Fallen Leaders: George Custer and the Question of Leadership

Over the past month, we have read many stories about fallen leaders of the American Civil War. We have mostly looked at those who have lost their lives in the midst of battle or its aftermath. However, a sometimes-forgotten fallen leader of the Civil War is George Armstrong Custer. This individual, who should be addressed in detail, mainly gets excluded because he lost his life not in the midst of a Civil War battle, but more than 20 years later at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Custer’s story is unique, similar to many of the fallen leaders we have learned about over the past few weeks. But what sets Custer apart is his rise and fall as a leader. Essentially both his rise and fall take place after his death. So, what makes a leader and moreover what makes a fallen leader?

Some may argue that his rise began with the American Civil War. Custer does make quite a name for himself, specifically given that he begins his career ranked last in his class at West Point. To this day, he holds the record for the most demerits (726 to be exact). If not for the Civil War, Custer would most likely have been sent to some obscure post and perhaps forgotten.

However, as the Civil War broke out, officers were needed to defend the country against the seceded southern states. Like many of Custer’s classmates, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and placed in the 2^nd U.S. Cavalry Regiment.

He fought at the First Battle of Bull Run and was tasked by Army Commander Winfield Scott to carry messages to Major General Irvin McDowell.

He was present during the Peninsula Campaign, in which he famously answered General Barnard’s question on how deep the Chickahominy River was by riding his horse into the center and proclaiming, “That’s how deep it is, Mr. General.”

Custer’s personality and aggression soon drew the attention of the higher command. In 1863, he was promoted to Brigadier General. He was only 23.

Despite some complaints about his reckless nature, Custer was known for his attention to detail and military strategy – able to surprise and rout the enemy every time.

Whilst outnumbered by J.E.B. Stuart’s forces at Gettysburg, Custer rode to the front line, drew his saber, and shouted, “Come on you Wolverines!” Stuart withdrew his troops – and although Custer’s men suffered the highest losses of any Union Cavalry brigade that day, Custer was rewarded with a promotion to Major General.

Towards the end of the Civil War, Custer participated in Sheridan’s campaign and the burning of the Shenandoah Valley. He also played a role in the cavalry actions during the Overland Campaign, before taking part in the Siege of Petersburg. Finally, near Appomattox Court House, he received the first flag of truce from the Confederate forces.

It’s not impractical to say that Custer had made a name for himself by the time the war had ended. After the war, he accepted a new command and was sent West. It was in this new role that his reputation first showed signs of fracture. Many of his men had fought in the western theater of the war along the Gulf Coast, and resented the discipline imposed and the orders given by Custer. Though only having taken command in June 1865, Custer’s division was mustered out beginning in November of the same year. There is speculation that the hatred among the men toward their commander ran so deep that upon mustering out, several actually planned to ambush the Major General. Custer however was warned and the attempt was unsuccessful. In 1866, he had been arrested and suspended from military duty as he had gone AWOL, choosing to visit his wife rather than remain at his post. His suspension was cut short, and Custer was allowed to return to duty as Major General Sheridan planned his winter campaign against the Cheyenne. In early 1867, he was given command of the 7^th Cavalry Regiment, and his orders were to help establish Camp Supply, which would be used, as the name suggests, as a supply base for Sheridan during the campaign.

Historic Marker at Camp SupplyIt was at this point that Custer truly began garnishing a name for himself in the Indian Territory. On November 27, 1868, he led his men in the Battle of Washita River. During this battle, Custer reported killing 103 Native Warriors. Reports also indicated that there were some native women and children killed in the attack, though the number remains unknown. Additionally, 53 Native Americans were taken prisoner. These numbers differ substantially from those reported by the Cheyenne, who state that only 11 warriors and 19 women and children were killed. Whatever the casualties, the Battle of Washita River is still regarded as the first major victory of the United States in the Southern Plains War. This resulted in a large portion of the Southern Cheyenne population being forced into a U.S. reservation.

Five years later, Custer was reassigned to the Dakota Territory and tasked with protecting a railroad survey party against the Lakota Native Americans. His first encounter with the Lakota occurred on August 4, 1873. In the small clash, only two men were killed, one from each opposing group. This would not be foreshadowing of the commander’s last encounter with the Lakota.

By early 1876, President Ulysses S. Grant’s administration had set a deadline that required that all Lakota tribes in conjunction with the Arapaho tribes to report to their designated reservations. Those that did not abide would be considered hostile.

By the spring and summer of 1876, Sitting Bull, the Hunkpapa Lakota holy man, had gathered the largest gathering of Plains Indians, including the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, to discuss what could be done about the U.S. military. The group originally met at Ash Creek in present day Montana, but they eventually moved to the Little Bighorn River. It was there that the 7th U.S. Cavalry would meet their fate in a bloody battle that would forever leave its mark on history and the legacy of George Armstrong Custer.

The Little Bighorn Valley was part of the Crow Indian Territory. However, the Lakotas were staying in the valley without the permission of the Crow tribe, who had sided with the U.S. Army in their Indian removal efforts. The Crow viewed the Lakotas as invaders in their territory.

In June, Major Marcus Reno of the 7th U.S. Cavalry, discovered a trail leading to a large village along the Rosebud River. Custer’s entire regiment was detached to follow the trail. Three days later, the Crow Indian scouts with Custer, identified what they believed to be a large Native encampment in the valley near the Little Bighorn River. Custer had originally planned to attack the village the following day, but their presence had been discovered, so he ordered an attack immediately. On June 25^th, 1876, Custer divided the 7^th U.S. Cavalry into 3 battalions, one led by himself, one by Major Reno, and the other by Captain Frederick Benteen. Reno was tasked with charging the southern end of the encampment, while Custer rode northeast, intending to circle around and attack the northern edge of the village. Benteen was sent southwest to check for any Native American presence and to also be at the ready to protect the southern column if needed.

As Reno began his charge, he halted roughly 500 yards from the camp. His men dismounted and quickly formed a skirmish line. They were quickly overwhelmed by the Lakota and Cheyenne warriors. Quickly, the men retreated to the tree line along the river and were able to make a stand, but at a great cost. It is estimated, Reno lost a quarter of his command in this opening action.

It is not known if Custer saw Reno stop and form the skirmish line. Nevertheless, he launched his attack from the north. Ideally, if executed correctly, the village would be sandwiched between the two attacking forces in a “hammer and anvil maneuver.” Unfortunately for Custer and his men, this is not what happened. As Reno was forced to retreat to the tree line near the river, Custer also in his approach to the village was routed and forced to retreat, in turn being completely overwhelmed by the sheer number of Native warriors.

In Custer’s retreat, it is unclear as to exactly what happened. We know that as he and his men drew back, they were pursued by the Lakota. Eventually, he was forced to stop and make what would become known as “Custer’s Last Stand” on the ridge north of the Native encampment.

Evidence exists that some of Custer’s men were able to form skirmish lines before being overwhelmed once again by the ferocious attack. As the lines broke, many ran to where Custer and the other officers were making one final stand. Very quickly after, every man in Custer’s battalion-sided command was killed.

Custer began with 208 officers and men under his direct command, Reno had 142, and Benteen had just over 100. Moreover, the lowest estimates suggest that the Lakota and Cheyenne numbered around 1,500, but in all likelihood, it would have been closer to 3,500. It was a resounding defeat for the United States and has earned its place in our history books. But what of Custer? Is this where he becomes a fallen leader? On the battlefield? Custer, in a literal sense, fell on that day in June, but more than ever, his story and legacy lived on. The legend of Custer was printed and reprinted time and time again.

Custer began with 208 officers and men under his direct command, Reno had 142, and Benteen had just over 100. Moreover, the lowest estimates suggest that the Lakota and Cheyenne numbered around 1,500, but in all likelihood, it would have been closer to 3,500. It was a resounding defeat for the United States and has earned its place in our history books. But what of Custer? Is this where he becomes a fallen leader? On the battlefield? Custer, in a literal sense, fell on that day in June, but more than ever, his story and legacy lived on. The legend of Custer was printed and reprinted time and time again.

The purpose of this is not to say that criticism of him is not well deserved. But rather look at what makes a fallen leader fallen. Is it the physical act of death or the metaphoric fall in public opinion?

George Armstrong Custer, perhaps, has fallen the hardest of all in both aspects. He was at one time considered to be a true hero, a martyr who fell defending the frontier. Sixty years later however, as the great depression was raging on, it became harder for the American people to buy the tragic hero story. With biographer Frederic F. Van de Water’s biography Glory-Hunter, published just a year after Custer’s widow and perhaps greatest defender’s death, Custer’s reputation sank even further. Van de Water’s portrayed Custer as an petulant man who was nothing more than a “deplorable soldier.”  Moreover, by the 1960’s, there was growing empathy for the Native Americans, and disdain for Custer only soared. Today, he is still shown as vain and stupid if his portrayal in “Night at the Museum 2” has any merit.

His name is no longer touted as a tragic military hero but rather the punch line of a joke. It is shocking that someone with such a colorful and noteworthy military career has become nothing more than a disgraced figure among today’s students of history.