Benteen's Orders - The March to the left

[foolkiller]

Shortly after crossing the divide and moving toward the headwaters of Reno Creek, Custer dispatched Benteen to the left. Benteen characterized the orders given him, at the Reno Court of Inquiry, as "senseless" and the mission as "valley hunting ad infinitum," and stated that he thought that his returning to the trail was a positive disobedience of orders.

Questions arise:

!. What in fact were the orders given to Benteen for this mission?

2. Were these orders later augmented in any way?

3. Did Benteen obey or disobey these orders?

[keogh]

foolkiller said:

Shortly after crossing the divide and moving toward the headwaters of Reno Creek, Custer dispatched Benteen to the left. Benteen characterized the orders given him, at the Reno Court of Inquiry, as "senseless" and the mission as "valley hunting ad infinitum," and stated that he thought that his returning to the trail was a positive disobedience of orders.

Questions arise:

!. What in fact were the orders given to Benteen for this mission?

Impossible to say, as we seem only to have Benteen's version of events, much of which has proven to be highly unreliable. Thus, we can only speculate based on the statements of others to this effect. It has always struck me as being completely unnecessary to send an entire battalion on a simple scouting mission, when a few scouts could have done just as well. Something does not add up here.

2. Were these orders later augmented in any way?

Yes. Additional messengers were sent telling Benteen to continue on to a further range of bluffs, possibly for the intent of continuing down into the valley of the LBH south of where Reno's battalion would later enter it. Benteen might well have been given the discretion of returning to the main trail if he thought the terrain too difficult or the distance too great to reach the LBH in that direction, or Benteen might well have been ordered back to the main trail by Sgt. Major Sharrow. There is no way to know for sure.

3. Did Benteen obey or disobey these orders?

It would appear to me that Benteen obeyed his orders up to this point and returned to the main trail leading to the LBH. He must have felt it to be a more direct route to the LBH than traveling cross country.

[rch]

Benteen's reported on 4 Jul 1876 that his orders from Custer were:

"to move with my command to the left, to send a well-mounted officer with about six men who should ride rapidly to a line of bluffs about five miles to our left and front, with instructions to report at once if anything of Indians could be seen from that point. I was to follow the movement of this detachment as rapidly as possible."

Benteen did not mention in the report the orders transmitted to by the Sergeant Major and the Chief Trumpeter to go on the further lines of bluffs.

He did not say in his report, as he did at the Reno Court of Inquiry, that he was to "pitch into anything I came across."

Later in his report he mentions his "other instructions, which were, that if in my judgment there was nothing to be seen of Indians, valleys, etc., in the direction I was going, to return to with the battalion to the trail the command was following."

Benteen said he excercised the option to return that Custer gave him.

The final order Benteen received was the "Come on" note.

Benteen obeyed the orders.

rch

[andrew1980]

Captain (Col.) Benteen was still extremeley resentful over the Major Elliot affair. Benteen failed to realize,even after 8 years, that Major Elliot rode off without orders. There where more satellite village in the immediate vicinity.Had General (Lt.Col) Custer gone after him,he jeoporized his whole command. So Benteen was more then willing, to go as slow to Custer as he could. From a walk to a trot. At least Captain Weir tried.

[Melani]

When Custer sent Benteen to the left, how well did he understand what the terrain in that direction was like? Could he have expected Benteen to reach the valley a lot sooner than was actually possible, and hit the village from the left?

[fred]

andrew1980 said:

So Benteen was more then willing, to go as slow to Custer as he could. From a walk to a trot. At least Captain Weir tried.

Andrew--

I think you have been reading the wrong stuff or listening to the wrong people. First of all, there is no evidence that Weir tried to rescue or help Custer. After arriving on Reno Hill, Weir appeared very edgy and concerned. He came up to Edgerly, his lieutenant. (The downstream firing had almost ceased.) He asked Edgerly what he would do if Weir went downstream but the rest of the command would not go. Edgerly replied that he would go with his captain. Weir then went off to see Reno. (Edgerly did not know if they spoke.) Soon after, Weir came back and he and his orderly moved out, heading downstream. Edgerly mounted the men and followed. [Nichols, RCOI, p. 444] But Weir never issued any orders to Edgerly, leading me to believe Weir started to ask for permission and changed his mind, deciding instead to head for some high ground to see what he could see downstream. If he intended to move his whole company, don't you think the commander would have instructed his lieutenant to mount the troops? He did no such thing.

Some people claim Weir argued with Reno, but Reno denied it and no one disagreed with Reno. The argument is not certain. In fact, Godfrey makes no mention of it, claiming Weir sought permission to head down to where the firing was heard, but then changed his mind and decided to survey the area first from the high bluffs (Weir Peaks). Edgerly, thinking Weir had gotten permission, moved D Company into Cedar Coulee, heading toward the firing. Weir, seeing the Indians, motioned Edgerly to stop and to come over to the high ground. [Godfrey, Custer’s Last Battle 1876, p. 26] This is an interesting perspective, because Weir is normally viewed as having moved to the peaks in an attempt to reach Custer. Godfrey’s writings indicate Weir was more intent on seeing what was going on downstream than in actually moving down the river.

Furthermore, Benteen did not know if there was a fight between the two and when he saw Weir heading downstream, questioned who had authorized the move. “Captain Weir sallied out in a fit of bravado, I think, without orders,” testified Benteen. [RCOI, p. 408] When Hare returned from the packs, Reno said he directed him to head to CPT Weir, who—“on his own hook”—had begun moving downstream, to try to communicate with Custer. [RCOI, p. 567] There is no indication or claim of an argument in that.

So to me, Weir's "rescue" attempt is fiction.

Your comment about Benteen going as slow as possible is also incorrect. Even the author, John S. Gray-- no Benteen lover, he-- admitted Benteen moved at a fairly brisk pace, especially considering the heat and the condition of his horses. Remember, Benteen had moved over fairly difficult terrain, up and down hills and bluffs, and had traveled farther than either of the other two commands. If anyone had tired horses, he had. And if you read the testimony from various participants-- officers and enlisted personnel alike-- they believed the battle was almost over from the sound of the firing. Godfrey: “We heard occasional shots and I concluded the fight was over—that [we] had nothing to do but go up and congratulate the others and help destroy the plunder.” [Willert, LBH Diary, p. 298] Martini's message about the Indians running didn't help matters, either. And if you use the old stuff about Weir taking off from the morass in a fit of pique, remember, Benteen overtook him. The author, Vern Smalley, wrote that Weir led out from the morass, [LBH Mysteries, p. 7-9] but Benteen—with his orderly—raced ahead and retook the lead. He was now a few hundred yards ahead of his battalion. So who's moving faster now?

Then there is the old question, how do you abandon a beaten, demoralized command with probably 20 or more wounded men, and 900 or so Indians screaming in the valley? You cite "the note." How about those packs?

All I am saying is that I would not rush to such quick judgments without knowing all the facts. This is a historical event, not a political fund-raiser. The idea is to get at the truth, regardless of what one wants to believe.

Best wishes,
Fred.

[fred]

melani said:

When Custer sent Benteen to the left, how well did he understand what the terrain in that direction was like? Could he have expected Benteen to reach the valley a lot sooner than was actually possible, and hit the village from the left?

Melani--

I think that "Benteen-to-the-valley" business is fiction as well. I ask myself the question: how do I expect to send 3 companies of cavalry, at an angle (meaning their distance to be covered will be much greater than mine), up and down hills and bluffs, fording streams that must be there, then find a ford across the LBH, and move down the valley-- probably 6 miles because of the angle-- all in time to support Reno's attack. As it was, Benteen probably cut the scout short because he found nothing, and still only reached Reno after the valley fight was over.

In my mind, there isn't a prayer of that having been the order.

Best wishes,
Fred.

[Melani]

So the purpose of the "scout to the left" was--Custer expected the Indians to run to the south, and Benteen to cut them off? Custer thought there might be other villages to the south? I've always been a bit unclear on just exactly what Benteen was supposed to be doing, but then I guess Benteen was, too!

[fred]

Melani--

Custer was unsure of the village's location. Earlier indications and ideas thought the Indians would be moving up the valley, not down. In fact, when the Indians moved into the LBH valley from Reno Creek valley, they began to move up-valley, when reports of plentiful game downriver made them abruptly change their plan. Plus, at the Washita, the several villages were spread out and separated over a long distance. That was probably what Custer was concerned about here. He had to make sure that upper valley was clear so they wouldn't hit his rear.

When they stood at the Crow's Nest, they couldn't see into the upper LBH valley. Consequently, Custer had no idea what was there and sent Benteen to the left to peer into the upper part. That is good military tactics, despite Benteen's feelings that it was merely valley hunting. No one expected to see tracks-- Benteen made that clear. When Benteen determined that there were no Indians up-valley, he returned-- of his own volition-- to the Reno Creek trail.

These guys who condemn Benteen say he did not hustle to Custer. The problem with their argument is that unless you can prove Custer saw Benteen's dust in the Reno Creek valley, thereby convincing himself Benteen was near enough for Martin's note to reach him in a short time, Benteen's comment about Custer not knowing within 10 miles where Benteen was, is completely correct. They condemn Benteen for not continuing to the LBH valley, yet if he did, Martin would probably never have found him. If that were the case, how would Benteen have ever gotten the note? So the man is damned because he didn't and he is damned because he did. If it wasn't for Benteen, both Reno and Custer would have been wiped out.

Best wishes,
Fred.

[alfuso]

andrew 1980

A trot is the proper gait for "hurrying" Cavalry. It eats up ground without over-tiring horses. Horses are built to trot comfortably for quite some time as the tendons in their hooves are extended when the foot is placed down and snap the foot back up. It's where the term "springing gait" comes from to describe spirited horses. The horse uses less energy but coveres ground rapidly.

Even in a tradition charge the method is to "walk out," then go to Trot, then to canter, then to press on into gallop. All to save the horses - especially if you have to turn and run back! (ask the Scots Grays at Waterloo)

Benteen was too good a professional soldier to jeopardize his comrades.

alfuso

[benteeneast]

Very good alfuso. The cavalry manuals never mention a canter. I believe they considered it a slow gallop. Is that correct?

benteeneast

[keogh]

benteeneast said:

Very good alfuso. The cavalry manuals never mention a canter. I believe they considered it a slow gallop. Is that correct?

benteeneast

Yes, benteeneast, you are correct in pointing this out.

[keogh]

melani said:

When Custer sent Benteen to the left, how well did he understand what the terrain in that direction was like? Could he have expected Benteen to reach the valley a lot sooner than was actually possible, and hit the village from the left?

Good question, Melani. I think we can fairly discount the notion that Benteen's entire battalion was sent over this rough terrain merely as a scouting party. This makes no sense whatsoever, as it would be just as easy to send a handful of Indian scouts out to do the same thing in less time without wearing out the horses of an entire battalion. I think we run into errors if we make the mistake of believing every statement out of the mouth of the infallible Benteen. If we remove the canard of a scouting mission (or as Benteen put it, "valley hunting ad infinitum") we are left with several logical alternatives, one of which Fred very aptly described in his excellent and insightful post. Custer was not certain whether the Indian village was located north or south of the juncture of Ash Creek, as his view of the valley from the Crows Nest was obstructed. Benteen 's Battalion was sent to the left as a Reconnaisance in Force. If the village had been located to the south of Ash Creek, then Benteen would have been expected to continue on until he reached the valley of the LBH and then to "pitch into anything he came across". In which case, both Reno and Custer would then cross the river and swing south to support him from the north. If the village was found to be to the south, Benteen would have the choice of continuing on to the valley in the direction he was traveling so as to be in a position to support Reno's attack from the south, or if he felt the terrain to be too difficult or to take too much time to accomplish, he was free to return to the main trail and follow up behind Reno's trail to support his attack from the rear. Benteen always claimed that he returned to the main trail on his own volition once he realized there were no Indians spotted in the valley to the south, but there has been speculation that Sgt. Major Sharrow carried a message for Benteen that was just a bit more important than the laconic "go to the next line of bluffs" (according to Benteen). It seems a bit strange to send a Sgt. Major out with such an innocuous message. It is more likely that Sharrow carried a message to Benteen to find out if Benteen intended to continue on his recon to the SW or if he intended to return to the main trail and follow up Reno's advance from the rear. If the latter did take place, then we can assume that Custer was informed that no Indian camps had been seen to the SW and that Benteen was returning to the main trail, and this information would have been relayed to Reno, which may explain the latter expecting his support from the rear. In either case, I think we are fairly safe to assume that when Custer initially sent Benteen out on his recon in force, he was expected to continue on into the valley of the Little Big Horn. This interpretation was supported by a number of the enlisted men who claimed to hear orders to this effect either when they were given or afterwards.

[fred]

The term, "Benteen's scout," is a misnomer and is misleading. It was definitely not a scout, per se. It was-- as "Keogh" points out-- a reconnaissance in force.

I discount, however, the speculation that Benteen was instructed to do anything more than "pitch into" if he found anything to pitch into. We have more dissembling gobble-di-gook from the mouths of enlisted personnel who supposedly "overheard".... While I can understand people's dislike of Benteen because of, (a) his so-called personality traits, and (b) because they feel he deserted Custer, it cannot be denied man was a consummate professional. He was also one of the bravest soldiers this nation has ever known and he was adored by his men; plus, no officer-- including Custer-- was more respected by his fellow officers.

Custer understood the man's qualities and savvy. It is actually disrespectful to Custer to think he overly burdened Benteen with unnecessary instructions. Think about it! You tell the man to go in a specific direction, look to see if there is the enemy in the valley, and if there is, go get him. What more does he need to know? When Benteen sees there is nothing in the valley, he uses his discretion and returns to the trail where he thinks he can do some good.

This is now where the Benteen-bashers loose all their steam. If the man returned of his own volition, so he could help/participate/be-a-factor/cooperate, why the hell would he dog it?

I would love to meet the man or woman on this Website who would come across a command such as Reno's was, with 20 or so wounded and 900 Indians just below them, who would abandon them for a downstream party. That man or woman wouldn't survive my wrath, that I can guarantee you.

Best wishes,
Fred.

[andrew1980]

Hi Fred
Thanks for your reply! I suppose & correct me if Im wrong,that Cpt. Weir was a member of the Custer clan & this was perhaps his reason for wanting to go to Custer? I'll state your more knowledgeable then myself,& Im more likely to have listened to the wrong people,perhaps.Look forwarding to hearing back from you!
Garry Owen