Why did Custer die? , page 1

I'll try and make this as short and sweet as possible.

George Custer died because he split his command before knowing the strength of the Indians he was preparing to attack. Typical tactics for the time. Seal off one end and charge ahead to seal off the escape route. Then both ends converge to the middle. This may be what Custer had intended. But we'll never know for sure.

Before entering the Valley of the Little Big Horn, Custer had Benteen's command split off to bring up the pack train from the rear. On Custer's orders, Reno's 3 companies split from Custer and crossed the Little Big Horn attacking the southern most end of the Indian encampment, while the remainder of Custer's men proceeded north along the high ridge to the east, looking for a spot to cross the river, north of the encampment, halting any chance on an escape to the north.

After initiating the attack, Reno dismounted his cavalrymen (a mistake) and skirmished, in a wooded area along the bends in the river, for some time until the Indians had sufficient numbers to force Reno and his men back across the Little Big Horn River.

(While Reno fought in the Valley, Custer, with his 250 troopers, could be seen waving to Reno's men from the eastern ridgeline as he continued his move to the northwest. This was the last time Custer was seen alive.)

With the Indians in hot pursuit, the remainder of Reno's shattered companies went up the cliffs east of the river and up to a barely defensible position atop the high ground in what became the Reno-Benteen Battlefield. A defense perimeter was made from killed horses and pack mules.

While with the pack train, Benteen received a message from Custer to quickly bring his men and pack train and meet up with Custer. "Come Quick". At 4:20 pm, 10 minutes after Reno's arrived , Benteen and his men arrived at the hilltop, where along with Reno and his men fought the Indians until late afternoon. Reno and Benteen's men were able to gain a tenuous hold on this area.

Around 5:00 PM that afternoon, from the Reno-Benteen defense site, they could see smoke, dust, and a big comotion off in the distance. The Crow and Sioux Indians had pulled back from their attack on Reno's command and moved towards the fight to the north with Custer. The Indians warriors from the entire valley converged on Custer's men spread out across the hillside.

Many in Reno's command knew they were witnessing the Indians battling Custer's command. But Reno and Benteen, disregarded Custer's orders, and kept their men at the hilltop. But officers from Reno's command, Captain Thomas Weir and Lieutenant Winfield Scott Edgerly waited for the order to meet up with Custer and join the battle. The order never came.

Weir and Edgerly could wait no longer. Orders, or no orders, they were going to meet up with Custer. They took their men to a high point to the northwest (now known as Weir Point) where the took fire from the Indians located on "Sharpshooter Ridge". It was 5:10 PM and they see Custer's engagement some 2 1/2 miles to the north. Benteen with 3 companies from Reno's position moved to meet Weir and Edgerly. It was now 5:45 PM. They expected that a "stand" would be made there. None came and the Indians withdrew and moved off to the north.

At this time, Custer was making his "last stand". Custer could see Captain Weir and his men at Weir Point. He may have expected the troopers on the far away ridgetop to join him in battle. He may have deployed men in preparation for their arrival, further spreading out his command. But the men never came.

Reno recalled the troops from Weir Point, while being fired upon by the Indians during their entire retreat. Any hope of coming to the aid of George Custer disappeared. Reno and his command did not know what had happened to Custer until the next day.

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