Custer's 7th: Major Reno. Bad Behavior or Bad Luck? 😬
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- Major Marcus Reno’s life was filled with set-backs.
Orphaned by the age of 15, he secured a position at the United States Military Academy at West Point, but it took him six years to graduate.
Reno served in the Army with distinction and was rapidly promoted during the Civil War, but his time with Custer’s Seventh Cavalry during the Indian Wars, especially after the Battle of the Little Bighorn, was rocky at best.
His military career ended in scandal and disgrace.
Did he deserve it?
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For more on Major Reno, please take a look at In Custer’s Shadow: Major Marcus Reno, by Ron Nichols.
Thank you to the generous help of friends Dale Kosman, Nathan Simons, Bill Rini, and Geoff Lackey, and so many others!
Couple errors noticed after posting:
*Reno graduated from West Point in 1857
*Custer's column/the Seventh Cavalry left the Yellowstone on June 22
*It is Godfrey who says "ghastly and sickening horror"
If you too have a passion for the 7th Cavalry, please consider joining:
Little Bighorn Associates www.thelbha.com/ www.thelbha.com
Custer Battlefield Historical & Museum Association custerbattlefi...
Custer Association of Great Britain www.english-westerners-society.org.uk
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I love hearing suggestions of what you’d like to see next!
For more about my current work-in-progress or my published books (The Confusion of Languages and You Know When the Men Are Gone, both with Putnam/Penguin), please see my author website:
www.siobhanfallon.com
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Nicely done yet again, Siobhan!
Hey you!!! Thanks, Chaz! 🙏🎉🙏
Happy Thanksgiving, to you and yours!
@chazmena You too!
I love your presentations. You really know your history. Custer deserves a lot of the blame for Little Big Horn, but I think Crooke deserves a lot of criticism on how he conducted himself. Retreated all the way back to Wyoming and did not communicate promptly, until after Little Big Horn.
I agree about Crook. I wish someone would scrutinize that moment in history and dig up military reactions to Crook's decision-making there so we could see it in perspective.
And thank you for the kind comments about my presentations!
It’s no big secret that Marcus Reno and General Benteen had no love for Custer. I believe that they so despised Custer that they set up Custer and allowed him and his soldiers to be killed by Sitting Bull and his Lakota Indians. I view Sitting Bull as an American general that’s worthy of the same honor and respect that we afford to General Grant or General Eisenhower. Custer’s own arrogance contributed to his demise.
Well scripted abbreviation of events. Nicely done. Thank-you for your attention to detail.
Thank ypu for watching and taking the time to comment!
Careful, detailed, well- organized scholarship, presented in an incredibly engaging manner!
Thank you for your impressive work!❤❤
Your presentations are such a delight, and you really make the history of Custer and the Seventh come alive! And your use of historical images and modern artwork is awesome! Thank you again! But poor Reno... except for his wife, did anybody like this guy? Talk about Reno's luck! Interestingly enough, I recently discovered that Reno's descendant, Charles Reno, who fought for his exoneration, was a bartender in Queens not far from me! (How'd you like to find that bar?) As a native New Yorker and a lifelong "Custer addict" (to quote Robert Utley), I was amazed to find how many people connected with his history ended up in New York City... Libbie, John Martin, Francis Gibson, and a bunch more! I actually made a list, and I was amazed! Your presentations, not to mention your enthusiasm, are such a gift to those of us who continue to be fascinated by this subject and these people! Thanks a million!
Thank you, Patrick!!!
Don't forget Whiitaker was in Mount Vernon, and Thomas Weir died in NYC.
Weir is buried in the same graveyard as John Martin ( to your point in how small a world it is).
Have you seen my final Thoman Weir video? There are photos of the graves-- though I have not been there yet myself.
Have you by chance?
@@SiobhanFallon7 I grew up not far from the Cemetery where Weir and Martin are buried. Apparently, there are a few other survivors buried there as well! When the weather gets warm up here, I'm going to head over there!
In addition to being knowledgeable, You do not have a robot voice. I find this quite refreshing.
you are a sweetheart. Thank you :)
Siobhan, your presentations rock! You make the history of Custer and the 7th come alive more than any tactical studies! And the quotes and images are amazing! (I had to laugh at the photo of Godfrey with the cigar--- smoking with that kind of mustache just ain't feasible!) Thank you again!
You are very kind, Patrick! Thank you.
Thank you for yet another excellent LBH story. Your enthusiasm is infectious. Reno comes across as a very sad and unfortunate soul.
Thank you!! He had a bad habit of burning the very bridges that could have connected him to a better life-- the inlaws, his fellow officers, his new wife, etc.
Those maps and pictures from Geoff Lackey are the best I have ever seen.
He does great work. He has a whole series of them in my Weir videos too 🎉 Really let's me see the bigger picture.
Reno seems like a troubled individual, which was likely compounded by what we now call PTSD from the Indian Wars. Another excellent presentation.
Thank you. I think everyone who walked off that battlefield was haunted by it for the rest of their lives.
I always learn something new with your presentations. I can't wait for more. Thank you for all your efforts!
Oh, you are so good to me!! Thanks for putting up with all the glitches and errors! 🙏
Siobhan: Another no nonsense story about the 7th Cavalry’s Major Reno. Keep up the good work!
Thank you!! Other than the frustrating tech issues, I enjoy making these so much.
Very good of you to watch and comment! 🎉
Marcus Reno was a bully
@Dorian-wf1iv I agree. In my opinion he abused his position of power again and again.
excellent research and narrative.
Why thank you!! 🙏🎉 very good of you to take the time to comment!
Siobhan, I thought it was Godfrey who described the "scene of ghastly, sickening horror"...I could be mistaken, there are so many details to this story.
I do feel sorry for Reno, even though he brought some of his "bad luck" on himself with his abrasive personality. He, Benteen, Weir, Burkman, and many others were also victims of this battle, although they didn't die on that day.
Another great presentation! ---Skye
Yes, you are right!! It is Godfrey 🤦🏼♀️ Nichols mentions in his book, and I assumed it was from the Reno article I read at the end. Only after I posted did I realize the "GHASTLY" comment was Godfrey. I meant to note it in my description-- I'll check now and see if I forgot that too.
Thanks for watching and commenting and catching errors! 🙏 Great points!
I like that you added Burkman to your fatalities who may have died later but deaths were connected to LBH.
Thank you for this excellent overview a complex human being and most importantly compassion! Your selection of images were also excellent and allowed insights to add to your good script. Nichol's book is next on my list! Best,
@jean-lucgauville3656 thank you, Jean!! 🙏
Another brilliant, well researched video, you’re so good at bringing history to life!
You just made my night. Thank you so much!! 🎉🙏🎉
Great work as usual.
Thank you, Jayne!!
superb delivery and great information! Thank you!
So lovely of you to say that! Thank you! Working on Captain Thomas Weir now!!!!
@@SiobhanFallon7 I always loved the characterization of Weir in the Son of the Morning Star film. I am so looking forward to your presentation on him. Cheers!
@@petergreen379 thank you!! He is one of the reasons I was drawn into this study. There is so much to his life and his role at the Little Bighorn.
Cool video, I was just recommended your channel today and decided to try you out. I bought the entire set of The Old West at a thrift store earlier this year and I've been reading through them, this video goes well with those books. There's so much history to explore, I will check out your other videos and subscribe!
Thank you for the kind comments and I appreciate you subscribing! 🎉🙏🎉
I have those books! I should look through them again now. Good suggestion 📚
Great presentation. I really enjoy all the information you find. Keep it up.
Thank you! I will. Trying to think of a good one do next. Scout Bloody Knife? Lonesome Charley Reynolds? Harrington?
I appreciate you taking the time to comment! 🙏
Thx much for this great "7 minutes" video!
While posterity has its opinions regarding major Reno at LBH, I tend to give strongest weight to his contemporary officers and men who were at the battle, and observed him first hand. All other opinions, even contemporary, are 2nd hand, and by definition conjectural, even if based on much personal experience (e.g., general Rosser).
What I do object to is the latter day rehabilitation of a record of generations ago, especially when no new evidence has come to light. Officially weighing-in in such a manner is, in my opinion, the height of hubris & effrontery, no matter the motive. New age thinking, without new facts, carries its own predictions, preferences & BIASES. Setting aside contemporary testimonies, multiple court deliberations, and jury verdicts has the real effect of gainsaying & invalidating their conclusions for future generations. These courts actively & honestly were seeking the truth, and were not whitewash attempts or had ulterior motives (e.g., the Warren Commission). This "we know they said it, but they didn't mean it/didn't really know how to weigh the facts like WE know how," is truly insulting & shameful.
Truth be told, all human emotions were invented before mankind left caves; only technology has changed. And, when I see "shenanigans" with history, like this 1967 Reno rehabilitation, I think our ancestors often had much more common sense than we.
I agree with you. The eyewitness testimony is always best, and the closer to the fact, the better.
When reading the reopening of the case, the board twice asks about reburial. And it really seemed to me that this was the main motive for the reversal.
Would Reno have even wanted to have been buried at the site of what destroyed his reputation? I don't know.
You bring up a lot of great points. Thanks so much for weighing in!
@SiobhanFallon7 You are correct. The appeal to the board was on humanitarian grounds, so the major would have the honor of being with the regiment. The board had this power to grant exception, without necessarily setting precedent. There was, after all, a very commendable Civil War record. But there was a definite desire to strongly relink the major to his most well-known regiment & battle.
The board may not have wanted to prejudice their decision with strong qualifying statements. A permission to reinter at ANC instead of LBHNC may have more "damning with faint praise." But, the decision may also have served to bolster the Reno faction of the LBH controversy; I've seen it in discussions.
Maybe proving the adage that actions do speak louder than words...
@@josephstabile9154 so much to think about here! Thanks for your insightful comments! 🎉
Excellent presentation Siobhan!
Thank you, Joe!!
Great details!@@SiobhanFallon7
I've never seen one of your presentations before and i have to say you are excellent. Informative, entertaining and you credited all your sources. Thank you so much. 🏴
Oh my gosh thank you!
@@SiobhanFallon7 I'm not so grateful now as I find myself having to watch the entire series lol. I'm a former British Airborne officer and hold a lifelong interest in military history particularly of the Victorian era. The comparison between The Little Bighorn and Isandlwana in South Africa in 1879 is striking.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 sorry to make you watch more!
I have heard sone comparisons between Islawanda and LBH but I don't know the details of Islawanda-- though who knows what I will throw myself at next!
Excellent as always! Thank you very much! I always think of Bloody Knifes end. Who wouldnt run...Soldier or not.
There was a reason Custer valued Bloody Knife so highly. I wonder if he could have changed the outcome had he lived, and what his advice to Reno may have been.
Supposedly the Sioux recognized him, cut off his head, and brought it to the village.
@@SiobhanFallon7 what ifs are always interesting! At lunch I tought: What if Captain Weir was part of Renos Command? For example.
Nice
Your enthusiasm brings history to life. This video presentation is no exception. Please continue; and know that you're appreciated. BTW: seems as though Reno was doomed from early on; and even when given breaks along the way, he managed to find the bottom. I wonder what a psychoanalysis of his known life would reveal?
I agree. He just couldn't do himself any favors, burning bridges right and left. Women, men, in-laws and fellow officers. And his son, Ross, ended up with many of his father's vices. Very sad.
@SiobhanFallon7
Great Historian.
I'm impressed by the quality of the depth of your research, the production values of your videos, and your authoritative demeanor.
Thank you!
Excellent. Very excellent. Thank You. I also recommend the book, "Custers 7th Cavalry, From Fort Riley To The Little Big Horn" by Ernest Lisle Reedstrom. Incidentally, Reedstrom wrote, and I am paraphrasing, "I have traveled through that entire area and it was not feasible to get wheeled Gatling Guns through that terrain".
I love Reedstrom!
And thank you for the kind words.
My recollection, though I couldn't find the quote when putting the video together, was that besides having to remove the gatling from the cart and hand carry at times in the rough terrain, it also over turned at one point and killed a mule and badly injured a soldier. Definitely not a weapon a fast moving cavalry could take into that fight.
@@SiobhanFallon7 It's been years since I read that book so I don't remember all the details. I do remember though, that Custer only took men & horses. No wagons of any sort because of the rough terrain. Thanks again for the excellent history.
@@SiobhanFallon7 "We'll smash the windows and break the doors.
The Watch knocked down by threes and fours.
Then let the Doctors work their cures.
And tinker up our bruises.
Instead of Spa we'll drink brown ale.
We'll pay the reckoning on the nail.
No man for debt shall go to jail.
For Garry Owen and glory".
@@robertsansone1680 love it!! It is a catchy tune, isn't it? I can imagine those rowdy Irish lads and all the other soldiers singing their hearts out on the march...
@@SiobhanFallon7 You must be a crazy hoot owl like me. I recommend Garry Owen by Celtic Stew for a good carousing version. Handcrafted Favorites for a beautiful instrumental. I will keep watching. Thanks again. I gotta get to work. (unfortunately)
I can already tell I will be watching tons of your videos. So good to hear a human doing the voiceover! You are posting on a time that has always interested me. I've read at least 30 books in the past on the Little Bighorn--very hard to get to the bottom on what really happened. Great job!
I'm so happy to hear that!
The computer generated voices drive me nuts, too.
I better get cracking so you have some new material to watch soon... 😉
Thank you for this great video ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Great content, thanks!
You are wonderful to take the time to comment. Thank you!
I have really enjoyed your video series on the Battle of Little Bighorn and the biographical survey of the officers and wives of the 7th U.S. Cavalry. It caused me to realize the hardships and challenges faced by Army spouses (the frequent and often lengthy separations) have been experienced by generations of Army families. I especially enjoyed all of the quotations from their letters, etc. Fascinating insights into lives of dedicated service to our Army and country.
Thank you so very much! I'm working on another right now...
As a military spouse myself, I am amazed at the much greater hardship these families faced. Makes me appreciate my Army life, knowing how it used to be.
Thank so much for your comments here!
I spoke to a West Point officer a few years ago who had done a 20 page analysis of Little Big Horn. He pointed out the many myths that still to this day are pushed. "Custer disobeyed orders" "The soldiers were outgunned" "Custer erred in splitting his force". All factually untrue. But he placed the major part of the blame on Reno. The facts are these: Reno, by halting his charge and dismounting had given away cavalry's best advantage: mobility. Also it took 1 in 4 men out of combat, since 1 had to hold the horses. The West Point officer did not condemn Reno for halting and dismounting per se. "I wasn't there, so I don't know what made him do that. He may have felt he was greatly outnumbered. Which he was." But his condemnation of Reno was based on his cowardly method of retreat after he moved to the timber. He was the first one out of the timber, he did not leave a covering force which led to the warriors easily riding behind the soldiers and killing about 30 more men, and he left about 15 men behind in the timber who luckily were able to find their way to Reno and Benteen later. "He was the officer in command, he lost his head, panicked and ran. Not something a good officer would EVER do!".
@TWS-pd5dc yes!!
I'm just finished up a new video that addresses all these points, using the arguments of Edward Godfrey! Amazing!! Please check back in a couple days.
Wow!! You read my mind.
You'll love this soon to be released one, I hope 🎉🙏
@@SiobhanFallon7 Thanks Siobhan! I've been studying this battle since I was about 10 years old! Still the most controversial, discussed battle in American history! You've done a great job!
@TWS-pd5dc oh thank you!! Incredible how this battle seizes hold of people and doesn't let go!
@@SiobhanFallon7 Yes because it had so many moving parts! My goal next year is to go to the Little Big Horn and take the tour!
Another great one! Thanks!
Sounds like Reno may have had too little or too much parental "oversight" in his youth, judging by his behavior at West Point. He either had no guiding principles instilled in him, or he was extremely rebellious.
Also sounds like his life was a wreck after LBH, as he likely had severe PTS.
He seemed to have trouble playing nice with others, that's for sure
Thank you!!!!
I always find your video presentations very thought provoking Siobhan thank you. It sounds like Major Marcus Reno wasn't a likable character before or after the Battle of Little Big Horn.
I wonder too about his childhood. Both parents dying like that must have been traumatic. And we'll never know the details of other things he suffered that remained hidden. But as you point out, he didn't seem to understand friendship. There was so much antagonism between him and others. Such a lonely man.
@@SiobhanFallon7 I feel sorry for the young Marcus Reno, I imagine a childhood without interactions with other children. Friendless even. As you said we will never really know for sure what tortured this poor mans Soul. Again thank you and I look forward to your next presentation.
Great video again as others have noted the presentations are wonderful So glad others share the fascinating history of this event and those that lived it.
Yes, there is so much here! I feel like I have a lifetime of material to learn. It'll keep me busy, that's for sure 😉
So good I do not even know where to start! One thing I have observed over the years is that there were too many wolves looking after the chicken coop starting from the day they left Fort Abraham Lincoln. Recipe for a disaster that sooner or later would come.
Thank you!
You're very knowledgeable i enjoy everyone of your presentations. We need more historians like you! Keep uo the good work thank you so much
Thank you! I really appreciate that 🙏
@@SiobhanFallon7 you're welcome do you know what happened and what was going on with the soldiers after the little bighorn fight??
@@AaronBigleggins Do you mean Reno and Benteen's men on the hill? Or all of the 7th in the weeks that followed?
@@SiobhanFallon7 all the men that fallowed did they go back to their designated forts
@user-sc4lc5ts2o ah, I see. Most of the Seventh stayed on campaign all the way until early September, then finally rolled into Fort Lincoln. They had been joined by Gibbon and Crook after the Little Bighorn, and the rest of the summer was a long and demoralizing failure.
There's a night when the Lakota did a horse raid and took a bunch of their horses. They said they weren't scared of the soldiers since their Native scouts were no longer fighting there, and the Lakota taunted the soldiers a few times just out of firing range.
General Crook ended up eating mule on his "starvation march" segment of the campaign.
Benteen was released on detached duty in late July or early August to do recruitment back East.
When Reno and the 7th returned to Lincoln, the window sills and doors of the houses were still painted black in mourning, and no one came out to cheer when they arrived.
The newly widowed had already left with their children-- they had to vacate the Army housing within 30 days so new families-- their dead husband's replacements-- could take their residences. The Army didn't even pay for their train tickets home-- but the railroad let them ride for free since many of their husband's had accompanied railroad surveys when the tracks were being mapped out and laid etc.
Great question, Aaron. Thank you!
Nobody connected to the Battle at Little Bighorn was hit with Bad Luck for the rest of their days. The Indians won the day but that win started continuous pain and loss.
Even today the Native Americans continue to loose. The whole 7th Calvary went on to suffer PTSD til death. Nobody wins a War.
Thank you for that, Very well done. ;) Do you have any plans on doing a piece on Tom Custer, George's brother and 2 time Medal of Honor winner?
Yes! But I just started working on Captain Thomas Weir. But I will move Tom Custer up my list now for sure!
Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment! 🙏
Reno is one of those fellows we sort of love to hate. Recently visited F. Abercrombie where he made his final military error.
Superb work
Thank you!
I’m that’s kinda creepy that he was watching a girl through the window especially since it was the commanding officer of his regiment!!!! He just had a tragic story, and I kinda wonder what had changed between the civil war and his fight at LBH. Something made him change from his gallantry behavior to being indecisive at the river and then the timber.
In a disturbing echo, his son Ross was almost arrested for knocking on and then entering a women's hotel room window. She screamed, he was a stranger to her (it was the vaudeville actress Carrie Swain) but she did not press charges.
I like all your videos. And I will second your recommendation of the book In Custer's Shadow.
much appreciated!
Great info , I have to make a trip too the horn next year.
Thank you!
The battlefield is currently under renovation, and I'm not sure what next summer will bring 😭
@@SiobhanFallon7 thanks for the update maybe 2025 is a must. Keep the the vids coming , it's bucket list of mine to spend atleast a week there and walk as much of the battlefield as possible.
@aliassombrerojack3438 I hope to be there in 2025 too! 🙏
Very informative. Thank you
@ericcrawford3453 thank you, Eric!
Reno was no coward, as attested to by his Civil War record, but perhaps his drinking post-war robbed him of some of the qualities and strengths that had given him such a fine military record in the Civil War.
Hey there! Thanks for watching 🙏
I just posted a new video about Reno's post- LIttle Bighorn career that you might be interested in...
ua-cam.com/video/0_n50-rWYaQ/v-deo.htmlsi=fwskRK1KAs5rJ9aP
Assume job, You provided great learning experience. Reno as what ive learn was drinking before the 25th and that day. Alcohol did in fact did not give liquid courage. Reno was a long was from civil war land. He came upon a different world, a people with a life lived , traumatized for years, saying enough is enough. The 7th came looking for a fight, the wrong people. Its sad for all involved. Death. In Renos engagement. The warrior chief Galls wife and children where killed from gun fire in their teepees. It's a given who had more to fight for
Thanks for your insights, Buck!
I was just reading up on Gall's life for this video!
ua-cam.com/video/tTAUuDIn-1A/v-deo.htmlsi=WuyRQDC3QVFoLpWS
I always felt for Major Reno. If memory serves (I don't know if you mention it here), Major Reno attained the rank of brevet Brigadier General during the Civil War. To those unfamiliar with the term, back in those days, the Army had few medals to award to soldiers in recognition for valor in the field (I think there was but one award in those days, the Congressional Medal of Honor), so in recognition of acts of distinction, the Army would advance a solider to a higher rank (called "breveting"). Unfortunately, the promotion was temporary in nature and while the promotion carried with it the additional duties and responsibilities of higher rank and authority....it didn't come with the pay of the higher rank. BTW, Custer was a brevet Major General and I believe Capt. Benteen was a brevet Lt. Col. At any rate, and again, I don't know if you mentioned it here, Reno seemed to be a man under a perpetual dark cloud. Even his scouts referred to him along those line (they gave him a moniker to reflect the ominous cloud that seemed to follow him around). Dark cloud or not, Major Reno was a highly competent plains warfighter and were it not for his decision to NOT reinforce Custer's position, it's a fair bet that the entire regiment would have been annihilated at the Little Big Horn. Interesting side story: the Army convened a court of inquiry into Major Reno's conduct at the Little Big Horn. The court exonerated Major Reno of any accusations of cowardice or incompetence. Every survivor of the Little Big Horn signed a letter attesting that Major Reno and his leadership were the only reasons why they survived the battle. However, that wasn't good enough for some in the Army and long story made short, he was hounded out of the service (as the story goes, he was observed peering through a fellow officer's bedroom window at the wife of the fellow officer as she undressed and was cashiered after a kangaroo court trial). Major Reno died destitute in the Soldiers and Sailors home in Washington, DC, alone, the victim of Army persecution. Sometime in the 1960s, Reno's family succeeded in getting the US Army's Judge Advocate General's office to reopen Reno's court martial. After reviewing the previous proceeding's transcripts, the Army's JAG found the entire proceeding farcical and a travesty of justice. The Jag consequently reversed the court's findings and restored his rank (I think they advanced him to Colonel, a rank he most likely would have eventually attained had he not been the victim of Army persecution). And in the greatest act of making the Army eat humble pie, Major Reno's final request was granted: he was buried with his men at the Little Big Horn. Custer, on the other hand, lies at West Point.
Cesar, at the end of the CW, Reno was a colonel in the Volunteers with a brevet to brigadier general. In the Regulars, he was a captain with brevets up to colonel.
Custer was a major general in the Volunteers and a captain in the Regulars with brevets up to major general.
@@drkoz76 Well thank you for the correction, despite the details bordering on the tedious. My point was, and remains, Reno was no coward.
Yup, I cover most of that in this video!
The petition you mention was signed by enlisted men, not one officer, and it was submitted as evidence at the Reno Court of Inquiry and read aloud (and widely published) so it did not fall on deaf ears by any means. However, it had been signed by men not actually at the Little Bighorn (on detached duty) and even some men who always signed with an X for pay etc suddenly signed with full signatures. Also the FBI determined more than one signature was signed by the same hand. Some soldiers later asked about it did not remember anything about it. So that petition/ document is viewed with some suspicion today.
The bodies of the officers who fell at LBH were removed a year later and reburied, for the most part, at Fort Leavenworth, unless there was a specific request made by their family.
George Custer was buried at West Point at the request of his wife, and she is buried next to him to this day. It is no dishonor to the officers who fell at LBH that they are not laid to rest there.
@@SiobhanFallon7 It was not my intention to suggest or imply that Custer was dishonorable. Rather, it was my intention to demonstrate the difference between officers like Custer and officers like Reno. Reno chose to lie with his men. That should give people some idea of where his priorities lay (no pun intended). I suppose one could argue that Custer and those whose bodies were removed at the behest of their families had no say in the matter, deceased as the former were; however, that would seem disingenuous to me insofar as, speaking from experience, most service members have, at some point, a frank and candid conversation with their immediate family as to what they wish done should the worst comes to pass. And by the way, if, as you say, the petition which you seemingly dismiss was signed only by surviving enlisteds and not by a single surviving officer, I would be inclined to attach even more credence to the document insofar as it has been my personal experience that officers' actions tend to be mitigated by concerns over career recriminations, while enlisteds' actions tend to be motivated by conscience.
Based on your presentation of Reno starting at West Point, his character was always suspect. Stalking Sturgis daughter as a Peeping Tom was disturbing. I think they got it right the first time - a dishonorable discharge was correct.
Hi there, John.
I agree with you. His command was suspect and his men could not trust him. He could no longer lead like that.
Of course there are a few 7th CAV members who defended Reno, but alarmingly in the minority.
@@SiobhanFallon7 Thx Siobhan!!! Great video as always!
@@johnkeviljr9625 thanks, John!! 🙏🎉🙏
Soldiers said Reno was drunk at LBH and he admitted it to the editor of the Northwestern Christian Advocate later in life. Plenty of contemporary soldiers called him a coward for taking flight before Custer could secure the village women and children to immediately stop the battle like he did at Washita. Reno tried screwing the other soldiers wives and tried to throw them off post when they refused (that's cruel) , he beat a subordinate with a pool cue, and he got caught creeping around houses as a peeping tom... Forcing yourself on a woman is above and beyond flirting or having an affair and then trying to separate her from her family for refusing him and getting caught being a peeping tom shows this man was a sexual predator. The more you learn about Reno and his actions the more you wonder why he was redeemed in the 1960's. Was there some kind of national amnesia when it came to his actions as an officer in the U.S military or just not being a decent human being?
I plan on doing a more focused view into the women in Reno's life as well showing his multiple court martials for "conduct unbecoming."
Honestly I think the reason his dishonorable discharge was reversed in the 1960s was solely to allow his descendent to bury him at the Little Bighorn. I don't think that modern court looked into the many reasons Reno was originally discharged / found guilty by the earlier military courts of his peers that knew much more about him and his behavior.
I'm a military spouse myself and can't help but think of how he carried on a campaign against Mrs
Bell, the wife of of Capt James Bell. That is not the correct behavior of a commander.
@@SiobhanFallon7 The pattern of Reno getting into trouble for his behavior might indicate that he may have been a larger menace than we realize. If you look at when he gets into trouble it was with other officers. It makes you wonder if he was acting the same with the wives and daughters of enlisted men but he wasn't held accountable because it was easier for him to cover it up, ignore them, intimidate them, or have them transferred. A fellow officer could use his position to force the issue while a lowly private or sergeant might find himself powerless to bring charges. On Reno's wikipedia page in the section on his LBH cowardice/drunkenness inquiry it says "Enlisted men later stated they had been coerced into giving a positive report.." and we know one of the failed charges in his court martial was trying to pay a laundress to lie for him.
@@TERMICOBRA that is really interesting and something I hadn't thought of before 😬
Always well done!!!
Thank you!!
Wow. That was good. I subscribed.😊
Thank you!!!!
My husband was born and raised in Carrollton Illinois 😮
I think he is still worth salvaging 🤷🏼♀️🤣🤣🤣
I'd love a vid on Private Foley or Sgt Butler.. maybe there's not much background info on them to stretch into a full vid, maybe you could combine a few soldiers into one video.. it always bugged me not 1 soldier survived from Custers lot, to tell the story.. Foley came closest (I think that was his name anyway) but shot himself on horseback before he could realise the Indians decided to let him ride away.. and Butler who was found all alone, surrounded by spent cartridges, in a last stand of his own.. I wonder whether he was straggling behind or had also nearly managed an escape
That would be GREAT. Good idea💡 !!
There are both native and US soldier accounts of someone breaking away so I could cover them all, and whether it was a suicide, an accident, or he was shot by a Sioux pursuer -- I have heard all three of those explanations.
Thanks, and stay tuned! I'd put that on the top of my list.
I'm working in Captain Thomas Weir now...
Excellent! 😬 I will do 😁 looking forward to the Weir one too!
Cheers from England 🍻
Just to be clear, at 12:00 you say that Reno reached the top of the hill where he met Benteen. I always thought the survivors were already on the hill when Benteen showed up some time later and took command from Reno at that time. Otherwise I don’t know about his ‘adventures’ in the years after the battle and that he died of cancer, not alcoholism at age 54. Quite the story. Thank you!
You are right, by most accounts Reno reached the hill first (though one eyewitness says it was only Benteen's command that stopped Benteen from retreating even farther.
I should have said "where he was soon met by Benteen's command" to make that clear. Good catch.
Thanks for the generous comments and for watching!!
@@SiobhanFallon7 Thanks Siobhan. Maybe the Reno Court of Inquiry transcripts might reveal the timing. I would think that if Benteen was already on the hill, he certainly could see the retreat and might have tried to help, IDk
Reno and Benteen caused Custer's death. It's really gross irony that that man is buried amongst the gallant men, he betrayed.
It is interesting that Reno is buried at Little Bighorn. Maybe he would have preferred to have slipped into the unknown rather than have us still debating his role? But he was so desperate to return to the Army. I don't know.
Personally I wish Captain Weir was reinterred at Little Bighorn so visitors would learn of his role there. And he seemed to die inside on June 25, 1876, and never recovered.
Reno made his own bad luck by conduct unacceptable for any officer
Good stuff. Well worth my time.
@@EndingSimple thank you!!! I appreciate that 🤗
It seems the armies accepted a lot men who were not socially bearable but they were needed for the dirty work. The napoleonic wars presented some examples of such drunkyards, duellists, womanizers, gamblers, astronomical in debt and so on. Those who weren't dismissed were the ones who were talented commanders.
Woohoo! Another history channel! 🤠
I hope you enjoy it!
I agree with your assessment 100%. Reno indeed was a very unlucky man.
I have always been fascinated by this fight since I was a kid. It started I think because my two spinster aunts were in love with Errol Flynn!
There will always be controversy surrounding this fight.
All the woulda, coulda, shoulda’s
Will see to it and both historians as well as the common history nerd like myself will never find consensus.
I may as well give my two cents.
This fight seemed doomed from the start. Even the men sensed it starting with Custer’s conciliatory behavior. One even predicted it would be Custer’s last fight but I cannot at present remember who.
The flag blowing over only added to the soldiers superstitious worries.
Add in one of the three prongs of attack (Crook) being knocked out early, severe dissension and even hatred amongst the officers, and arriving exhausted on Sunday afternoon.
Custer planned to rest and attack in the morning however the
“Biscuit box” incident altered his plans and he decided to attack immediately.
Finally: I believe there was only one way Custer could have been the hero. He should have surrounded the village in a show of force then send in a party under the flag of truce to parley. I’d be willing to bet they would have peacefully returned to the reservation. Later Indian testimony corroborates this but historians always view the post battle testimonies with a grain of salt as they may have been trying to now curry favor .
Feel free to challenge my assessments! It’s all part of the fun and I look forward to future videos. Maybe do a in-depth on Benteen ?
Wallace thought Custer might die! It's in Godfrey's article and, my goodness, you have a great memory and make a lot of excellent points.
@@SiobhanFallon7 thanks for that info. I always had a history brain as well as long term memory. My earliest recollection was being brought home from the hospital
I shit you not!
Now if only I was better at math!!
@@pigmanobvious 🤣
If you ain't got a contingency plan for a rear guard assignment in a hurry then you'd better watch your 6 o'clock while bugging out.
Those Sioux and Cheyenne think you're General Crook.. . . "Should've brought some more Crow and Shoshone with you " . . . Major Peeping Tom.
Custer’s order to Reno to charge the village, adding that Reno would be supported by the whole command, was deceptive. At a minimum, Reno would lack support of thirty percent of the command, due to the absence of Benteen and the Pack-train escort. Further, Custer’s unannounced decision to envelope the natives was hardly mutually supporting. Reno’s, as a diversionary attack would support Custer, but, without precise timing, the envelopment would do little to support Reno. Due to a lack of battlefield intelligence, there was very little prospect that such timing would ensue. It seems likely Custer intended the envelopment all along, and deceived Reno into believing a frontal attack by the whole command was planned. Benteen, a much more perceptive officer, would not likely have fallen for the ambiguous statement. Rather, he would likely have perceived the suicide diversionary attack and demanded it be placed in writing. Reno’s inability to articulate this point at the inquiry demonstrates that he was not very astute, even given time to think it over.
Nonsense, as an experienced cavalry officer and West Point graduate, Reno knew perfectly well *or should have known* how a cavalry regiment operates in the field. And that is as a number of squadrons or battalions acting semi independently to achieve the objective. The entire battle was lost from the moment he dismounted his command well short of the objective, thereby losing 25% of his firepower (due to horse holders), all situational awareness and handing the initiative to the enemy.
1. Melee by cavalry had become obsolete. The skirmish line was the only tactic available, and success depended upon out- ranging the natives with the Springfield carbine.
2. Dividing the command would have been appropriate if the elements were mutually supporting, but they were as not.
3. The entire battle was lost when Custer decided to deviate from Terry's plan of a pincer between Gibbon and Custer, with the first discovered force servings as the diversion, while the second force scooped up the non-combatants. Custer tried to do the job of 1200 men with 330. @@stuartjarman4930
Really good video.
You always make me smile.
Thank you!
@Siobhan Fallon thank you for the video. I learned a lot from it, and it further reinforces my dislike of Major Reno.
Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment, Hunter!!
Happy New Year!
One man's coward is another man s saviour
Very true.
cool video
thank you!
What was Reno drinking in his canteen?
Good question!!
I did not know that about Reno sad story if he had stay there he and all his man would have died to. Custer went after the women and children thats why went around the natives camp.
To take them down first so maybe the native would have give up. But know it went down with Custer and his 7th Cavalry. Cool to check out things
Comanche from Texas hard people
Hi there!
Yes, it is believed that Custer may have been trying to capture hostages at the Little Bighorn fight in a way similar to what he did at the Battle of the Washita. I discuss that quite a bit in my other videos.
I am so pleased that you watched and took the time to comment. Thank you!
Had Marcus Reno taken command of the 7th , the outcome of the Little bighorn could have been different ? Custer was reckless , seeking personal glory and promotion ! Even Terry's order's were one of more of containment than seeking an all out fight? Custer was to wait for Terry and others , instead he took arrogance and attacked.
@johnokapal9537
Hmmm. Here are Terry's orders:
"Headquarters of the Department of Dakota (In the Field) Camp at Mouth of Rosebud River, Montana Territory June 22nd, 1876 Lieutenant-Colonel Custer, 7th Calvary Colonel: The Brigadier-General Commanding directs that, as soon as your regiment can be made ready for the march, you will proceed up the Rosebud in pursuit of the Indians whose trail was discovered by Major Reno a few days since. It is, impossible to give you any definite instructions in regard to this movement, and were it not impossible to do so the Department Commander places too much confidence in your zeal, energy, and ability to wish to impose upon you precise orders which might hamper your action when nearly in contact with the enemy.
He will, however, indicate to you his own views of what your action should be, and he desires that you should conform to them unless you shall see sufficient reason for departing from them.
He thinks that you should proceed up the Rosebud until you ascertain definitely the direction in which the trail above spoken of leads. Should it be found (as it appears almost certain that it will be found) to turn towards the Little Bighorn, he thinks that you should still proceed southward, perhaps as far as the headwaters of the Tongue, and then turn toward the Little Horn, feeling constantly, however, to your left, so as to preclude the escape of the Indians passing around your left flank.
The column of Colonel Gibbon is now in motion for the mouth of the Big Horn. As soon as it reaches that point will cross the Yellowstone and move up at least as far as the forks of the Big and Little Horns. Of course its future movements must be controlled by circumstances as they arise, but it is hoped that the Indians, if upon the Little Horn, may be so nearly inclosed by the two columns that their escape will be impossible.
The Department Commander desires that on your way up the Rosebud you should thoroughly examine the upper part of Tullock's Creek, and that you should endeavor to send a scout through to Colonel Gibbon's command.
The supply-steamer will be pushed up the Big Horn as far as the forks of the river is found to be navigable for that distance, and the Department Commander, who will accompany the column of Colonel Gibbon, desires you to report to him there not later than the expiration of the time for which your troops are rationed, unless in the mean time you receive further orders.
Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, E. W. Smith, Captain, 18th Infantry A. A. J. G."
...The Gatling guns are really a non-issue. The 1876 version much inferior to what was used in supporting Roosevelt's regiment on San Juan Hill in 1898. In addition, Congress was so cheap that they would only permit the Army to purchase horses that had been rejected for Cavalry service to pull the Gatlings. The far better Maxim Gun, used in 1893 in the Matabele War in (future) Rhodesia...did excellent service....but only from behind barricades and with Matabele warriors charging fearlessly, and falling in their thousands.
.
...The guns...if pulled...would not have made it with Custer...and if packed on mule back...would never have made it into action on Last Stand Hill... With Benteen...the Sioux and Cheyenne would have quickly avoided a frontal confrontation...and simply shot down the gunners... YP
YES! I don't know why people always bring up the gatlings. They had been proven to be a liability on this march.
Great info, thank you so much!!!
Did not the great Indian fighting general Nelson Miles say that "Gatling guns are useless in Indian fighting?". Which I believe they were, given the mobility and avoidance of casualties that were very common in methods the tribes used in fighting the soldiers?
History will remember Reno as a reprobate. Neither time or the amendment of discharge status can change that.
I'm torn between empathy and distaste myself. He made a lot of mistakes in his 54 years 🤷🏼♀️
Dismount! Mount! Dismount! Mount!
If you value your lives follow me!
For God’s sake Benteen, help us, we’re about to be annihilated!
Yes!
If, in March of 55', he had to repeat another year and then another year after that year, how did he graduate in June of 55'?
Yes, I meant to say 1857. Reno graduated with the West Point class of 1857. I put a note in the description that I made a mistake there.
@@SiobhanFallon7 oops. I listened all the way through.
Cool topic 🙂
@Steve-hj6xv thank you!!
I always make a couple errors no matter how many times I redo it! 🤦🏼♀️
Thanks for your patience and for listening anyway! 🙏
Nice twist on history (not an English voice or a cowboy voice) :-)
Thank you!
Usually when people mention my voice it's to say how annoying it is, so this is a nice change 🤣🙌🤣
I believe benteen was the greatest Offender in the last Stand . If anyone were to be court marshalled It should have been him
That is a really interesting argument, Barbara!
The US Policy should have changed to allow " All Native Americans" Citizenship and Allowed to form Military Units and learn Engineering and Agriculture.
Now I believe nothing Reno and Benteen could have done would have saved Custer and his men. If they tried the regiment would have been killed completely. Why? There seems to be a misconception about how standfast the Indians were used to fight. In my opinion there is a huge difference between a random war party, who is not willing to risk their lives against the armies firepower for nothing and warriors who fight for the survival of their families. Reno and Benteen were not counted as threat since they were dugged in, but riding in Custers direction could have been understood much different. They just killed 5 companies, why shouldn't they have been able to do it again with 7 additional ones?
Exactly. They destroyed five companies. But could they have destroyed 12?
He was luckier than Custer
He was indeed!!
Unlikely? More like completely predictable.
I see Reno Benteen as Cowards
I think we still do not know the whole story. When I read the court of inquiry testimony, the officers, while not coming out explicitly against Reno, did very little to defend his name 🤷🏼♀️
And Benteen, in his later letters to Goldin (great read by the way! Edited by John Carroll) was very, very harsh about Reno's actions.
Thank you for commenting! 🙏
Good listening: Great Lakes Traveler. Traces of George Armstrong Custer . With yours is a great input . Question : Do you have knowledge of Custer had 13 horses shot out from under him ?
@Gene-kl1br thanks for the kind words and the suggestions!
I thought he had 11 horses shot out from under him but maybe there were more! All contribute to the idea of Custer's Luck-- and his being indestructible.
Sadly, June 25, 1876 taught the world this was not true...
:) the legend grows lol