Yes, the Proud Boys followed Trump's commands*
Trump was using them as his paramilitary.
The metaphor that Trump is the general and the proud boys the "foot soldiers" isn't quite right.
Better: Trump is the [would be] autocrat. The Proud Boys were his paramilitary.
"A little boy blown up by a mine at the beach. A young mother shot in the forehead. A retired teacher killed in her home. Soldiers killing and dying every day by the hundreds. Older people and young people and everyone in between."