He almost got massacred at the Washita and rushed into the little bighorn without proper scouting(also ignored the advice of his Crow scouts). I think arrogance more then stupidity was his problem or he just genuinely had a death wish. He allowed his fear of the Indians escaping to cloud his judgment and rushed in. Compared to men like Miles and Crook he dosen't hold up.
No doubt, Custer had arrogance and bravado. There is a lot that people don’t know about why Custer moved on toward the Little Bighorn sooner than he planned and that wasn’t arrogance. At the point he decided to head to the Little Bighorn, he knew he had been discovered by the Indians and he didn’t want them breaking camp and running.
In January of 1876, the United States told all Indians that were not on reservations that they would be considered “hostile” and dealt with accordingly. Most of the Western United States at that time was open frontier and to control Indian activities was not easy.
You can make a case that the Indians didn’t want to be controlled and I would agree with those Indians, that had I been one, I wouldn’t want to be confined to any reservation. Regardless, that was the edict from the federal government and Custer was only a player, not and engineer of policy.
As to his movements from the time he left the Far West, he had orders from General Terry and they gave him much latitude in his ability to make changes as he saw what and who he encountered.
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Headquarters of the Department of Dakota (In the Field)
Camp at Mouth of Rosebud River, Montana Territory June 22nd, 1876
Lieutenant-Colonel Custer,
7th Calvary
Colonel: The Brigadier-General Commanding directs that, as soon as your regiment can be made ready for the march, you will proceed up the Rosebud in pursuit of the Indians whose trail was discovered by Major Reno a few days since. It is, impossible to give you any definite instructions in regard to this movement, and were it not impossible to do so the Department Commander places too much confidence in your zeal, energy, and ability to wish to impose upon you precise orders which might hamper your action when nearly in contact with the enemy. He will, however, indicate to you his own views of what your action should be, and he desires that you should conform to them unless you shall see sufficient reason for departing from them. He thinks that you should proceed up the Rosebud until you ascertain definitely the direction in which the trail above spoken of leads. Should it be found (as it appears almost certain that it will be found) to turn towards the Little Bighorn, he thinks that you should still proceed southward, perhaps as far as the headwaters of the Tongue, and then turn toward the Little Horn, feeling constantly, however, to your left, so as to preclude the escape of the Indians passing around your left flank.
The column of Colonel Gibbon is now in motion for the mouth of the Big Horn. As soon as it reaches that point will cross the Yellowstone and move up at least as far as the forks of the Big and Little Horns. Of course its future movements must be controlled by circumstances as they arise, but it is hoped that the Indians, if upon the Little Horn, may be so nearly inclosed by the two columns that their escape will be impossible. The Department Commander desires that on your way up the Rosebud you should thoroughly examine the upper part of Tullock's Creek, and that you should endeavor to send a scout through to Colonel Gibbon's command.
The supply-steamer will be pushed up the Big Horn as far as the forks of the river is found to be navigable for that distance, and the Department Commander, who will accompany the column of Colonel Gibbon, desires you to report to him there not later than the expiration of the time for which your troops are rationed, unless in the mean time you receive further orders.
Very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
E. W. Smith, Captain, 18th Infantry A. A. J. G.
Even General Terry was aware of who and what Custer was as his orders show, yet many people condemn Custer, saying he disobeyed orders and you can see from Terry’s orders, Custer was given total control of his actions in the field as he saw changing conditions.
After realizing he had been discovered by the Indians, Custer did move toward the village ahead of time and his deployment of Benteen to the southwest was one of tactical observation as to whether or not the Indians were going to scatter.
Much more happened leading up to the battle, and comments of stupidity are not from anyone familiar with the history of that battle.
