Custer's curious statment?

[twomoons]

I find it fascinting that Custer made this statement: "Hurrah, boys, we've got them! We'll finish them up and then go home to our station."
This was reported by a messenger who was sent back by Custer with a message if I am correct on this to "Benteen". Some interpretations of this state that he also said "we've caught them napping".

The curious thing about it is what did he mean? This statement was reportedly said sometime on or shortly after Custer's men were seen by Reno's men on Sharpshooter Ridge or Wier point.

If the statement was made on Sharpshooter Ridge then he may truely have said, "we've caught them napping." Because Reno's men were just beginning their engagement in the valley fight. And it may have seemed to him that the indians were indeed "napping". Many accounts though leave the "napping" part out. Does anyone know for certain what his exact statement was as reported by "the messenger".?

If that statement was made after Sharpshooter Ridge, Custer had to know that Reno's men were engaged, and that there were several hundred Indians descending upon Reno's position, & would Certainly have not been caught "napping"!

The difference is critical to understanding Custer's thoughts. If the statement was: "Hurrah, boys, we've got them! We'll finish them up and then go home to our station." Then the statement may very well mean that he saw the Native American women and children, which is pivotal to our understanding of his movements thereon. He certainly wouldn't have meant the hundreds if not thousands of warriors now descending upon Reno's position. It could only have meant that he indeed did see the women and children fleeing.

If the "napping" theme is supposed to be inserted into this statement then when and where was Custer when he said this?

[crzhrs]

According to John Gray (CUSTER'S LAST CAMPAIGN, an excellent theory on the tactics) Custer made that statement from Reno Hill before Reno was repulsed.

Later Custer got reports from Mitch Boyer, who was on Sharpshooter's Ridge, that Reno had been routed.

Custer then had to adjust his plan of attack, now realizing that the Indians weren't "napping."

He sent Martin back to find Benteen with the "Be Quick" message.

Custer then went down Medicine Trail Coulee in an attempt to make a concealed advance on the village knowing that Benteen should be coming soon to add to his offensive plan.

The result of Benteen's non-arrival, the rough terrain not suited to the Cavalry, and the countering by massive numbers of warriors ended the 7th's offense and put them on the defense which is not what the Cavalry was suited for.

[twomoons]

Okay, Thanks

But what about the statment or perhaps even statements?

Was there a "we've caught them napping" part of what he said? The history on this is confusing, because some accounts put that phrase in there while others leave it out! Which is the correct version? Or is there a possibility that he said the two separatly as I am beginning to believe that he did!

[crzhrs]

Twomoons

I have not found any mention of "we've caught them napping."

That may have come from Martin's testimony at the Reno Court of Inquiry when Martin said that Custer thought the Indians may be sleeping. Remember, Martin was an Italian immgirant who spoke, at best, broken English and may not have understood the use of slang or paraphrasing.

However, Sgt. Kanipe stated that Custer said: "Hurrah boys, we've got them. We'll finish them up and then go home to our station . . . boys, hold your horses, there are plenty of them down there for us all."

Kanipe stated that Custer then led the command down Medicine Tail Coulee.

Martin the second courier, stated: "The last I saw of the command they were going down into the ravine (Medicine Tail Coulee)

Boston Custer arrived soon after Martin's departure and must have told his brother that he had just left Benteen. Apparently, Custer knowing Benteen should be arriving soon, may have altered his plan of attack.

Whatever the plan, it failed.

[twomoons]

Thanks Crzhrs

Yes, I have heard both versions of this story. I'm not sure where either one comes from. But the wording makes a huge difference when we try to piece together the evidence. Whether they were made as one statement is what I am trying to find out. I don't personnally believe that they were. But am certainly open to suggestion.

The problem is continuity in understanding Custers motives later. This curious statement and its exact contents would greatly shed some light upon that.