3. Nepotism in the 7th

[Beth]

(3) But there was a nepotism problem, and the detached service absences (including the 2 senior Majors and 4 Captains in 1876) allowed GAC to manipulate commands to put in place acolytes from within the "Custer clan". Calhoun and Smith spring to mind, plus the "gofer" Cooke as adjutant. "Yes" men. Officers were either inside the club or outside to varying degrees rather than "factions". For example, Reno, Benteen and DeRudio were no fans of GAC but neither were they particularly fans of each other. Interestingly GAC fought the Washita (Elliott) and LBH (Reno) with the junior major as the next in command

[deadwoodgultch]

Interesting viewpoints above. Nepotism, you think?

[Beth]

Perhaps Custer was just taking his cue from Grant? Custer does take surrounding himself with relatives and toadeaters to an extreme.

I was just doing some reading about Crook's staff particularly Bourke and it makes me wonder if who a commander chooses as his staff is a good indicator of the man himself. Custer chose to put family and friends in the position of his advisors.

[dave]

If Custer was guilty of nepotism, no reason to doubt it, who was responsible?
Sturgis comes to mind but was he involved enough with the regiment to pay attention? Obviously Sturgis had no interest in being a field commander, Forrest wore his butt out, and when he did take over active control of the 7th things did not get any better. The Nez Perce outfoxed him in 1877 and he let them go to Canada, and yet the army kept him command another 10 years!
Was Sturgis just allowed to run things his way without supervision? 
Regards
Dave

[Beth]

It wasn't just Custer who practiced the nepotism. There are the young scions of a couple military men in the unit--like Crittenden who didn't graduate West Point and given his commission in after petitioned Grant. Sturgis's own son was also in the 7th.

BTW Yate's brother-in-law was also part of the Campaign but he dropped out just before reaching Little Bighorn--  Richard Roberts