Major Reno's Scout

[@materbear7822]

Major Reno uses his own initiative, goes outside his orders to to bring back important information and gets a 1st class verbal drubbing from Custer & Terry. I have always wondered if this fueled Renos indecisiveness later on when he attacked the village.

[@jaynesager3049]

I have to wonder if things would’ve gone better for Crook and Custer if they’d listened to Reno, instead of roasting him.

[@EverettBaland]

Kinda sorta normal for many organizations. I agree, the Reno Scout was good soldiering. Can't control bosses that are jerks, but you can let them be wrong.

[@michaelhart6318]

Interesting that Custer thought Reno's scout was a 'waste of time' given that Benteen considered his scout to the west southwest ordered by Custer as a 'waste of time.'

[@johnzajac9849]

With the prevalence of heavy drinking in the US Cavalry, and generally in the US Army at that time, it is odd that historians continue to point out Reno's drinking, as if it were unusual.

[@MilitaryHistory317]

Another interesting insight and great question John. Even in an Army of heavy drinkers, Reno was a bit of an outlier, and by all accounts it really became problematic after the death of his wife. Also, he carries the stain of the accusations he was drunk during the fight. After the battle, drinking was a huge problem in the Regiment, as we shall see! I was reading that during the evening at the Court of Inquiry, the Palmer House bar hosted many drunken revelry. I hope to go there in a month and get the "feel" of the place as the bar's décor is unchanged as I understand it.

[@johnzajac9849]

@@MilitaryHistory317 From what I read, Reno's enemies, to include Mrs. Custer, made sure that stain stuck. As someone wrote, Mrs. Custer spent 50 years protecting the Custer Myth and woe unto him who got in the way! As an example, Fredric Van de Water waited until 1934, after she died, to publish his candid biography of Custer.

[@MilitaryHistory317]

@@johnzajac9849 There were plenty of ad hominem attacks by all parties involved. These were all deeply flawed individuals, which makes it so interesting. I was thinking today about who I would have liked to serve under. Reno...never, Custer...maybe in the Civil War, Benteen...probably as I like what seems to be his quasi-nihilistic view of everything. CPT French seems like a guy I would have fought for/with. Certainly would have fought with Crazy Horse given the chance.

[@johnzajac9849]

@@MilitaryHistory317 Yet, I read that Reno competently led his men at the hill. Indeed, there was testimony later by soldiers to that effect. Also, I read that Custer's absence (having promised to support Reno's attack on the village) led soldiers on the hill to talk among themselves about a court martial for Custer. Crazy Horse was a terrific leader. One of the most difficult things to do when someone makes a false personal attack is to 'disprove the negative'. No, I was not a cowardly officer. Or, no I was not a Russian agent, etc., etc. Unfortunately, Reno was the target of such personal attacks and suffers for it to this day.

[@johnzajac9849]

@@MilitaryHistory317 Another example of having to disprove a negative: Years after the Battle of Shiloh, General Lew Wallace battled to clear his name. False accusations, based on faulty information, that he disobeyed vital orders from Grant damaged his Army career and reputation. Grant was among those who wrongly accused Wallace.

[@lonewulf44]

I really like the variety of back screen videos playing, everything from fort Apache to more Custer centric stuff, .. Ariel Google maps, I like the variety

[@SiobhanFallon7]

Another great video, Cory! Excellent voice over and graphics! One small thing -- I'm with you that the letter to the newspaper about Reno's scout was a bit dastardly (and the authorship is murky-- some say Custer, some say Calhoun penned it), but I do think it was not exceptional. Other Army officers took to the press to castigate their superiors and their peers. We have Benteen's letter that was published about the Washita, and we will later have a Benteen letter about Crook that probably played into Benteen's later court martial. And of course we know that Custer or one of his proxies used this same tactic when President Grant had him removed from commanding the campaign in May, 1876, and the bad press forced Grant's hand and put Custer at least back at the helm of the 7th. It was unseemly but effective, and I think we could find other officers who used it as well.

[@MilitaryHistory317]

Siobhan, I have heard about the thinking that Calhoun was the writer. It seems, either way, the "voice" in writing the articles was that of Custer. In retrospect, there are many examples of this sort of political and career positioning. Thank you!

[@Jay_Hall]

Fallon, I must agree, good work. :)

[@robertwaid3579]

To the DataMeister, I see in My Review of this Episode, Previously? That I then Commented on it Four Months Ago. Ok. I didn't Recall doing so. 🤔🤔🤕🤕. Currently having just done So. Again? I was Completely impressed, by this Segment of Your Journey & the Analysing of Your Research. You are Fantastic at this Stuff, & How You Narrate it Back, is Just Well too Me? I Have No Explanation too Give. As Pointed Out Beforehand. This Information & Recorded Scouting Reports. Are all Still available too the People Interested. Of Course it takes Huge Amounts of Time & Some Expense? To aquire the Information & the Literature on it. You Sir!! Are The DataMeister Extraordinary, Who with These Episode's. Has Already done the Foot Work. For US. Thank You SO,SO, Much Again. Wyoming, Robert, 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@dks13827]

Cory please do one on Benteen's scout to the left !!! Great channel.

[@williewonka6694]

I'm reminded that disobediences of orders or standard procedures being overlooked, if victory is the result, is an element of encouraging aggressive offensive tactics, while disavowing official responsibility for failures. Another example is the aggressive tactics of the younger US submariner Captains of WWII. Big risk takers, such as "Mush" Morton, Fluckey and Ramage sank a lot of Japanese ships, along with higher losses of attacking US subs. Not saying it's wrong, only its a risk-reward calculation paid with the lives of your command.

[@robertwaid3579]

This information though not entirely new? Is very informative and mind tripping. As it shows more of the character of Major Reno, touches on the personality of General Terry, and then Highlights. The mild scorn that Col. George Armstrong Custer, held toward his immediate, fellow Officer. These notes, reports, daily Logs, are all item's, that are available to us wannabe Historian's. I know that! But like so many Other's? Over the Year's, I didn't have the Time, or many Time's, I just didn't utilize the Time I had properly. Anyways Thanks 👍😊😊🍿🍿 as Always? Your stuff is Fantastic. Wyo, Robert,🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸👍👍👀👀🤔🤔🙏🙏

[@tbrowntracyj]

I heard he graduated last in his class it's been crazy trying to find a source The information here was still interesting

[@joehayward2631]

Afew of the army//union officers should have learned a few things when chasing CSA GREY GHOST. Col. Mosby during the civil war was great wow. Great read.

[@materbear7822]

These are some of the nicest historical summaries out there. Thank You.. Question. Is there a record of when Reno 1st knew of the existence of the New York Herald letter.?? When was it known that this letter was from Custer. ?? Is this not the same thing that Captain Benteen did to Custer (which made Custer very unhappy), writing an anonymous newspaper letter about abandoning Major Elliot.

[@MilitaryHistory317]

Good questions. I will have to look at when the NY Herald letter was published. This whole thing about writing anonymous letters to newspapers feels unseemly.

[@DonDon-zm3vz]

all of those companies in the scout with the exception of company B were in custers battalion at the little bighorn… and we’re all killed

[@MilitaryHistory317]

Good Catch! The so-called Custer Battalion.

[@stevenjohnson8507]

Though clearly an amateur without polish, I still enjoy Meister's contribution. Especially his drone work. Thank you.

[@markfox6596]

I think it's an excellent presentation.. I disagree friend.

[@clintgrimsley]

Reno was a great leader

[@angloaust1575]

Probably never would have been a Little big horn battle if gold hadn't Been discovered in the black hills The indians didnt have the same lust For mineral wealth!

[@mikehunt-fx7sf]

That had absolutely nothing to do with it.

[@clintgrimsley]

@@mikehunt-fx7sf had everything to do with it

[@jimsatterfield8748]

He was a drunk.

[@ericstevens8744]

Custer didn’t Listen to Good advice

[@jimsatterfield8748]

@@ericstevens8744 no one did on that campaign...People forget the hostiles fought /behaved entirely differently than they had in the past.

[@wadetaylor1299]

@@jimsatterfield8748 no they fought like always Custer wasn't fighting women and kids he wanted too but didn't go well so sand creek his big fight isn't a typical plains battle

[@tombabcock4967]

ya.....there weren't enough women and little girls for custer to rape like at Washita @@wadetaylor1299