This is the best series of videos about Custer on youtube. Really enjoyable to watch them again. And how terrifying it must have been for the fleeing troopers. What a disaster.
I wonder why Custer never tried to retreat back to the area he knew Reno and Benteen were? It must of become apparent that they were not coming to his aid.
@commandersheperd1 One of benteen's orders for the scout were to send word. He was also to return quickly and rejoin the command. Benteen did neither. Had Benteen at least dispatched a courier to Custer about the scout, Custer could at least get info from the courier on Benteen's position and speed. Becuase Benteen never sent any word to Custer, and did not return quickly to the command as ordered, Custer was left in the dark and had no clue what was going on in the rear.
I never understood E Co's move off the hill. It must have been an organized move due to the bugle call and the fact that most of the company's leadership were among the dead. But a Company charge to open up a corridor for couriers? I don't know, I guess its as good an explanation as any. 40 more men on LSH would not have altered the outcome but it would have definitely prolonged the fight. Thanks for the videos
@commandersheperd1 No warriors knew they were even fighting Custer. Several stated they thought it was General Crook's men returning. The assumption that one of the warriors recognized Custer on the field has no credible evidence whatsoever. The different stories that warriors tell usually seem contradictory, but many problems disappear when you put the Indian testimony in the correct time and context. It really depends on what time the warrior arrived on the field. And what he witnessed.
@JCDennis62 The Company E maneuver was a tactical deployment per orders. And once the line was broken the men fled away from the hill rather than return to it. The cavalry movement in the South Skirmish Line Sector is noted in several warrior accounts. As strange as the cavalry movement off the hill may seem to you and I, it is clear, based on Indian testimony, that they did flee through Indian lines to get to Deep Ravine. Once all hope was lost the soldiers did anything to survive.
I agree. More men on the hill would have been better. However I believe the deployment of E off the hill was only temporary. Had they returned to the hill the soldiers may have been ab le to hold out longer. The real problem, was unlike Reno, Custer received no reinforcements, and the Custer Hill position was not as good as Reno Hill. That is most likely why Custer Hill was overrun and Reno Hill was not.
Actually you are not permitted to leave the trail. You must obtain an off-trail pass to do so. However to get one, you must submit a report to the Chief Law Enforcement Ranger as well as the Super of the NPS and obtain permission. To get one of those you must have a good reason to leave the trail. I acquired one when I needed access off trail when filming this documentary.
This is amazing work. I'm new to this. How nobody survived is so tragic. I keep reading about a Corporal Foley that nearly escaped until he took his own life. What do you think, did he stagger to LSH then charge off the hill at the end? Could he have made it to Reno?
If those 40 odd men were trying for deep ravine my guess is they thought it came out at the river, which it does look like from here, where they could cross for defensive purposes.
At least one soldier was found on the other side of the river at Deep Ravine. Private William Brown apparently made it across the river before he was killed.
They would have been better off to keep E company on the hill, because the HQ staff, E and F companies, plus any survivors of the right wing, would have been 110 or so people, and the battle could have turned into a seige similar to what Reno experienced.
The entire Custer Battlefield was ravaged by the fire. The digs likewise happened all over the Custer Battlefield. Any book by Richard A. Fox and Doug Scott will explain the digs, as well as reveal what was found, remains and or equipment at each site.
So, silly question, but I'm just not sure: Was the "South Skirmish Line," an actual skirmish line? Am I right in thinking there is some contention on this point? I know Company E was deployed down the hill toward deep ravine, but did they have time to form a true skirmish line before they were overwhelmed and ran for cover further down and into the ravine? Is there still a debate about this? I didn't know if any new info had been discovered in the last few years. Thank you for your time and this AWESOME documentary, sir!
The answer is no. The south skirmish line is not a skirmish line at all. Marker placement and archaeology prove that there was no organized offense or defense at this position. In fact many of the markers in this sector are spurious. Officers like Edward Godfrey in particular were very unhappy with the south skirmish line once the markers were placed on the battlefield. Godfrey was annoyed saying the 53 markers that now dot the sector where a confirmed half dozen soldiers were found gives a false impression of that area of the battlefield. Godfrey also felt it would be best to correct the mistake before too much time went by. The mistake was never corrected and today those same 53 markers give a false impression to the visitors that more men died there than actually did in reality.
Thank you very much for your reply. That helps immensely. I didn't think it was (and had read, and seen in your doc, that many markers in this area were spurious) but the name kept throwing me off. Then I had heard jokes about people who had gotten so obsessed by the battle that they were going to, "quit their jobs to prove or disprove that there was a 'south skirmish line'". Though it seems pretty clear, based on archaeological evidence and Native testimony, what happened there!
I don't really blame Reno because he scared to fight after jeb Stuarts ambush in the civil war which Reno was wounded in And 1 he's was drunk so he probaly thought those Indians was bears shooting lasers out there eyes
Great job , but I do not agree with you about the South Skirmish line. Your explanation does not make sense, What does make sense is 1) Custer leaves Yates and Smith on Last Stand Hill and then heads to Ford D to reconoitter with his HQ staff. 2) Custer finds the ford and the non-combattants.He then returns to LSH, waiting for Benteen. 3) Indians begin to gradually infiltrate towards his positiion from the north and west and he therefore deploys E Troop to the South Skirmish Line and F troop to Cemetery Ridge area. They keep the hostiles at bay with long range volley fire.4) Custer remains on LSH with the HQ company. 5) With the least amount of pressure, F troop returns to LSH while E troop holds off the growing threat from the south and west.
The problem with your suggestion is that Indian testimony does not agree with you. Custer would not have left soldiers on Last Stand Hill, which is on open ground, and in full view of any Indian coming from the village. All the information we have shows warriors attacking the right wing. The left wing was only followed by a few warriors who were already to the north. And this happened well before the southern warriors even reached Ford B. Most warriors on the battlefield were not even aware of the left wing until it reappeared later on at Cemetery Ridge.
Ok this is what I don't get is that the Indians was in the same fucking battle and the seen the the same fucking thing but we still get different info from them Example 1. A warrior say Custer died at the river but wait he's found at last stand hill the truth of what really happened will be discovered when we discover time travel
This is the best series of videos about Custer on youtube. Really enjoyable to watch them again.
And how terrifying it must have been for the fleeing troopers. What a disaster.
Thanks for watching.
Appolo I applaud your work. Your top notch sir.
Thanks for watching.
I wonder why Custer never tried to retreat back to the area he knew Reno and Benteen were? It must of become apparent that they were not coming to his aid.
Reno and Benteen are cowards.
@commandersheperd1 One of benteen's orders for the scout were to send word. He was also to return quickly and rejoin the command. Benteen did neither. Had Benteen at least dispatched a courier to Custer about the scout, Custer could at least get info from the courier on Benteen's position and speed. Becuase Benteen never sent any word to Custer, and did not return quickly to the command as ordered, Custer was left in the dark and had no clue what was going on in the rear.
I never understood E Co's move off the hill. It must have been an organized move due to the bugle call and the fact that most of the company's leadership were among the dead. But a Company charge to open up a corridor for couriers? I don't know, I guess its as good an explanation as any. 40 more men on LSH would not have altered the outcome but it would have definitely prolonged the fight. Thanks for the videos
@commandersheperd1 No warriors knew they were even fighting Custer. Several stated they thought it was General Crook's men returning. The assumption that one of the warriors recognized Custer on the field has no credible evidence whatsoever. The different stories that warriors tell usually seem contradictory, but many problems disappear when you put the Indian testimony in the correct time and context. It really depends on what time the warrior arrived on the field. And what he witnessed.
@JCDennis62 The Company E maneuver was a tactical deployment per orders. And once the line was broken the men fled away from the hill rather than return to it. The cavalry movement in the South Skirmish Line Sector is noted in several warrior accounts. As strange as the cavalry movement off the hill may seem to you and I, it is clear, based on Indian testimony, that they did flee through Indian lines to get to Deep Ravine. Once all hope was lost the soldiers did anything to survive.
I agree. More men on the hill would have been better. However I believe the deployment of E off the hill was only temporary. Had they returned to the hill the soldiers may have been ab le to hold out longer. The real problem, was unlike Reno, Custer received no reinforcements, and the Custer Hill position was not as good as Reno Hill. That is most likely why Custer Hill was overrun and Reno Hill was not.
Actually you are not permitted to leave the trail. You must obtain an off-trail pass to do so. However to get one, you must submit a report to the Chief Law Enforcement Ranger as well as the Super of the NPS and obtain permission. To get one of those you must have a good reason to leave the trail. I acquired one when I needed access off trail when filming this documentary.
This is amazing work. I'm new to this. How nobody survived is so tragic. I keep reading about a Corporal Foley that nearly escaped until he took his own life. What do you think, did he stagger to LSH then charge off the hill at the end? Could he have made it to Reno?
Thanks for watching.
If those 40 odd men were trying for deep ravine my guess is they thought it came out at the river, which it does look like from here, where they could cross for defensive purposes.
At least one soldier was found on the other side of the river at Deep Ravine. Private William Brown apparently made it across the river before he was killed.
+CusterApollo Is he the trooper that was found in the 1990s? (?)
@@Mr.56Goldtop Not that I am aware of.
True but benteen could have sent Custer a message saying he wasn't coming don't you think
@commandersheperd1 I feel he has to be blamed for being drunk on the first day of the battle.
They would have been better off to keep E company on the hill, because the HQ staff, E and F companies, plus any survivors of the right wing, would have been 110 or so people, and the battle could have turned into a seige similar to what Reno experienced.
Where was the area of the 1984 fire and archaelogical dig?
The entire Custer Battlefield was ravaged by the fire. The digs likewise happened all over the Custer Battlefield. Any book by Richard A. Fox and Doug Scott will explain the digs, as well as reveal what was found, remains and or equipment at each site.
is it true the bodies of soldiers were found in the abandon Indian camp
Yes. Along with several heads.
Did Reno group hear a bulge call the first night of the battle and believed it to be Custer. If so who was it ?
Are you allowed to leave the trail to look at the markers?
So, silly question, but I'm just not sure: Was the "South Skirmish Line," an actual skirmish line? Am I right in thinking there is some contention on this point? I know Company E was deployed down the hill toward deep ravine, but did they have time to form a true skirmish line before they were overwhelmed and ran for cover further down and into the ravine? Is there still a debate about this? I didn't know if any new info had been discovered in the last few years. Thank you for your time and this AWESOME documentary, sir!
The answer is no. The south skirmish line is not a skirmish line at all. Marker placement and archaeology prove that there was no organized offense or defense at this position. In fact many of the markers in this sector are spurious. Officers like Edward Godfrey in particular were very unhappy with the south skirmish line once the markers were placed on the battlefield. Godfrey was annoyed saying the 53 markers that now dot the sector where a confirmed half dozen soldiers were found gives a false impression of that area of the battlefield. Godfrey also felt it would be best to correct the mistake before too much time went by. The mistake was never corrected and today those same 53 markers give a false impression to the visitors that more men died there than actually did in reality.
Thank you very much for your reply. That helps immensely. I didn't think it was (and had read, and seen in your doc, that many markers in this area were spurious) but the name kept throwing me off. Then I had heard jokes about people who had gotten so obsessed by the battle that they were going to, "quit their jobs to prove or disprove that there was a 'south skirmish line'". Though it seems pretty clear, based on archaeological evidence and Native testimony, what happened there!
You are welcome. I agree with your last post.
How long did the fighting last an hour?
I would say between an hour to 2 hours. Basically 4 pm to 6 PM, Sunday 25, June 1876.
According to the sounds heard, according to the John Gray's the Custer's Last Campaign - about an hr.
I don't really blame Reno because he scared to fight after jeb Stuarts ambush in the civil war which Reno was wounded in
And 1 he's was drunk so he probaly thought those Indians was bears shooting lasers out there eyes
Great job , but I do not agree with you about the South Skirmish line. Your explanation does not make sense, What does make sense is 1) Custer leaves Yates and Smith on Last Stand Hill and then heads to Ford D to reconoitter with his HQ staff. 2) Custer finds the ford and the non-combattants.He then returns to LSH, waiting for Benteen. 3) Indians begin to gradually infiltrate towards his positiion from the north and west and he therefore deploys E Troop to the South Skirmish Line and F troop to Cemetery Ridge area. They keep the hostiles at bay with long range volley fire.4) Custer remains on LSH with the HQ company. 5) With the least amount of pressure, F troop returns to LSH while E troop holds off the growing threat from the south and west.
The problem with your suggestion is that Indian testimony does not agree with you. Custer would not have left soldiers on Last Stand Hill, which is on open ground, and in full view of any Indian coming from the village. All the information we have shows warriors attacking the right wing. The left wing was only followed by a few warriors who were already to the north. And this happened well before the southern warriors even reached Ford B. Most warriors on the battlefield were not even aware of the left wing until it reappeared later on at Cemetery Ridge.
Ok this is what I don't get is that the Indians was in the same fucking battle and the seen the the same fucking thing but we still get different info from them
Example 1. A warrior say Custer died at the river but wait he's found at last stand hill
the truth of what really happened will be discovered when we discover time travel