1. Purpose. Discuss reconnaissance (recon) at LBH.
2. Background. Recent discussions state a belief that LTC Custer conducted too little recon at LBH. I believe he did too much.
3. Discussion.
a. The purpose of recon is to provide sufficient intelligence for the successful conduct of combat operations. The term intelligence does not mean information: it means processed information. Apply the "So What" test to build and SUSTAIN battlefield awareness.
b. There is a point where the search for perfect intelligence goes past that amount sufficient for success. If the search continues, at what point are you degrading from combat performance?
c. The Benteen battalion (BN) was sent on a recon of the south fork of Ash Creek, against a template Indian village located vicinity of the lone tepee. When this location proved to be a dry hole, LTC Custer chose to keep moving, before the recon BN could return to main body. Then, after committing the Reno BN to an attack, he decided to take 5 companies on an extended reconnaissance. SO now the regiment has 8 companies devoted to recon, and only three to battle.
d. If he had ordered the Reno BN to defend Ford A, this may have been a decent, if uninspired, decision. But a more competent commander would have sent a patrol up the bluffs, not the major combat power of the regiment.
Remember the purpose of recon is to support combat operations. Assembling the Reno, Yates, Keough and Benteen Bns behind Ford A creates a combat force to exploit information gained. Using 2 Bns to conduct recon means you lake a force to use to make and enforce a decision.
e. LTC Custer was still acting like an ACW commander. His actions make perfect sense, if the Army of The Potomac is marching down Ash Creek. His role in the ACW was to gather information so that someone else would make a decision. If he got in trouble, as he frequently did, other decision makers would bail him out. But where is the HQ and decision maker to make use of this information? The 7th at LBH was a Winnie the Pooh. A bear with little brain. Information gathered at LBH was not linked to a decision making process to make use of this data.
f. A patrol should have been sent from Ash Creek. One of the purposes of this patrol is not just to see into the valley, but to check the suitability of the terrain east of the river for combat operations. There is a reason the Indians used the valley and the ground to the west, but had nothing in the east. The eastern area was not even used to graze the horses. The difficulty of the ground made it a very slow approach to the village area. So not only is it hard to use to gain data, it makes any use of data extremely slow. A patrol would have provided the most useful intell of LBH: DO not under any circumstances bring US forces into this area.
g. 3411 showed LTC Custer hoist by is own petard. He now knew that this area was useless. Forces here could not fight a force in the valley. But he had two of his BNs with him. Any decision from this point forward involves various bad options.
h. Now earlier I mentioned that the purpose of recon is not just to gain battlefield awareness, but to sustain. You must maintain eyes on target and ensure this is linked to your regimental decision making process. The failure to maintain an observation, or even command post, from the bluffs is simply mindboggling. We can all agree that GA made bad decisions because he placed himself where he did not what either enemy or friendly forces were doing. The other board uses this to absolve GAC for responsibility for LBH. Just a reminder, being incompetent is not an excuse.
4. Conclusion. Ever hear the phrase "Good Idea Cutoff Time" There is a point to stop thinking and start doing. The decision to commit Reno to an attack ended the recon phase. It was time to fight a battle. LTC Custer and the five companies with him left the battle when they turned right. They never entered the battle at all. They ended up being destroyed in useless terrain far from any meaningful objective.