WI: Custer hadn't been with 7th Calvary at Little Big horn?

[rob2001]

Does anyone know that Custer almost missed the Little Big Horn Campaign. Not long before the campaign Custer went before congress and testified about corruption, without the approval of his superiors, and he said some bad things about president Grant's brother. Which pisssed Grant off. So he ordered General Sheridan to relieve Custer of command.

The only reason Custer was in command, was because he pleaded with his immediate superior General Alfred Terry. So, what if Custer wasn't able to regain command of the 7th Calvary? Would he still have an army career or would it be ruined because he was relieved of command? Also, would the 7th Calvary still be slaughtered? Would Reno, or Benteen make the same mistake as Custer? What do you think?

 

[galveston bay]

Benteen was only a captain, so he couldn't lead the regiment. Reno (a mere Major) probably would have been kept close at hand by Terry. The most likely result in that situation is another Battle of Rosebud (the US troops are pushed back, take some casualties, but are not threatened with destruction)

Terry during the Civil War and various Indian Campaigns, was never rash. Aggressive but not rash. But the campaign would have still failed to achieve its objective (trapping the tribes and forcing them to surrender). Terry wouldn't have been able to catch them.

Long run, same historical result in terms of what happened to the Indians, while Custer probably writes a book severely criticizing the campaign, runs for office but never comes close to the Presidency