For many years I was a dedicated "Custerphile" and study his life and career. For a long time I have thought the problem was a simple betrayal by Reno and Benteen, who would jelous of Custer and hated him.

Here are some folks who seem to agree:



custerwest.org

Reminds me of the story about the kid in school who drew a picture of a cow with a halo flying over a grassy field covered with Native Americans making love.

The title was, "Custer's Last Thought."

When asked to explain, the kid replies,

"Holy Cow! Where did all these f---ing Indians come from!"

Too funny, Smiley!

I read an article once about a petition submitted to the War Department which purportedly was signed by troops of the 7th Cavalry who had survived the Little Bighorn.

The petition requested that the War Department waive its normal policy of promoting the next most senior Major into Custer's Lieutenant Colonel position and asked that Major Marcus Reno be promoted into the position.

The justification was that the signers of the petition felt that Major Reno's actions were the main reasons they survived.

The request was not approved.

Some time back in the 1950's, some researchers asked the FBI graphalogical (handwriting analysis) lab to examine the petition and other 7th Cavalry documents from the period. According to the article, the FBI concluded that not only were many of the "signers" on the list of casualties of the Bighorn Battle on 25 June 1876, but that the vast majority of the signatures had been penned by Captain Frederick Benteen's (next in line after Reno) First Sergeant.

Maybe there is something to this 135-year-old conspiracy theory!

I also remember reading that the very popular Custer was expected to be nominated for president by the Democratic Convention in St. Louis shortly after the battle took place.

Could it be that they just didn't have deuce and a half trucks in 1876 so abandonment by subordinates at a key moment of battle is all they could arrange?

Reno was court-martialed, but not convicted, for cowardice in the face of the enemy....

For those who doubt what Carl wrote, here are some links with information about the petition:

boards.history.com/topic/Indian-Wars/For...ocument-In/700012893

books.google.com/books?id=0wS5dfCYhtAC&a...0benteen&f=false

I know it's from the same web page, but this article is worth reading:

custer.over-blog.com/article-36114125.html

Anybody remember that comedy song, "Please Mister Custer" that came out in the early '70's?

Man, that was funny!

wow that was very interesting in all the years I have been in the U.S.A had never read any were that there were other troops in the area. You always here negative things about Custer. It seems history hasn't been very nice to the Custer legacy. At least you know that cover ups and half truths have been around since day one.