C. T. Suddeth

Custer’s Blunders

June 25, 1876, General Custer’s 7th Cavalry of about 700 soldiers were defeated by 1,500 Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. 274 soldiers died and about 41 Indians. Here is a list of Custer’s mistakes that I am aware of:

–Custer had the advance forces; he had been ordered to wait.

–Custer split his forces into 3.

–Custer planned to attack the village, not the warriors.

–Major Reno attacked first, firing into the tipis, killing women and children.

–Custer didn’t attack until after Reno had retreated and dug in.

–Custer scribbled a note, Capt. Benteen couldn’t read it, the Italian soldier didn’t speak English.

–Warriors left Reno and outflanked Custer, preventing his men from forming a defensive line.

–Reno’s blunder: he assumed Custer had the larger force, so he kept Benteen’s men.

–Benteen’s blunder: He should have paid more attention to the note.