Fair play is an all compelling creed. Justice to the dead is one of the
commandments in that creed. Let the controversy rage. Let the sword be
unsheathed in the face of misrepresentation and wrong. General Custer was
a daring and chivalrous officer. He had won laurels on many a hard fought
field under Southern skies—he was a strategist, brave and unfaltering. He
had served in Western campaigns with distinction and success. He knew how
to deal with the masterful generalship of his wily Indian foes. Hitherto
his tactics had been victorious. The orders under which he now marched to
battle were definite up to a certain point—then, so the record in the War
Department reads—he was to use his own discretion and initiative. He was
compelled to follow this course—for he marched over a wild and trackless
waste, far distant from his base of supplies and absolutely without means
of communication with headquarters, and without ability to ascertain the
movements of any military force in the field. It is fair to state that
the ranking General in charge of this campaign against the Indians reposed
this confidence in General Custer, otherwise, knowing the Indian as a
fighter, knowing the character of the desolated wastes of country to
traverse—the difficulties to be encountered in the simple movement of
troops—the annihilation of any body of troops, when once they reached the
unmapped plains cut in twain by gorges and piled high with impassable
buttes, he would have stultified himself had not orders been given
allowing discretion at the moment of emergency. Custer was strong enough,
brave enough, and sufficiently masterful to see and seize the situation.
His tactics were the tactics he had previously and many times employed,
and always with brilliant success. On this June day he would have led the
daring “Seventh” to victory and routed, if not conquered, the great Indian
camp. He was defeated and slain with his entire command. They fell at
their posts in battle formation. Why? The entire group of Indian
warriors participating in this grim battle all testify that had Reno
pushed his charge when first he attacked the Indian camp that they would
have fled in confusion, for the attack was unexpected. The Indian always
expected a night attack. They further testify that after Reno made his
attack with a portion of his men, thus depleting his effective fighting
force by one half and in desperation made his bungling retreat, had he
later come to the aid of Custer with the added reinforcements of Benteen,
French, and Weir, who begged him to hear the appeal of Custer’s rapid
volleys, Custer would have broken the Indian camp. Reno remained on the
hill until every gun was silent. Reno failed. Custer was slain. This
conclusion is the voice of the Indian.