George Herendine, a scout who rode with George Armstrong Custer’s column in 1876, provided a firsthand account of the march to the Little Bighorn, disputing many popular narratives about the famous battle. Herendine stated that considerable falsehood about the fight had spread through the Herald and other publications. He remained with Major Marcus Reno for the entire episode, observing proceedings both before and after the engagement. His account begins with General Terry’s force at the mouth of the Rosebud, where Generals Terry and Custer united with the column.
Terry questioned Herendine about the terrain around the upper Rosebud and Tullock’s Fork. During a war council aboard the steamer Far West, Terry presented a map and discussed where the columns of Custer and Gibbon should meet. Having traveled that ground previously, Herendine provided his knowledge, and Custer appeared satisfied with the details, desiring Herendine’s company. On June 21st, Herendine presented himself to General Custer and was placed under Lieutenant Varnum, who led the party of scouts.
He encountered Mitch Boyer, a mixed-blood scout and guide, at that time. The movement began on the 22nd around midday, progressing up the Rosebud. They marched approximately 12 miles before establishing camp. On the morning of June 23rd, they set off at 5:00 a.
m. , tracing the stream until they came upon an Indian trail previously discovered by Reno’s detachment. They pursued this trail until 5:00 p. m.
, then camped for the night. Custer dispatched the Crow scouts forward to reconnoiter that evening. As they advanced on the 24th, Custer summoned Herendine, indicating he might send him and Charlie Reynolds ahead to scout Tullock’s Fork. Herendine proposed it was premature, asking Boyer to concur.
Boyer explained that higher up the Rosebud, a crossing would allow them to cut over to Tullock’s Fork in a ride of about 15 miles. Custer answered, “Very well, I can wait. ”
The Crow scouts soon returned, reporting the trail ahead was freshening and that they had discovered new pony tracks. They also carried the scalp of a white man, later recognized as belonging to Stoker, a soldier of Company H, Second Cavalry, slain days earlier at the Rosebud’s mouth.
Hearing this, Custer stopped the command and assembled the officers for a conference. While crossing Muddy Creek, Herendine observed some lodge trails had diverged from the main path. He followed briefly, then reported to Custer, who halted the column and ordered Lieutenant Varnum to examine the deviation. Custer wished to lose no lodges and demanded notification if any separated.
Varnum returned two hours later, stating the muddled trail converged with the main trail farther on. They continued their march, following a trail growing steadily fresher. As daylight faded, Custer posted flankers and maintained vigilant watch to prevent any lodges from slipping away. At twilight, they camped directly on the now very fresh trail.
The general sent Varnum, Boyer, and several scouts forward to examine the trail and surrounding country. All rested until 10:00 p. m. , then packed and moved out.
The night was profoundly dark, and progress was tedious. After roughly 10 miles, they halted at 2:00 a. m. , letting both men and animals rest.
The scouts returned overnight, informing Custer they had found the Indian encampment. At dawn, Mitch Boyer and Reynolds reported the camp was immense. Boyer observed it was the largest gathering he had ever seen, and Reynolds concurred, noting the tremendous numbers. Custer asserted with confidence, “I can defeat them.
” However, Reynolds cautioned it would require six hours of severe combat to prevail. On the morning of June 25th, the last day of their advance, Custer halted the troops and concealed them as possible. He then rode about four miles up to the divide where Lieutenant Varnum and Boyer were posted, hoping to glimpse the village in the Little Bighorn Valley beyond. While Custer was absent, Herendine followed the trail up a dry fork of the Rosebud but had not gone far when he spotted two figures crossing the hills toward the Little Horn.
Upon Custer’s return, Boyer asked Herendine if he had seen the Indians. When Herendine said he saw what appeared to be Indians, Boyer exclaimed, “You were within 150 yards of them, and you surprised them. ” They fled back to camp as fast as possible. Custer sounded officer’s call, delivered orders, and divided the column into battalions.
They advanced up the divide at a quick pace, covering three or four miles to the summit. The scouts pushed ahead at a gallop with the command following at a trot. Nearing the mouth of a creek, they saw a solitary lodge on the bank. From a hilltop, they observed a great dust cloud and fleeing herds down by the Little Bighorn.
Lieutenant Hare swiftly wrote a note to Custer. Herendine believed he conveyed their concern that the Indians were fleeing. The scouts hurried down to the deserted lodge, cut it open, and discovered a deceased warrior inside. Custer arrived just as they were examining the lodge.
With Colonel Reno leading the vanguard, Herendine overheard Custer directing Reno to take the scouts and lead the advance, stating he would follow directly behind. Reno spurred his horse into a fast gallop, shouting for his men to manage their mounts. As they forded the river, the Crow scouts shouted, “The Sioux are coming. ” Herendine alerted Reno accordingly.
Reno paused briefly, allowing the command to tighten its formation before crossing the Little Bighorn and deploying into a battle line on the plain just past the timber. As they proceeded, it grew apparent that a substantial force of warriors awaited their charge. They advanced roughly half a mile with the Indians setting fires in the timber on their right flank and directly ahead. Soon after dismounting and forming a skirmish line, firing commenced almost at once.
The exchange of gunfire grew heavier as the warriors tried to outflank them. The soldiers fell back to seek shelter among the brush and smaller trees. Inside the timber, they located a small clearing where the command reorganized and remounted. A sudden volley rang out from the brush.
Bloody Knife, positioned directly before Herendine with Reno to his left, was hit. The volley killed Bloody Knife outright, and one soldier cried out, “Oh my god, I’ve been hit. ” Reno ordered the men to dismount, only to reverse the order moments later, commanding them to remount. However, not everyone had managed to mount when Reno led a charge out of the timber onto the open plain.
The men broke into a disorganized scramble, each trying to quit the woods as fast as possible. The dust was so dense it became impossible to see their direction. Just as Herendine broke onto the prairie, his horse stumbled and fell, then bolted and disappeared into the brush. As he turned back, he heard an officer shout, “Halt!
Men! Halt! Let’s make a stand and fight them. ”
As soon as Reno’s troops emerged from the timber, the Indians rapidly closed in, assaulting from every direction.
After his horse threw him, Herendine returned to the timber and met Lieutenant DeRudio, stopping to speak with him. Others quickly joined them, and they secured their horses to the trees. Just as they settled into this defensive posture, heavy firing erupted downriver, signaling that Custer’s forces had engaged the enemy. They observed a great many Indians breaking off their assault on Reno’s troops and racing down the valley at full speed.
The intense gunfire persisted for approximately three-quarters of an hour to an hour before it gradually diminished into silence. Herendine turned to the men with him and stated, “Boys, I believe we should move from here. ” He pointed out that the fighting below had stopped, and while the result was unclear, he feared the Indians had prevailed. There were five warriors situated between their position and Major Reno’s.
From approximately a mile off, they observed Reno’s command halted upon a hill. Herendine rejoined Reno at 5:00 in the evening. After they came out from the timber, they witnessed great numbers of Indians moving up the valley. As Herendine climbed the hill, Reno’s forces began advancing in the direction Custer had gone.
But they were swiftly driven back by the warriors and compelled to return to their position, where they remained until dark. The following day, June 26th, the fighting recommenced at daybreak and persisted until 4:01 p. m. The men endured severe thirst, and as many as seven were wounded while trying to fetch water.
Herendine expressed the opinion that Captain Benteen saved the engagement on the hill. None among them knew with any certainty what had happened to General Custer until General Terry arrived with Gibbon’s column on the morning of June 27th. Herendine believed the force Custer faced on June 25th likely numbered no more than 200 warriors. He did not believe any of the men were killed before Reno’s retreat into the timber, and only one man fell during the break for the bluffs.
Contrary to other accounts, Herendine stated the horses were not spent and the men were neither worn out nor drowsy when they reached the battlefield. On the contrary, the animals were fresh, and Custer led a body of eager men toward the sound of firing. Their sole worry was that the enemy might slip away before they could attack. Herendine did not believe Custer’s own engagement continued for a great length of time, estimating it was probably concluded in under two hours.
However, at one stage, the fierceness of the gunfire made them think Custer was pushing forward, and the Indians themselves appeared uncertain of the battle’s result, starting to take down their lodges. The distance from the mouth of the Rosebud, where Custer began his march, to the battlefield at the Little Bighorn, spanned over 100 miles. Their daily progress was 12 miles on the first day, 35 on the second, 33 on the third, and between 25 and 28 on the fourth and final day. They left at noon on June 22nd and arrived at the battlefield around noon on June 25th.
Herendine insisted that Custer did not drive his men and horses by pushing them excessively. In fact, a heavily burdened pack train maintained pace with them the entire way. From his observation, Custer’s conduct throughout the march was careful, systematic, and demonstrated exemplary military bearing in every regard.