken briefly with officers in Benteen's column, so Boston would have relayed to his brother the distance between Benteen and the pack train. And he also would have relayed to Custer the distance of Benteen to Custer. And that Benteen had seemed to be on his way to a juncture.
Custer witness Reno's route from Reno's premature attack which he disobeyed orders to do. Remember Custer was forced to attack immediately for fear he had lost he crucial element of surprise over the lost Army bread box. Having Reno attacking alone and sending Benteen on a scout took away Custer's crucial element of surprise again which absolutely makes no sense. This should raise a huge red flag. Custer sent the order to Benteen because he couldn't trust Reno. Why would Benteen keep the written order when it showed he disobeyed his orders and even looks like he tampered with the written order by writing in (big village). They already knew it was a big village. The order was sent Benteen to warn him that Custer was about to stage a feint to relieve the pressure by causing the Indians to go him This was Benteen's opportunity to attack the Indians from behind as they were changing direction. Bring packs because Custer would be dangerously low on ammo and needed to resupplied asap. @@SiobhanFallon7
The only thing I've read about Boston at the LBH was he crossed paths with Martini. You have revealed a lot of information I never heard before and I try to read everything I can get my hands about Custer and all of it is a rehash of the same old nonsense. You are finally looking into about what really happened. You show a drawing of Benteen wearing a blue tunic (as in sailor's blouse) and a red tie that would identify him as a Custer trooper. You also told the story of Custer, Weir and Benteen playing an all night poker game. How could you possibly know that? A Benteen letter? Enjoy your videos.@@SiobhanFallon7
We need to hear a lot more about this guy that produces these extraordinary maps. He is clearly a genius, or at least genius adjacent. And humble, in that way that only ruggedly handsome Southern men can be. On a different note, I think Weir is proof that major depression can, and does, kill. It is clear that he and D Co saw a great deal of the events in the Keogh and Custer sectors of the battlefield during their two hours on Weir Point, and were unable to do anything to help their brothers thanks to the determined refusal of Benteen and Reno to move in a timely fashion. He went from an active, aggressive cavalry officer on June 25th to a hollowed out shell of himself, unwilling to leave the house in his later days, dying a mere six months after the battle. It seems worth noting that Weir and French openly defied their commanding officers in front of the entire command when they moved north, and it appears this set off a revolt among the junior officers that forced Reno and Benteen to finally act, though quite half halfheartedly. Both officers were notoriously vindictive towards subordinates, yet spent the rest of their lives pretending that this defiance of orders during a battle was no big deal at all. One suspects that they were desperate that no examination of the events, or lack there of, on Reno Hill ever receive scrutiny, and played down Weir's actions, and pretended that French never did anything. One suspects that if French or Weir had lived a few more years, Reno never would have dared to request the Court of Inquiry (after the statute of limitations on all matters relating to LBH had expired). French was probably the most physically brave man on the 25th, but Weir put his entire career on the line by publicly defying orders. That no charges were ever brought against him indicates that Reno and Benteen both felt certain that any investigation would end with the court's outrage being aimed at them, and not Captain Weir. Yet historians continue to treat his actions as some temperamental fit of bravado, rather than laying his career and future on the line to do what he thought was right. He deserves better, and this three part series is a help.
Thank you. And I absolutely agree with you. I have always thought that Weir was the key to figuring out this fight. And I still do. Let's hope a mutual friend of ours and the history he is writing will change how we all view the battle... That map guy is pretty darn smart too ;)
PTSD from watching your friends get slaughtered, not being able to help them without getting killed yourself, and then having to bury their mutilated remains is what killed Thomas Weir. War robs you of spontaneous happy thoughts and forces you to live in the past surrounded by "what ifs". You no longer look forward to the future and all the desires a young man has gets extinguished by the most horrifying intrusive thoughts. There is little doubt that native american survivors also experienced PTSD induced hyper-vigilance as they were reborn into a warrior that constantly scanned the horizon for the enemy, listened to the winds for the sounds of horses, and always searched the ground for signs of a recent activity. This hyper-vigilance can become a terrible burden when a soldier returns to the civilian life and his mind is unable to perform those tasks that he was reborn to do. In the civilian life there is no enemy and your brothers are dead but the mind doesn't care and will grow manic looking for them.
Chain of command has most likely buried more truths than we can imagine. I guess where custer failed to ride through the camp himself to meet reno was a double fail for both men not meeting that obligation if that was indeed the plan. To be a soldier under control of another that you dont trust is frustrating enough but to then having to cover up their dealings is more than most people could bare. Burying your friends is hard enough under the best of circumstances being forced to comply afterward due to chain of command would be brutal.
Great points. After the battle, Major Reno was in command of the 7th and I remember someone mentioning how he had Custer's command tent, and his oriental rugs etc. How wrong that must have seemed to those who thought Reno had been a coward or had not done enough to save Custer. That Reno, who had tried to take command of the 7th in the spring of 1876 before the fight when Custer was in DC, now inherited everything upon Custer's death, deserving or not. Very very difficult to handle, you are right, if Reno was under any suspicion by his men.
The battle of the Little Big Horn could almost be compared to the battle of Goose Green. During the Falklands war in 1982. There, Major Keeble, the battalios second in command, of 2 PARA, did perhaps what Major Weir should have done. Consolidated his force. Contemplated all information and options. Pressed home an attack against overwhelming odds. His real ace in that case was an appreciation of the Argentines mind set. Using this he really bluffed his way to victory. The First Nation warriors may not have been so easily persuaded.
I'm not a fan of Maj Reno in the least, he did not perform well at the LBH. But those who criticize his actions at the village need to understand that he had less than 150 troopers and hundreds of indians came rushing at them out of the village. If they don't retreat they would have suffered the same fate as Custer and his men, even if they wouldn't have stopped and dismounted, they would have all been wiped out.
The "chain of command" was certainly quick to jump the gun on throwing Custer under the bus for total responsibility. But hey, they had to blame somebody! A clearer picture of how things went down wouldn't come to light until over 100 years later, after the fire that cleared the battlefield.
Reno/Benteen were never going to defeat 2000 plus Native American warriors with reloadable guns and arrows. They made the right decision. They would have suffered the same fate as Custer and his men.
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Hello, I am watching part three of 'Captain Weir' on a cold January evening in Nottingham England. What a brilliant trilogy from LBH. You truely capture the feeling of the times Siobhan. You portray the in fighting amongst the Officers of the 7th in such great detail and bring the personalities back to life. French and Weir both suffered greatly, directly after the battle, and both had sad endings. Thank you for your stories from LBH, and hope there will be more.
And thank you so much for watching!! Stay warm and cozy 🙏
Excellent video. I have studied Custer and the battle for years. You really put it together in an understandable time line. Thank you
So good of you to say that! Thank you. I will keep trying to improve, and I will keep telling their stories 🙏🙏🙏
Masterful production, loaded with information and presented like no one else can surpass. Poor Weir for sure was suffering from a severe case of PTSD and mixed with alcohol can be deadly, as is the case here. The work you are doing on these topics moved me greatly, often bringing tears to my very eyes, you take me there..............................
Jay!! You made my night! So happy Weir's story resonates with you. He deserves to be known 🙏
I so appreciate your kind words.
I daresay, Survivors Guilt, as well. I'm sure for many others also. Regards.
Another great installment,love your Weir series!
Thank you!!!! I do have a special fondness for Tom Weir and his tragic end.
This is an excellent and clear telling of these events. Much respect for your unique approach.
Oh thank you! Great to hear from you and to know you are still watching!
@@SiobhanFallon7 have you ever considered writing the Custer fight from the time John Martin left the command with a note for Benteen ?
I know a lot would be speculation and some guess work , but it would be interesting to to get your expert opinion .
@striperking6083 I have not! I'll see if I can dig up a trustworthy timeline and will share with you if I find it!
Thank you 🙏
@@SiobhanFallon7 I read Custer’s last campaign by John S Gray .
It gives times and places but it seems to me it couldn’t have been over that quick ( approx 1 hour ) .
I’ve been to the battlefield a few times . To maneuver around the distances and terrain would seem to take almost an hour itself
I've spent the last few hours continuously watching many, many, many of your videos concerning this part of history (of which we never learn the entire truths/falsehoods in school). Your narration is attentively ultra-superb! Absolutely fascinating and intriguing information, details, photos. sketches, maps, etc.! ... I enjoyed watching, discovering and learning about so much surrounding the legendary and mythical Custer/Little Bighorn-related stories, and all of the people who were either directly and/or indirectly, or peripherally, linked in varying degrees. Thank you so much Siobhan for what you do! Much appreciation, Spruce ❤
Thank you, Spruce! What a lovely message to receive! That's exactly what draws me to this subject -- the sifting of the real lives and day to day fall-out vs. the larger strokes and lack of nuance we too often find in easy recaps.
I so appreciate you taking the time to comment 🙏🙏🙏
Another character from this historic episode who I wish I could meet in person.
Thank you so much for these videos, Siobhan!
Me too! Oh the things Weir could tell us!!
Thank you so much 🙏
Some life events are so stressful, that they can actually shorten one's life. What a terrible position Weir was in, during and after the battle. Thank you for your research and presentation. Those of us who have a strong connection with the battle are always grateful.
Thank you, Thane. I always look forward to hearing from you 🙏
I think Weir is the key to so much, and there is still more to learn about his role.
Thank you as always for these videos! Your research and presentation never fails to pull me right in. I hope you keep up your passion making these because there are so many more people I would love to hear about.
There are so many I plan to research!! The list is too long 🤣🤦🏼♀️
Thank you for the kind words!!
Great stuff. Some of the men in the 7th were good men; some of them were bad men. However, they were all men!
The "Custer's Last Fight" lithograph was one of the most successful advertising campaigns in history. Anheuser Busch switching from General Custer and the 7th to Dylan Mulvaney says much about the decline of Western civilization.
I would love to own a copy of that lithograph. It is really cool.
You’re an amazing story teller!! As an amateur historian who loves the stories of the frontier and the Wild West, I find myself drawn into the story. Amazing job doing the research and gathering facts. Then telling the stories based on facts and truth. Love it!! Keep up the good work!
Wow, such a great first message to read as I open my phone this morning!! Thank you, Tony 🙏
Please stay tuned for more!
@@SiobhanFallon7 You’re welcome.. looking forward to more. The Nez Pierce “War” is also very interesting too.
@tonyp7776 yes it is!! That might have to wait for me to get thru the Sioux/ Cheyenne / Little Bighorn war first though... 🙃
Just finished this series. As usual, you knocked it out of the park. Thomas Weir was a tragic personality hounded by his personal demons, and a close look at him is long overdue. Keep them coming!
Thank you, Mark! I have been fascinated with Weir from the moment I first read about the Little Bighorn fight and his lonely trip to Weir Point.
I thought it would be too daunting to try to tackle his life but I loved every minute of it.
Wow, thank you for the entire series!
I've been fortunate enough to visit the battle site and have been absolutely enthralled ever since... just consuming every grain of information and history i can find really.
I've just stumble onto your series here today, and in the few videos I've watched, you've really REALLY put a wonderful emphasis on the humanity of the event. So much more than names and maneuvers.
I thank you for this! And I'm heading back to binge watch the rest now!
Yay!! Best comment ever!! Thank Christopher! I hope the others resonate as well. Please tell me what you think 🙏 so glad you found me!
A great way to spend my Monday morning.... coffee and Siobhan. Until now, all I knew about Captain Weir was, "Sir! Permission to go to the sound of the firing!" --- from the SOTMS movie. Thank you much! 🌹🌹🌹
Ha! Yes! He ought to have had a bigger role in that film!!
Hi, Thank you for your lovely series about the lives of military families on the frontier and how the events of those lives led to the LBH. You truly capture the sensibility of those 19th century times. There were so many tragedies resulting in part from the shattering experience of the LBH. Thomas Weir, Alexander French, Marcus Reno, Fredrick Benteen and no doubt many more, all exhibited what people of their time could only vaguely understand. They did try, but they had to skirt around the edges of things because there was no language to truly express what they experienced. What by the late 20th century would come to be recognized and understood as expressions of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was simply not in their thinking. Thank your for beginning to give words to the lives those people lived.
@user-gf7jc5sc1c Thank you, Thomas! That's exactly what I hope to do! 🙏 I appreciate your kind words.
Wow! I love your videos and the way you make them! You have educated me on Thomas Weir! I
Thanks so much, Siobhan! By pulling together, these accounts, and properly interweaving them in the timeline of events, you have clarified and advanced our understanding of the attitudes, thoughts & dispositions of the participants. This really does have the effect advancing our understanding of the LBH story, as if the true thoughts of of those involved are now in clear (or at least, in more clear) focus.
In my opinion, your digital/audio
series' contribution to understanding these events is every bit as valuable as those seminal works by Graham, deCamp, etc. Indeed, in many instances, you've advanced the narrative with your inclusion of unpublished, seldom published accounts.
Kudos!
You are outstanding! My goodness, Joseph! Such praise! I am blushing and very grateful.
I hope I am actually contributing in some small way like you say. I couldn't wish for anything more than that 🙏
Well done! Keep up the good work!
You are wonderful! Thank you! 🎉🙏
Siobhan, I just finished part 3 of Thomas Weir. You were right, I think that is the best I've seen of your work, although I've only seen about half so far. You brought life to this fine man and I almost felt as if I could feel the essence of his nature by what you spoke of him. I knew of course, that there was tremendous strife in Custer's officer and enlisted ranks. I thought that it started during the Indian wars when Custer, because he was filled with boundless energy, drove his men without seeming to care for their well-being. His men used to call him "old iron butt" if I remember correctly, because of the endless hours in the saddle that he rode and required the same of his men. This, of course, made him shine to his superiors. It was further exploited at the battle of the Washita in 1868 when afterward many of his officers blamed him for abandoning Major Joel Elliott (who was a popular officer) and his men during the attack, who were cut off and killed. But what a sad, sad story of Thomas Weir. There is no doubt that the Little Bighorn killed him, just like the Vietnam War killed many former soldiers long after they left the battlefield. I have stood on Weir Point and I agree with you that you could see, with the naked eye, Last Stand Hill. I can only imagine Weir's agony as he was forced to watch the last of his friends meeting their end without going to their aid. Most soldiers would have wanted to share the same fate as their comrades in arms. Reno was, I think, a coward. Benteen wasn't but he hated Custer. Weir suffered for their unwillingness to support Custer in the end. Thank you again for your wonderful portrayal of Thomas Weir...you did a fantastic job!
@@Mark-o1i3s thank you so much!
Another masterful presentation, Siobhan! You bring so many sources together to weave a tale that always keeps me spellbound. Your attention to the details of the whole campaign and the personalities of those involved really brings history to life!
I really needed a comment like this today. Thank you so much. The Weir ones are especially a labor of love. I think he's a key to understanding the battle. And he seems like a genuine good guy who history should remember.
Thank you again 🙏
Good telling of a classic "fog of war" & "in the heat of battle" scenario. Your clips add great perspective to my trips to the battlefield, thanks
Thank you! The maps from Geoff Lackey really helped me visualize things in that wide expanse.
Thank you for this excellent series. Thank you for your research and straightforwardness.
Oh thank you!
So glad you watched it all! I am especially proud of this Weir series. I feel like historians don't focus on him enough.
Please let me know if there are other videos of mine that resonated with you.
I'm hoping to put up a new one about Reno's many court martials tonight or tomorrow so stay tuned!!
This is brilliant! I love the anecdotes and tie-ins to previous videos.
Well researched and well presented with great supporting photos. Please keep it up!
Thank you!! 💕
Top notch as usual Siobhan!
Thank you!!!
Once again you do not disappoint. You illustrate perfectly The fact that the little big horn battle continues to fascinate because of the characters involved not so much the military action. Most writers could not invent This cast of characters. I'd love to know what Weir said to benteen That provoked him so much. Reno I think was unhinged by having bloody knife's head blown up. It was only after this incident That Reno started acting kind of strangely. I recognize that it is the Duty of an officer to remain cool under fire. However he was a human being and we all have our limits. This is why I think that the other soldiers were leery of trusting him on Reno Hill. A commentator on another LBH stream Feela That had Reno and bentine gone to Custer's aid We get entire seventh would have been wiped out. I do not subscribe to this opinion.
Again, very well done as usual.
Thank you, Barbara! I have missed you! Truth is stranger than fiction, as they say. 🙏
@@SiobhanFallon7 Oh you know the holidays. And yes truth is stranger than fiction but not usually this much stranger.
@barbaraanneneale3674 yes!! And you are so right about them being human beings at the end of the day. I try to remind myself of that all the time.
Reno was actinn g strangely from the get go. A lot of people think he was drunk, but I suspect PTSD from the Civil War. From the beginning he was indecisive, halting and forming the skirmish line. At that point he loses control of the battalion which moved into the timber on its own, not on Reno's orders. Once in the timber, it doesn't seem like Reno did anything to organize a defense, then he comes completely unglued and causes the death of a third of his command.
@@maxdavid84 That is a really compelling argument. But I still think he was heavily influenced by the Death of bloody knife and having brains spattered all over his head. If he was subject to PTSD wish I do not deny, This football this would have only made his actions worse. I don't make him out to be A saint, But I do think but he has been victimized unfairly unfairly for being human. Nevertheless I truly respect your argument And think it has great fluidity. I will certainly think about it. I find your argument fairly convincing.
I've read a book on the Northern Boundary Commission of 1873-74. Major Reno was the officer commanding the cavalry assigned as protection to the American surveyors of the 49th parallel, the Medicine Line. Actually Capt. Keogh was also with that detachment. Major Reno didn't get along with anybody. He was in constant conflict with Capt. Elliott Coues the naturalist of the Commission and Asst. Surgeon. Then Reno went AWOL when his wife was ill and was nearly court-martialed(or maybe he was). They refused to give him leave when she did later die. Whether he was given this assignment rather than accompanying the rest of the 7th on their Black Hills campaign because of his natural ability to not get along is open to debate in my mind. He was the wrong man at the Little Bighorn in any case.
Yes!! I have a bio on Reno that briefly touches on the N boundary, but looks like I should read the book you mentioned! Great info, thank you!
Fascinating and very enlightening videos. Thank you! I’ve learnt a lot from watching them.
@gezh2379 oh thank you!!
I'm working on Part 3 of my Irish soldiers on the 7th now! 🍀
@@SiobhanFallon7 Looking forward to it! Thank you🙏
Hi, new subscriber here I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the work you are doing putting all of these fascinating bits of information together for us to enjoy. I am a former Marine and retired Deputy Sheriff and have been fascinated by the Little Big Horn saga all of my life and your stories have opened up a whole new angle for me
Thank you and keep up the great work!!!
I needed a message like that. Thank you so very much! I love these stories myself. So good of you to tell me they resonate with you as well.
Hope to hear from you again 🙏
For many years I have thought of Weir to be a good man. Damn him for dying before talking to Libby. We would have so much more to imagine and talk about if he had! But I often think it's a good thing that we will never know exactly what happened that day because that is what keeps the legend alive.
The legend is alive!!
I think he was a good man, too. He is my favorite Seventh cavalry officer. Such internal conflict.
Another excellent presentation !
Thank you! So much more I wish I had squeezed in, but, as you know, there will always be another...
Very good video (again!)
You rock! Thank you!!
You are talented storyteller! Amazing!
You are so wonderful!! You made my day, thank you!
I should have a new one up in time for Saint Patrick's Day-- Captain Keogh!! ☘️
Thank you Siobhan very interesting video ❤
Much appreciated, Sean!
Would have loved Weir to live longer I find it so frustrating that he died so soon after the battle, R.I.P to him obvs but he'd have been like the main person to interview in the years to come imagine what he would have said
I know!! Heartbreaking.
I dream that we find more of his letters someday 🙏🙏🙏
Great passion for the subject matter.
Thank you!!
Weir has a special place in my heart and his story helped draw me into this study.
How captivating! I have so many questions: foul play? jealousy? or was it just politics as usual? Whatever the reason for Captain Weir's death, you always have a great way of framing a creative narrative. It would be nothing short of courageous for the likes of Samuel Clemens to grace the same stage as you, Siobhan.
Henry!! Thank you!! You are wonderful 🙏📚🙏
Thank you for this beautiful video ❤❤❤❤❤❤
So glad you were able to watch all 3! Thanks for commenting 🙏💕
Thank you so much for your videos. I'm in England and have been so interested in the battle since I was a child.
I only discovered your channel a few days ago and I’m now caught up.
I apologise if I've missed it but could you please do one on Tom Custer, would like to know more about him. Thank you
Thank you so much!! That is so lovely to hear 🙏
Most of my videos are about the LBH and the 7th CAV but I do have a couple that deal with other conflicts, like one on the German Sisters captured by the Cheyenne, and one of the March 1876 Powder River fight, etc, that you might like too.
You are not the first to request Tom Custer!!! I need to research him soon!! Great suggestion.
I think I will work on scout Charley Reynolds next, but Tom Custer won't be far behind.
Much appreciated, Ian! 🎉
@@SiobhanFallon7 Thank you!
The size of the warrior force requires any argument that the remnants of Reno’s battalion, Benteen’s battalion and the pack train security company could have relieved Custer be premised upon the assumption that the relief column could successfully melee with the warrior force. However, melee, as a cavalry tactic, had been abandoned by the Army after the Civil War. The 7th left their sabers behind for this very reason.
The tactic available to the cavalry was based upon the superior range of the single shot Springfield carbine. The cavalry would dismount and hold the enemy at bay with its superior range. To a large extent, Custer’s demise on Last Stand Hill may be attributed to the terrain providing defilade cover to warriors within the range of both cavalry and native weapons. Though positioned on defensible terrain, Calhoun Hill fell because Capt. Keogh did not employ two-thirds of his battalion to its defense.
Weir, Benteen, and Reno were faced with a forlorn hope to relieve Custer as they stood on their observation point, and they knew it. They wisely retreated to a defensible position which would afford the cavalry fields of fire required to out-range the warriors successfully. Reno’s decision to assume the defense was fully justified, and was ultimately reaffirmed by the Army.
The catastrophe at the Little Bighorn was solely the result of the commander’s improvident decision to deviate from General Terry’s plan for a two-prong conversion. Instead, Custer ordered the 7th Cavalry to embark upon an impulsive attack, two days ahead of schedule, on tired horses, and with sleep deprived men. In short, he violated seven on the nine principles of war: he chose the most complicated of military maneuvers without reconnaissance, without a defined objective, without a complete detailed and coherent plan; he provided no coordinating instructions to achieve mass through mutual support, nor security through supplemental mission s for his reserve. Fully a third of the command was left out of the fight. At best Custer's action may be viewed as a reconnaissance in force, which undermined his commander's plan without military necessity. Custer may have been given the liberty to deviate if necessary, but not to be reckless.
Arguments contrary to attributing all fault to Custer’s failure in command originate with efforts of Libby Custer and Frederick Whittaker to manufacture and preserve an undeserved reputation for their fallen hero. The false narrative was aided by those in the Army who were so disappointed they could not save Custer that they unjustifiably blamed Reno. Capt. Weir seems to have been one of those officers who could not cope with his disappointment.
Very well put.
Some good points there. But it's not true that Libbie Custer or Frederick Whittaker were the first to criticize Reno and Weir-- as I mention in multiple videos and often quote from eyewitness testimony, plenty of other people pointed out the errors made by Custer's subordinates, including members of the 7th CAV who were actually at the fight. The best counter argument would be General Edward S. Godfrey's writing and published materials. He was a cav officer trained at West Point like Custer, and was at the Washita and LBH and thus familiar with Custer's Indian fighting tactics. As a contemporary source and witness, his view is intrinsic to understanding the 7th cav mindset at the time vs modern military tactics.
And you'll remember that Terry got lost and was a day late to the battlefield. Also his official orders in absolutely no way mention a combined fight or pincher movement with Custer.
Thanks so much for commenting!
I have often thought that, simply put, Weir, Reno, and Benteen realized they were all outnumbered, and had opened a hornets nest. The best they could do was find the nearest defensive position, and fight for their lives. I wouldn't want to be in their boots. Regards from Canada 🇨🇦
From Gen Terry's order: "it is hoped that the Indians, if upon the Little Horn, may be so nearly inclosed (sic) by the two columns that their escape will be impossible.
A pincer by another name?@@SiobhanFallon7
@@SiobhanFallon7 Quote from Terry's order: "... it is hoped that the Indians, if upon the Little Horn, may be so nearly inclosed (sic) by the two columns that their escape will be impossible. A pincer by another name?
Pure quality. 👍👌🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you. This one about Weir is a personal favorite of mine 💕
PTSD has been in every war but unknown till modern times.
Yes indeed 🙏
You did an especially nice job on this series, Siobhan. I can tell TBW is a favorite of yours. I wish we knew where his original burial site on Governor's Island was. I believe the huge majority of those disinterred from there and re-located in Cypress Hills a couple years later were Confederate POWs. Keep up the good work!
wait-- what? is there a mass grave of unnamed soldiers buried in Cypress Hills? Is it Weir in Weir's grave? Are you sending me down a new rabbit hole? Better get our hiking boots and get ready to tackle a new cemetery soon...
Not a mass grave, guys all seem to have individual headstones.
@drkoz76 great info, Dale. Thanks so much for sharing. Have you been there?
Nope
@@drkoz76 someday soon !
Well informed and communicated series - thank you!! How far is Weir Point actually to Last Stand Hill? Can you actually see Last Stand Hill from Weir Point?
Oh you can certainly see Last Stand Hill from Weir Point with the naked eye. I have walked it many times. I think it's about 2.5 miles away. But both are on peaks so it's hard to miss either one from each vantage point.
If Captain Benteen indeed stood on Weir Point and looked at LSH, putting his guidon into the earth to show Custer he was there as he claimed at the Reno Courtof Inquiry, he could see an engagement of some kind, whether it was smoke and dust from the fighting, or actual movements of participants. Weir arrived at least 30 minutes before Benteen so he would have spotted more going on at that point. And he may have even ventured even closer to LSH.
@@SiobhanFallon7 Thanks - and one of the videos in your trilogy shows the view. In the final analysis, it’s clear that Reno/Benteen intentionally and in violation of a written order from Custer to move 2/3 of the 7th Calvary toward LSH to support Custer. I don’t see any justification for not doing so except maybe that by the time they reached Weir Point that observed that Custer had been routed - i.e., they had missed any opportunity to support Custer because Custer had already been entirely defeated. Any other justification for ‘Reno’s second retreat’ back to Reno/Benteen Hill amounts to cowardice and insubordination. The Court of Inquiry’s findings seem out of convenience - i.e., to preserve the Army’s reputation at Custer’s expense (somewhat of a white wash). This is a fascinating topic - until now, I’ve consistently heard that Reno was very far away and without knowledge of Custer’s fatal predicament.
@jimmelino3361 that's a great assessment, Jim. And I agree with you.
@jimmelino3361 I'm working on another Reno video that examines his other court martials outside of the court of Inquiry and how they al fit together.
Please stay tuned and let me know what you think! 🙏
@@SiobhanFallon7
There’s a typo / missing word in my summary: “… failed to moved 2/3 of the 7th Calvary toward LSH to support Custer.”
Look forward to your analysis of the Reno court marshals!!
Ah man I'm doing Dr appts today I will watch this evening.
Ha ha good luck to you!!!
I have never heard of where it was a great story though 👍🍀🍀🍀 I hope to hear more from you
You will! I am simultaneously working on Charley Reynolds (Custer's scout) as well as William Van Wyck Reilly (a young 2nd Lieutenant who joined the 7th just before the campaign, thanks to his ambitious mom).
You know just because the government tells you can't do something don't mean you can't do it 👍🖕🍀🍀🍀
@@KevinCave-rj8eq 🤣
Excellent Job 🇺🇸👍
Much appreciated!
Lovely of you to comment on a bunch of my videos yesterday 🎉🙏
You do a nice job of explaining the many reasons why history will never know exactly what (and how) happened at the Little Bighorn. One reason is the site itself. I, too, have been at the site more than once, and I’m always impressed how great the distances are and how difficult it is to differentiate the various sites like Last Stand Hill, Calhouns Hill, and Weir Point from the vast and similar landscape. But from your photos it might have been possible for Weir and others to actually see fighting at Calhouns Hill or Last Stand Hill -IF- there was still fighting. My guess is that Calhouns group was already wiped out, and there may have been some mopping up at Last Stand Hill.
I think it’s also generally accepted that Weir and others wisely turned back because of the horde of Indians now turning towards them. And I don't fault Reno for not charging into the village, which would have been suicide. Edgerly is probably wrong to fault Reno on that point and right to say if they had continued to ride forward they would also have been killed.
You do a good job of explaining also how the testimony of participants was inconsistent and how the code of honor prevented any truth from coming to light at Reno’s hearing. And how Weir had to suppress his own strong feelings in the face of this code and Grant’s, Terry’s and Sherman’s strong comments placing the blame on Custer’s rashness. All in all, we’ll never know, but your summaries are well laid out. Thank you.
Thank you, Thomas! You do a great job outlining the biggest issues. I am always astounded by the size of the Little Bighorn Battlefield myself, with no easy means of communication, and so much withheld from view by the hills and ridges and valleys.
In the end, I think that the survivors had no choice but to tell themselves they did the best they could, or else they all might have ended up like Weir.
And like you point out, we will never know the truth.
Great to hear from you and thanks for the insightful and kind message!!
The men and women involved in this action, on both sides, are absolutely fascinating to me. It is both cold hard fact, and an elaborate, tragic drama.
Yes! "Elaborate, tragic drama" is the perfect description!!
Did you ever get a chance to read Evan Connell's Sun of the Morning Star? Alot of very interesting 7th Cavalry information.
Oh yes!!! One of the first books I read about the Little Bighorn and it helped make me an addict 😉
It's wonderful!
Weir died a broken man. Military tradition was thrown to the winds that day, when Reno refused to go to the sounds of gun fire and Weir was in no position to take that burden off his heart, because of Military protocol(no whistle blowers). Even those he entrusted with true knowledge of that day, let the man down after his death.
I agree. He seems to have died from torn loyalties-- trying to defend the 7th Cavalry he loved, as well as his fallen friends.
Thanks so much for watching!!
So why did Custer by pass Reno and order Benteen to come quick? Why did Custer's brother and nephew leave an understaff pack train to join Custer and did so separately? Your videos are the best I have ever seen on the LBH. Well done.
I think Custer and his scouts saw Reno engaged on the skirmish line in the valley and separately could also roughly see the dust from Benteen's column enough to know he was back on the trail and not far in front of the pack train.
Some historians think Custet's order and use of the words "packs" meant he only wanted the pack mules loaded with ammo to be cut from the pack train and hurried forward, much like Lt Hare will do at Reno Hill, and like Lt Bell did at the Battle of the Washita with a wagon of ammo that may have saved that day for the cav.
I'm not entirely certain myself.
Also your mention of Boston Custer is very keen. Obviously, as he was found with Custer, and had passed Benteen and spoken briefly with officers in Benteen's column, so Boston would have relayed to his brother the distance between Benteen and the pack train. And he also would have relayed to Custer the distance of Benteen to Custer. And that Benteen had seemed to be on his way to a juncture.
Custer witness Reno's route from Reno's premature attack which he disobeyed orders to do. Remember Custer was forced to attack immediately for fear he had lost he crucial element of surprise over the lost Army bread box. Having Reno attacking alone and sending Benteen on a scout took away Custer's crucial element of surprise again which absolutely makes no sense. This should raise a huge red flag. Custer sent the order to Benteen because he couldn't trust Reno. Why would Benteen keep the written order when it showed he disobeyed his orders and even looks like he tampered with the written order by writing in (big village). They already knew it was a big village. The order was sent Benteen to warn him that Custer was about to stage a feint to relieve the pressure by causing the Indians to go him This was Benteen's opportunity to attack the Indians from behind as they were changing direction. Bring packs because Custer would be dangerously low on ammo and needed to resupplied asap. @@SiobhanFallon7
@@31terikennedy interesting, Teri!!
The only thing I've read about Boston at the LBH was he crossed paths with Martini. You have revealed a lot of information I never heard before and I try to read everything I can get my hands about Custer and all of it is a rehash of the same old nonsense. You are finally looking into about what really happened. You show a drawing of Benteen wearing a blue tunic (as in sailor's blouse) and a red tie that would identify him as a Custer trooper. You also told the story of Custer, Weir and Benteen playing an all night poker game. How could you possibly know that? A Benteen letter? Enjoy your videos.@@SiobhanFallon7
We need to hear a lot more about this guy that produces these extraordinary maps. He is clearly a genius, or at least genius adjacent. And humble, in that way that only ruggedly handsome Southern men can be.
On a different note, I think Weir is proof that major depression can, and does, kill. It is clear that he and D Co saw a great deal of the events in the Keogh and Custer sectors of the battlefield during their two hours on Weir Point, and were unable to do anything to help their brothers thanks to the determined refusal of Benteen and Reno to move in a timely fashion. He went from an active, aggressive cavalry officer on June 25th to a hollowed out shell of himself, unwilling to leave the house in his later days, dying a mere six months after the battle.
It seems worth noting that Weir and French openly defied their commanding officers in front of the entire command when they moved north, and it appears this set off a revolt among the junior officers that forced Reno and Benteen to finally act, though quite half halfheartedly. Both officers were notoriously vindictive towards subordinates, yet spent the rest of their lives pretending that this defiance of orders during a battle was no big deal at all. One suspects that they were desperate that no examination of the events, or lack there of, on Reno Hill ever receive scrutiny, and played down Weir's actions, and pretended that French never did anything. One suspects that if French or Weir had lived a few more years, Reno never would have dared to request the Court of Inquiry (after the statute of limitations on all matters relating to LBH had expired).
French was probably the most physically brave man on the 25th, but Weir put his entire career on the line by publicly defying orders. That no charges were ever brought against him indicates that Reno and Benteen both felt certain that any investigation would end with the court's outrage being aimed at them, and not Captain Weir. Yet historians continue to treat his actions as some temperamental fit of bravado, rather than laying his career and future on the line to do what he thought was right. He deserves better, and this three part series is a help.
Thank you. And I absolutely agree with you. I have always thought that Weir was the key to figuring out this fight. And I still do. Let's hope a mutual friend of ours and the history he is writing will change how we all view the battle...
That map guy is pretty darn smart too ;)
PTSD from watching your friends get slaughtered, not being able to help them without getting killed yourself, and then having to bury their mutilated remains is what killed Thomas Weir. War robs you of spontaneous happy thoughts and forces you to live in the past surrounded by "what ifs". You no longer look forward to the future and all the desires a young man has gets extinguished by the most horrifying intrusive thoughts. There is little doubt that native american survivors also experienced PTSD induced hyper-vigilance as they were reborn into a warrior that constantly scanned the horizon for the enemy, listened to the winds for the sounds of horses, and always searched the ground for signs of a recent activity. This hyper-vigilance can become a terrible burden when a soldier returns to the civilian life and his mind is unable to perform those tasks that he was reborn to do. In the civilian life there is no enemy and your brothers are dead but the mind doesn't care and will grow manic looking for them.
That's an incredible assessment. I agree. Thank you for sharing.
Good Stuff… thank you 🫡
Thank you!
Greetings, sister author and RUclipsr 🎉
Yay!! Greetings! Thank you for taking the time to comment!! 🙏
@@SiobhanFallon7 As a RUclipsr I understand the importance of comments. 🤗
Fantastic Siobhan! Flawed as he was, wow I like this guy.
Me too. Such a tragic figure. He was trying so hard to do the right at every turn. So many competing loyalties.
Chain of command has most likely buried more truths than we can imagine. I guess where custer failed to ride through the camp himself to meet reno was a double fail for both men not meeting that obligation if that was indeed the plan. To be a soldier under control of another that you dont trust is frustrating enough but to then having to cover up their dealings is more than most people could bare. Burying your friends is hard enough under the best of circumstances being forced to comply afterward due to chain of command would be brutal.
Great points.
After the battle, Major Reno was in command of the 7th and I remember someone mentioning how he had Custer's command tent, and his oriental rugs etc. How wrong that must have seemed to those who thought Reno had been a coward or had not done enough to save Custer. That Reno, who had tried to take command of the 7th in the spring of 1876 before the fight when Custer was in DC, now inherited everything upon Custer's death, deserving or not.
Very very difficult to handle, you are right, if Reno was under any suspicion by his men.
The battle of the Little Big Horn could almost be compared to the battle of Goose Green. During the Falklands war in 1982. There, Major Keeble, the battalios second in command, of 2 PARA, did perhaps what Major Weir should have done. Consolidated his force. Contemplated all information and options. Pressed home an attack against overwhelming odds. His real ace in that case was an appreciation of the Argentines mind set. Using this he really bluffed his way to victory. The First Nation warriors may not have been so easily persuaded.
Interesting connection! I have never heard of the Goose Green fight before. I will look it up. Thank you!
Always ride to the sound of the guns
Absolutely
Well done Siobhan!
Oh Joe, thank you!!
I wounder if what the doc gave Tom Wear had side effects with alcohol.
@@genenoud9048 interesting!! It never occurred to me that he may have administered something to Weir.
Good info irritating audio
@timoconnellnsan thanks for the feedback. Trying to save up to buy a new laptop etc this summer 🙏🤞
I'm not a fan of Maj Reno in the least, he did not perform well at the LBH. But those who criticize his actions at the village need to understand that he had less than 150 troopers and hundreds of indians came rushing at them out of the village. If they don't retreat they would have suffered the same fate as Custer and his men, even if they wouldn't have stopped and dismounted, they would have all been wiped out.
@@Mr.56Goldtop please keep watching this series til the end, Part III or Weir's death, to learn some of Weir's thoughts on that...
The "chain of command" was certainly quick to jump the gun on throwing Custer under the bus for total responsibility. But hey, they had to blame somebody! A clearer picture of how things went down wouldn't come to light until over 100 years later, after the fire that cleared the battlefield.
Reno/Benteen were never going to defeat 2000 plus Native American warriors with reloadable guns and arrows. They made the right decision. They would have suffered the same fate as Custer and his men.
Thanks so much for joining the discussion, Cee Dee!
Perhaps. But it's the endless debate about that which makes us keep talking about the fight. 😉