I am certain you’ve heard of Benjamin Grierson. He is the cavalryman who made a raid from Vicksburg to Baton Rouge Louisiana in May 1864. This raid pulled away all the cavalry in John Pemberton‘s army leaving without his eyes and ears. This raid enables Grant to cross to the east bank of the Mississippi, and win five battles in his many days and force Pemberton and his army into the trenches at Vicksburg. It was probably the most successful raid of the entire war. They made a movie about the raid, called the horse soldiers with John Wayne and William Holden. In 1864 General Grierson commanded a division of cavalry assigned to the area around Memphis, Tennessee. There were two brigade’s in the division. One of them was under Frederick Waring. The other was under Edward Winslow. In June 1864 the division joined Samuel Sturgis in a movement into Mississippi. Sturgis and his command were defeated by Nathan Bedford Forest at Brice’s Crossroads at one of the most one-sided battles of the entire war. The cavalry covered the retreat. The following month, Andrew Jackson Smith invaded Mississippi was part of the 16th army corps. Again he was accompanied by Grierson and his division. In the state of Arkansas Frederick steele’s command was besieged everywhere by confederate forces. He was confined to Little Rock and Fort Smith. He was short of horses. He was short of cavalryman. The confederates were contemplating an invasion of Missouri and Joseph Shelby was assigned the area of Northeast Arkansas near Batesville to recruit men for that army. During the month of July and August he recruited 8000 men. His men blockaded, the white river and cut the supply line to Steeles garrisons. Grant reinforced steele with Grierson’s cavalry division. At the end of August, the great invasion of Missouri began. One of the three invasion columns was assigned to Joseph Shelby. He departed Northeast Arkansas, and headed for Southeast Missouri. Steele made the dreadful mistake of chasing after Shelby with Grierson’s cavalry, and with a division of Andrew Jackson Smith army corps. The pursuit traverse the swamps of Northeast, Arkansas, and the Yankees were barred down for almost a month and traveling north east. Meanwhile, the Confederates entered under the command of major general sterling price. The three columns rendezvoused at Frederick town Missouri. They had 20,000 cavalry. Many of them dismounted. General, William S Rosecrans, command of the department of Missouri. He had almost no infantry and was short of veteran cavalry. Most of his cavalry consisted of the Missouri State militia, which was raised in 1862 in 1863 to fight guerillas. They were mostly armed With muzzle loading infield rifles. They were no match for prices veterans.. Alfred Pleasanton was placed in command of Rosecrans’s cavalry. This is one of the greatest cavalry officers of the war. He had created the army of the Potomac cavalry corps and had helped win the battle of Gettysburg. He helped defend St. Louis and Jefferson City from prices Confederates. When the Confederates turned west, intending to invade Kansas, and pillage it he sent three brigades of cavalry under John Sanborn to follow the Confederates. In the first week of October, the division of 16th Corps infantry, and the division of cavalry arrived in St. Louis Missouri. Reinforced by veteran Union Calvary Pleasanton Road hard from east to west Missouri and caught up with the confederates on October 22 at independence Missouri. On October 23 Pleasanton flight the battle of big blue, Missouri, which prevented the Confederates from capturing Kansas City. Winslow was wounded, and Benteen took command. South of Kansas City Pleasanton joined with Samuel Curtis and his army of Kansas state militia. The combined force pursued the rebels through western Missouri, and into Kansas. General price sent his best division under Joseph Shelby away from his army to capture fort Scott, Kansas, the most important post on the western border. Pleasanton caught up with price at mine, Creek Kansas. The federal’s attacked the divisions of Marmaduke and Fagan, who were astride the creek. The Missouri State militia brigade under John Phillips recoiled at the rifle fire, delivered by the Confederates, and refuse to go forward. Benteen and routed the Confederates, capturing all of their artillery pieces and 600 prisoners. After this victory, Pleasanton departed with his prisoners, leaving Curtis in command of all of the union cavalry. At the battle of Newtonia on October 28 l James. Blunt commanding the cavalry in Curtis’s army, attacked prices’s army with only two brigade. He was saved from defeat by the arrival of Sanborn and his cavalry brigade. At the end of March 1865 the greatest Union cavalry raid of the war took place. James H Wilson invaded Alabama at the head of 12,000 Union cavalry. Benteen there and so was Winslow.
I must correct you right off the bat about Benteen's birth place. It was PETERSBURG, not SAINT Petersburg, Virginia. Petersburg was a big highlight in the Civil War because of the 9-month siege of it just prior to the surrender at Appomattox, a few days' ride to the west. It's where that disastrous "exploding mineshaft" incident occurred. I LOVE your videos!!!
My reading about Benteen gives me the impression that he was a very brave and capable officer, as well as being a rather dangerous opponent. I recall that one author pointed out that he had "the eyes of a killer".
As eccentric, bitter, and vindictive as ole Fred was, he was arguably the finest cavalry officer in the 7th. He was a veteran of many campaigns during the civil and plains Indian wars. A 4th Iowa Cavalry historian once noted of Benteen during the Battle of Mine Creek, "He persisted most heroically in trying to break an unfortunate situation, riding directly in front of his men within pistol shot of his enemy, jumping a live canon, yelling charge." Just as Lt. John Dunbar (Kevin Cosner) taunting the enemy by 'riding the gauntlet' in Dances With Wolves may have been a respectful reference to the Cheyenne warrior Roman Nose during the Platte Bridge fight, I can't help but find a similar ' not so respectful' reference to then Major Benteen's behavior while stationed at Fort Duchesne, UT in the same movie. It's the depiction of a Major Fambrough (Maury Chaykin) at Fort Hays addressing Lt. John Dunbar on You tube. It's too funny.
@@SiobhanFallon7 it’s a very refreshing story. Libby and Auddie get so much attention. And I believe she was a brave defender of his legacy, but they seemed to have a very toxic component to their relationship. The more I learn of Fred Benteen, the nicer it is that he was not defined by the tragic events of the Little Bighorn battle.
Where did your passion come from for Custer & the 7th cavalry? I’ve been a Custer & Little Bighorn addict for over 50 yrs. Love the enthusiasm u bring. Don’t let the critics get u down. Keep up the good work.
I was looking into women whose lives were overshadowed by their more famous husbands, fathers, lovers, etc, and started reading about Libbie. But once I learned about the controversy surrounding the Little Bighorn fight and Benteen and Reno's roles that day, I was hooked. I love it all. As a military spouse, all of their lives resonate with me. And the mysteries of the fight and the drama surrounding it all keeps me reading just like the rest of us! I forsee 50 years of this for me too...May you have another 50 LBH years ahead yourself! And thank you so much for the kind words. It's really wonderful to get such lovely feedback.
@@SiobhanFallon7 Have you read Custer’s Trials by TJ Stiles? If you haven’t, it’s a must read. A brilliant book on any level. Although I don’t agree w/ all of his takes, Stiles writing style is superb & a pleasure to read. The story of GAC is a tragic one. It will suck you in. GAC will inspire you, & then let you down. Then do it all over again. It’s a bit strange but I still find myself pulling for him in a weird way. As if his story isn’t fully played out. Maybe because we’re both Ohio boys. Hard to say. Like I said before, I love the passion. Great to see. GAC is a fascinating subject. He certainly had his flaws, as do we all. But he is also an American hero. Flaws & all. No question.
@@glenkeller3 Yes! Really excellent book and I appreciated his overview of America during Reconstruction-- otherwise a time in our history that is overlooked.
Thank you for another wonderful video. I have a question. The Spencer repeater seems to have been a very effective weapon for the cavalry during the civil war. So why was the cavalry using the slower firing Springfield at the little big horn?
Hey there, Mike, thanks for the comment! Sorry I took awhile to respond but I wanted to get a moment to look up that answer. There were a bunch of factors. The Army held field trials in 1871. A board of officers, including Major Reno, looked at four main factors in order to select the single shot over the repeater: manufacturing economy, ruggedness and reliability, efficient use of ammunition, and the selection of similar weapons by European countries. The Springfield Trapdoor had the highest scores. However historian Greg Michno says, "though the Springfield would have an advantage over the Spencer in long-range, selective fire, the repeating Spencer would have certainly been more useful at the Little Bighorn."
@@SiobhanFallon7 Thank you for your response. It certainly appears that they made a poor choice, although in this instance, I doubt that the increased firepower of the Spencer would have changed the outcome for Custer.
Dear Ms Siobhan, thank you for the great work you're accomplishing and sharing! I'm a hillbilly from N. Carolina but have had an intense interest in these things, Tashunka Uitco -Crazy Horse especially for some reason for about as long as I can remember...my Great-great aunt Edith came to visit us from her home in Nebraska when I was young (about 60 years ago!) and I hung on her every word - she had Friends amongst the Oglala on Pine Ridge and Brule' at Rosebud, including some related to the families Crazy Horse and Spotted Tail and she had friends that were veterans of the 'Sioux Wars' which of course included the Battle on The Little Bighorn...she took offense when it was referred to as 'the Custer Massacre' and wanted to be sure I knew that Custer had attacked those people in their homes on their land and were not bothering anyone, and if at all possible he would have done to them just as he had done to the children, women, and old folks in Black Kettle's village on the Washita just a few years before...he had big political aspirations that another big 'victory over 'the hostiles' would help a bunch. Unfortunately for him and his soldiers he wasn't counting on meeting the likes of Crazy Horse, Gall, Rain-In-The-Face, or Two Moons - men who were able and glad to fight him back... A few years later I practically begged my way into a church 'missionary group' bound for Brainerd Indian Mission on the Pine Ridge to help build a dining hall and make some repairs...I was only about 13 years old but was already pretty handy with carpentry and plumbing and was a pretty stout farm boy - and REALLY wanted to go. As it happened we arrived right about the time Russell Means, Dennis Banks, and A.I.M (American Indian Movement) took over the church in Wounded Knee...a couple F.B.I agents were killed...proved to be a mighty intense, downright scary time to be out there...I fell in Love there, with the people and that land... We the people desperately need to know the truth about these things. Understanding what the greedy self-serving thugs in the guise of 'public servants' did to the Original Inhabitants of these lands back then on our dime in our names might help us finally figure out what needs to be done now...As Sitting Bull said, 'we need to be concentrating on making a better world for our children.' It's only too late if we don't start now Anyway - don't know why I felt like boring you with all this stuff...maybe just as a way to hopefully illustrate how very much I enjoy and appreciate the things you share! you're exceedingly well researched, pay meticulous attention to detail, you have a most delightful, engaging delivery. To top it off you're enchantingly beautiful! Can only imagine how wonderful a visit with you must be... Thank you for brightening and beautifying our world so, and sharing your great work...
Thanks so much for sharing your perspective and experiences, Larry. So glad that you are watching. There is so much adversity and drama in this time period that I know it will keep me busy for the rest of my life. My family and I just moved, so I have been a little distracted by my own chaos, but I hope to get settled and put up new videos soon. I am very grateful to you for reaching out and for all your kind comments. Please stay in touch!! Siobhan
Very detailed video and fun background special effects. Definitely well done,and cute & adorable presentation. Plus great info re the Benteen family. No wonder Frederick Benteen was the way he was.
Siobhan, these Little Big Horn / Custer videos started out terrific and have gotten even better! The fun you’re having with them is truly infectious! Ann and I watch them together on our TV. Eagerly awaiting Benteen II and whatever’s next. Congrats, and thank you! ❤
YES! He was a very funny, clever guy. And those letters offer an incredible glimpse into a very real marriage-- him complaining about her requests of items to pick up from the big city as well as his sending her love poems or telling her how much he misses her.
@@SiobhanFallon7 - I snorted tea out of my nose the other day when I caught your video about Annie Roberts Yates, describing how Fred was clowning around in church. Not the irascible character I've read so much about.
@@SiobhanFallon7 - I think the deepest compliment he paid to her was when he was walking the skirmish line on Reno-Benteen hill while the men were hunkered down under fire. "Mother sewed special medicine into my blouse, so I don't have to stay down", or something like.😀
Benteen did not suffer fools lightly. His sarcasm usually contained 60 % truth mixed with 40% humor. His use of classical literature phrases and quotes were often woven into descriptions of events and battles. His biggest fault was probably being too pragmatic and noticeably an irritant to the flamboyant Custer. I do believe Custer regarded Benteen as a good officer but could not intice him to join the Custer inner circle. Benteen is a very interesting subject due to the times prior and post war. His 7th Cavalry exploits were even more revealing as to his wisdom, bravery, and leadership. The men directly under his responsibilities often boasted of his abilities, especially the Hiil seige at LBH. As for the LBH disaster the critics were either Custer the fool crowd, or Custer to hero/victim group. Never less, Benteens career was embarrassingly marred by his command at Fort Duchene. His personality had deteriorated in curmudgeon status and his behavior indicated a summation of all he despised of as a Loyal Officer of the US military.
I should point out that James H Wilson was an engineer at Vicksburg when he came to grants attention. It was Grant who sought to it, that he was put in charge of the third division of the army of the Potomac‘s cavalry corps. During Wilson’s tenure, the third division was repeatedly defeated by the rebels.Wilson was transferred out to Tennessee to command the cavalry under George H. Thomas. Custer took over the division. He turned it into the best division in the cavalry corps.
You are doing a wonderful job of humanizing these names we only know from history books. I now I've got a better idea what went on in the Seventh Cav. Wars usually bring a lot of lawlessness in their wake and the winner inherits that. One reason war should be avoided when it can.
Something that may interest you is the story of Wooden Leg, an Indian combatant at LBH. Jocko Willink covers a summary of his story (as well as that of Crazy Horse) on his podcast.
Nice! I'll take a look! Wooden Leg is one of my go-to accounts for Cheyenne life during this time. I am curious how his story is addressed on a podcast. Thank you!
@@SiobhanFallon7 , I don't know if you are familiar with Jocko, but he has a kind of wry humor, which I didn't expect before I listened. He also covers J.L Chamberlain of the 20th Maine and Little Roundtop fame.
Good work! I'm more concerned with his time in Atlanta while in command of the 138th United States Colored Infantry. I've been to the National Archives and photographed portions of the 138th's regimental book. Any chance for a highlight video on his time in Atlanta?
Ohhhhh... that would be fun but I don't know very much about his time there... I will mull it over. Thanks for the suggestion... maybe I could connect it with his descendents too. His son Freddy has a good story, having joined up after his father died, changing his age on official paperwork to squeak by the age cut off ( which is why the birth date on his grave at Arlington is wrong!!). I think Benteen's grand daughter, Anita, became an Army nurse. Thanks for inspiring me!! Hope to hear from you again!
@SiobhanFallon7 I've heard that story too about Anita. Funny, she ended up marrying the husband of Margaret Mitchell and her death in a traffic accident (she was hit by a drunk driver while walking). He was originally buried in Atlanta but reburied at Arlington. His wife is buried here. There's also a neighborhood and elementary school named after him in Atlanta. If I have pictures I'll try to send them your way.
@@StarsInTheirCourses_Movie there was an article about her in an Atlanta magazine... I can send images to you if you haven't read. My email is siobhan@siobhanfallon.com if you want to email. Thank you!
@SiobhanFallon7 just sent you several emails with the photos I have please let me know if you got them. I sent via Gmail but they were coming back returned as spam so sent through my work email. Hope you enjoy them!
Just now watched your video--great! And, mucho thx! I especially like the way you pull together the multiple, different sources, not only creating a compelling narrative, but also providing detailed insights that would be difficult to come by. While it's not difficult to conclude, esp. from his private letters, that Benteen took an almost immediate dislike for Custer, I think he also gives away his reasons. The disdain is so instant and complete, I think it probably pre-existed their 1st meeting, and was implacable. Something of the nature: who the heck is this bombastic young whippersnapper, to have, at 23, jumped up so many grades above ME, and come to be over ME--who is clearly better than almost EVERYONE--Jesus excepted, of course. This upstart squirt (why, I'm 6" taller) HAD to have brown-nosed his way here. I don't like his style, his demeanor, his appearance--he's nothing like ME! I think Custer's West Point path, his almost non-stop successes from First Manassas to Appomatox, his endorsements across the Federal Army counted for next to nothing in Benteen's mind; it was almost pure luck--he just happened to have really good troops serving under him. The disdain is almost palpable, it never improved, and anything Custer did only worsened it. I see Benteen as embittered and jealous, likely due to an over-inflated sense of ego and self-entitlement. Because of this, his relationships never improved, and almost all of his relationships seemed to be afflicted with his hyper-critical sense of superiority. By a long stretch, I don't think it affected only his Custer relationship. But, it was exacerbated by Custer being his CO.
I agree, Joseph. I think Benteen arrived expecting to dislike Custer, with much of those thoughts surely going through his head as well as others, and it was a self fulfilling prophecy.
@@SiobhanFallon7 Lovely video! I think Joseph's analysis lacks a bit. There are myriad converging reasons here -- good reasons -- why Benteen disdained Custer beyond Benteen's ego. Benteen fought in the West during the Civil War. Typical of the western union veterans, he likely felt their war was overshadowed by the war in the east, in which Custer played a dramatic part that was overhyped by the eastern national media with all the "boy general" narratives. Second, as Joseph notes, Custer being a general at 23 in the Army of the Potomac -- while Benteen managed a Lt. Colonelcy in the 10th Missouri (a border state whose union loyalists were never thought to be great soldiers) by around aged 30 -- probably also factor in. But it's also important to remember that Custer was a preening, self-centered officer who believed his own press clippings and surrounded himself with adoring officers and their wives, and that along with his flash and filigree, was prone to high-casualty charges and tactical mistakes even during the Civil War (his Michigan regiments had some of the highest casualties among all Union cavalry regiments). Custer wasn't known for his love of the men, but for his willingness to spend them. Benteen, it's true, was "always on the outside of whatever side there was" to quote a famous Bob Dylan song. A Virginian-Missourian who went against his upbringing and fought for the Union, an officer who preferred to command from among the men, he was in many ways Custer's antithesis. So, it makes sense he and Custer clashed purely on the basis of both style and experience, and not because Benteen was a "ME" egotist.
@bronsonhilliard6841 You make lots of great points! Please keep watching my Benteen vids to see how I try to flesh out his personality. Benteen was a complicated and nuanced man-- as was Custer. And I therefore disagree with your assessment of Custer. Plenty of soldiers loved Custer, and for a man you say "wasn't known for his love of the men, but for his willingness to spend them," at least he was there fighting with them, leading from the front. And it was his and their effectiveness that put them in the front over and over again, and that led to high casualties. I'm sure you know that the Michigan brigade was devastated when Custer could no longer lead them. There is great love and respect there. I think Custer and Benteen were difficult men in their ways, and exacting. Which is why I enjoy studying them both so much 🙏
@@SiobhanFallon7 You bring good thing's to the plate. I am telling you, I wish every highschool, and college student had someone like you teaching them history! Our world would be so different! A better one!!!!!
@@hugonarvaez2944wow, Hugo, thank you. I really have fun putting these together but comments like yours make the work worth it. Can't tell you how much I appreciate hearing from you.
In reading of Benteen the night of 25th Benteen while sleeping, his heal of his foot was shot while sleeping . And as sun rose he said this is enough got his troopers together to charge the Indians in their hidenspots . Ran them off . (Very short comment of ) Wind was moving right direction towards the Indians , he lit the grass on fire .
I held that scrap book in my hands. I wish I had taken more photos as it's not something that can be copied or scanned. But if you are able to get to Georgia, then go to the Hargrett Rare Books at U of G . I mention details about that in the last slide of my video. Good luck with your research and thank you so much for watching!
I'd have to go check that out someday! That's amazing that you were able to hold the exact book the Benteen made. After the Little Bighorn, I don't think Benteen was ever given enough credit for his part during the Battle. There was in fact a second day of the battle where Benteen, despite being sleep deprived, showed how he brave was as a commander. He stood up under fire while standing next to and encouraging some of his troops. He had his faults like we all do, but I do think he was more competent as a commander than Custer.
My view is that Custer would have loved Benteen's respect and to have drawn him into his orbit! Given their respective characters and especially after Washita and Benteen's friend Elliot's abandonement that was never going to happen!
Oh please forgive me, may I ask a question on an unrelated topic? I love all your videos especial anything to do with Custer by the way! But if I may ask, "What is your take on Mary Surratt? Guilty, or a heavy-handed Government execution for President Abrahm Lincoln?
@@SiobhanFallon7 Hmmm 🤔... I think President Andrew Jackson said it best ( Iam pretty sure he said ( hahaha) )..... " The nest that hatched the egg" Meaning she knew enough, yeah, not crazy about President Andrew either! But he was right about her involvement, enough for a guilty verdict. Now was it legal for military trial to decide...???? That's why I am asking you,, I don't know?...
Siobhan, I'm curious, there are several accounts of Benteen's reaction, or the lack of, and what he was purported to have said when first viewing Custer's body. Is there an accurate "official" version of his words, there are a few versions given by witnesses, and they differ considerably. And I wonder if anyone ever actually him "Fred"? Somehow I doubt it. If they did he probably challenged them to a duel, LOL!
@Mr.56Goldtop you are right, there are a few different accounts of Benteen's reaction and words at viewing Custer's body. I should put them together and see how far after the Battle these men gave their accounts. Interesting, I don't know if they actually called him Fred!! He signs his letters to Kate with Fred sometimes, but his fellow officers, hmmmm. I will pay better attention. Thanks for pointing that out!
So glad you are watching the Benteen series! Thanks for taking the time to comment. Benteen is certainly one of the more colorful officers, and I sure love reading about his life. I too think he is key to understanding the battle. But as their is not one version of Custer, Benteen was also a bit problematic. Here is an assessment from a fellow 7th Cavalry officer, "Benteen's chief weakness was vindictiveness, which was pronounced. He was indifferent to minor matters when it came to discipline and always had the poorest company in the regiment. He was not considered a good company officer but was a first-rate fighter. It always galled Benteen to serve in such a low rank as captain after having been a colonel in the war and for that reason never took the interest in command that might have been expected of him." - General James M. Bell, 7the Cavalry.
Dang! The Benteen in this picture in the intro of the video would have been a movie star today! Move over Leo and all of the rest of you posers, FRED BENTEEN is here!!
