On June 25th, 1876, as General Custer headed toward the Little Bighorn River, he believed he was in the vicinity of the Sioux. About a mile from the Little Bighorn River, he received word that Indians were spotted straight ahead and running. Previously, he had sent Captain Benteen to the left. Now, it was only his and Reno's battalions that were heading together toward the Indians.

Custer would direct Reno to head straight ahead toward the Indians and try to engage them. Custer and his battalion would continue for a little while northward until making a turn to the right and then heading down the eastern side of the Little Bighorn river.

Custer's decision to head to the right at this time would turn out to be an important factor in the Little Bighorn story. By moving to the right at this point, Custer was increasing the distance between himself and Reno. Further, because he was moving at a gallop to the right, he was not only increasing the distance between himself and Reno, but between himself and the rest of the 7th Cavalry. In the end, it seems clear that the distance between Custer and the rest of the 7th Cavalry would play a vital role in the outcome of the battle. This makes Custer's decision to head to the right at this point apparently a rather crucial factor in the outcome of the battle.

Although the importance of Custer's decision to head to the right seems quite clear, why he did so seems to have remained a mystery. Opinions vary as to why Custer went to the right at that point, and there appears to be no consensus as to why he did so. However, it appears that this matter can finally be settled as there is a very good reason why Custer turned to the right when he did: he was following an Indian trail.

In Frederic Frances Girard's Reno Inquiry testimony, he spoke about trails he saw not far from the Little Bighorn River. One of the trails he spoke of went to the left. He would then go on to say: "there was another trail going to the right - quite a large one" (Reno, 79). Then he was asked about about the trail to the right by the Recorder. The following is their exchange.

Q: What did it appear to be?
A: A lodge trail.
Q: Are you familiar with Indian trails?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: State what opportunities you have had of judging about those matters?
A: I have been a resident in the Indian country for thirty-one years and I think I ought to know an Indian trail when I see it.
Q: Then you know that was an Indian trail?
A: Yes, sir; a lodge trail.
Q: State whether or not that was the trail that Maj. Reno's command took - that lodge trail you speak of, leading to the right?
A: No, sir; we took the left hand trail coming around the knoll. (Reno, 79-80).

So, as Custer approached the Little Bighorn River, two trails were found: one that led to the left, and another that led to the right. Interestingly, Girard described the trail to the right as "quite a large one". Further, Girard stated that Reno took the trail to the left. It certainly sounds then like the reason Custer went to the right when he did was to follow a rather large Indian trail.

Trumpeter John Martin, who had gone with Custer to the right that day, would also testify during the Reno Inquiry. During an exchange with the Recorder, he spoke about a trail to the right.

Recorder: Did you see any trail where Genl. Custer turned off to the right?
Martin: Yes sir. It looked like tepee poles had been dragged along there.
Recorder: Did you follow that trail?
Martin: Yes sir, we followed it till we got on the hill: then we turned a little to the right. (Reno, 350).

Martin speaks of Custer and his battalion following an Indian trail that went to the right. This certainly seems to explain why Custer headed to the right at this point. Further, Martin's statement about there being an Indian trail that led to the right agrees with Girard's testimony and thus strengthens the idea that there was indeed an Indian trail that led to the right.

What is also interesting about the Girard and Martin testimonies is how they describe the trail. Girard states that it was a "lodge trail". Martin stated that it looked like "tepee poles had been dragged along there". These similar descriptions of the trail from two different sources strengthens the notion that there was in fact an Indian trail that led to the right that day.

These two testimonies together make a very strong case that there was indeed an Indian trail to the right. Also, Martin states that the trail to the right was followed. Frankly, following the Indian trail seems to make the most sense as the reason Custer went to the right at that point. Further, since Girard stated that the trail was "quite a large" one, that would make it even more likely that Custer would follow it. Taken together, these various items make a very strong case that Custer went to the right when he did in order to follow a rather large Indian trail that went to the right.

Another point worth mentioning to establish the fact that Custer headed to the right in order to follow the Indian trail is the timing of heading to the right. In other words, he could have turned to the right before the trail or after it, but Martin's testimony makes it sound like Custer turned to the right because a trail headed to the right and the battalion "followed it". So, the timing of Custer's movement to the right aligns with the time that he came across an Indian trail heading to the right. This strengthens the idea that Custer headed to the right in order to follow the trail.

Custer's decision to head to the right as he drew near to the Little Bighorn River is typically seen as somewhat of a mystery. Now, after considering the testimonies of Girard and Martin, and the timing of his turn to the right, it seems rather clear: Custer headed to the right in order to follow an Indian trail.

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About the Author

Tim Kloos is an online advertising professional. He helps clients with their websites, online presence, and online advertising. If you need help with any of these, feel free to contact him via the contact page.

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He has also written a children's book set in the Old West.