Footnote 114: General G. A. Forsyth writes me that he considers Colonel Godfrey one of the ablest officers in the United States Army—in which opinion I concur.—C. T. B. Footnote 115: These two authorities seem to differ as to just when the conversation took place. Andrews, apparently quoting Miles, says: “Just before Custer began his fatal ride.” Miles, quoting the mysterious and unknown affiant, says the conversation took place the night before, and at Custer’s tent. The difference is radical and, in view of Colonel Godfrey’s suggestion below, is material. Besides, the regiment marched away at noon on the 22d, and that is the date of the order; hence, Custer had no orders the night before. The regiment passed Generals Terry, Gibbon, and Custer in review as it marched away. When, then, was the precise hour at which this alleged conversation took place?—C. T. B. Footnote 116: I have it in my own library, of course, and have consulted it frequently.—C. T. B. Footnote 117: This is overdrawn. Custer had neither infantry, artillery nor wagons with him; Gibbon had cavalry, infantry and artillery, but no wagons, be it remembered.—C.T.B. Footnote 118: Report of Secretary of War, Vol. I., 1876, page 443. Italics in quotation above are mine.—C. T. B. Footnote 119: The reference is to the article in the _Journal of the Military Service Institution_ mentioned above.—C. T. B. Footnote 120: I have had them before me constantly for the past six months, and have examined them most carefully again and again, verifying quotations, etc.—C. T. B. Footnote 121: If the orders were preposterous, or involved movements that were profitless and absurd, why did not Custer point out these patent absurdities to Terry and Gibbon _before he started_? There had been no change in conditions; the trail, the Indian position, and everything else were just as the orders predicted.—C. T. B. Footnote 122: The time of the arrival of Terry at the Little Big Horn is assumed to be June 26th. What authority there is for that assumption I do not now recall. It is not embodied in the “instructions.” We of the command knew nothing of it till after the battle; after Terry’s arrival, that is.—E. S. GODFREY. Footnote 123: Having located them, guess or not, the conditions were exactly those contemplated in the orders.—C. T. B. Footnote 124: But if Custer had followed his orders, he would not have been nearly in contact with the enemy—there’s the rub!—C. T. B. Footnote 125: This I consider a good point in Custer’s favor.—C. T. B. Footnote 126: Italics mine.—E. S. GODFREY. Footnote 127: Colonel Godfrey made this statement in answer to a question from me. On this point see Appendix B.—C. T. B. Footnote 128: