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Monadnock Guide
Council of Elders
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
March 14 2005
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 Posted - June 25 2009 : 3:14:40 PM
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THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2009
On this day in 1876, an aging Boy Wonder tried his best tactic one time too many. Fourteen years earlier he had become the nation's youngest Brigadier General at age 23. But that was the Civil War. Some even said he was "Grant, in a saddle." His opponents said, "The damn fool doesn't know when he's beaten, all he knows how to do is attack." In several charges he had his horse shot out from under him only to find a new mount and lead a new charge.
But when the war ended, the Union Army decided to prune its ranks, bloated with officers. He became a captain but soon rose to Lt. Colonel in the Indian campaigns. This would be a chance to recoup his former glory (and an outside shot at high political office, maybe even the presidency).
So, when the order came to move the Sioux out of some potential gold territories, he sensed his chance. And, when Crazy Horse defeated Gen. Crook at the Battle of Rosebud River on June 17th, the chance for fame loomed larger than ever. He split his force in three and moved his unit into Southeast Montana. There, a scout sighted a small Indian village. The scout had not been to an ophthalmologist in some time, unfortunately, and had clearly flunked out of "census school." The small village was almost the size of Chicago and looped all around the Little Big Horn.
Nonetheless, Lt. Col. Geo. Armstrong Custer decided not to wait for the expected reinforcements. He chose to go with his signature tactic, the frontal charge. Unfortunately, Crazy Horse had read Custer's press reports and therefore, surrounded this unit of the 7th Cavalry - forcing them to dismount and stand. Thus the man who had been the Nation's youngest Brigadier General and all 265 of his men died at this last stand. (Ironically the only survivor was a horse belonging to an aide to Custer. What made it most ironic was the horse's name.."Comanche.")
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Longrifle
Pioneer
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April 23 2007
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Posted - June 25 2009 : 6:24:28 PM
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He also forgot lessons learned at Yellow Tavern on May 11, 1864.
Phil Sheridan commanded a corps of three divisions for about 10,000 troops total that day. George Custer was a brigade commnader in one of Sheridan's divisions.
JEB Stuart and Fitzhugh Lee showed up with two brigades totalling about 4500 troops. The battle started soon after the Confederates arrived and both their horses and men were tired. JEB Stuart was mortally wounded that day.
It's ironic that twelve years later Custer arrived at the Little Bighorn and began a battle, outnumbered, with tired men and horses. |
"I can't say I was ever lost, but I was bewildered once for three days." - Daniel Boone |
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richfed
Sachem
USA
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May 13 2002
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Posted - June 25 2009 : 7:37:16 PM
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Uh-oh ... NOW you started it!!! 
quote:
So, when the order came to move the Sioux out of some potential gold territories, he sensed his chance. And, when Crazy Horse defeated Gen. Crook at the Battle of Rosebud River on June 17th, the chance for fame loomed larger than ever.
Custer was never aware of this battle and that was General Crook's fault.
quote:
He split his force in three and moved his unit into Southeast Montana. There, a scout sighted a small Indian village.
He split his force in 3 - 4, actually, if you include the pack train and assigned troopers - AFTER the village was sighted.
quote:
The scout had not been to an ophthalmologist in some time, unfortunately, and had clearly flunked out of "census school." The small village was almost the size of Chicago and looped all around the Little Big Horn.
The scout[s] reported a LARGE Indian village --- in fact, most recent analysis suggests that the Indian force was maybe 2,000 warriors.
quote:
Nonetheless, Lt. Col. Geo. Armstrong Custer decided not to wait for the expected reinforcements.
Custer's 7th was part of a larger 3-prong pincer movement to prevent the Sioux and Cheyenne from escaping. The aim was to move them to the reservation. However, Custer's force was designated the attack prong and the orders from his superior clearly reflect that. Reinforcements were not really expected.
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He chose to go with his signature tactic, the frontal charge.
Unless you consider Reno's charge with a hundred plus soldiers and Arikara scouts a full-frontal assault, this is patently untrue. Custer - perhaps to a fault - divided and divided again his regiment. Again, the aim being to prevent the village from escaping. Tactics of that time in Indian warfare were predicated on the expectation that the Indians would flee if at all possible. Not out of cowardice, but to protect the women, children, and elders of the tribe. Basically, Custer followed this thought, and it can be argued that Reno's assault was designed to provoke a rear guard action as the camp fled. Custer could then head off the fleeing non-combatants, round them up, and force a surrender.
It didn't quite work out that way and his lack of intelligence as to the warriors' mood at the Battle of the Rosebud is obviously a large contributing factor. I lay the blame for that on General Crook.
Thanks for igniting the juices, MG!!!  |
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Monadnock Guide
Council of Elders
USA
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Posted - June 25 2009 : 8:01:53 PM
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| No problem Rich - I enjoy it. I remember many years ago reading that Custers scouts had reported a very LARGE Indian encampment. This was picked up from another site, - usually cleverly worded, not not always "spot on". ... ;) |
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richfed
Sachem
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May 13 2002
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Monadnock Guide
Council of Elders
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
March 14 2005
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Posted - June 28 2009 : 3:47:21 PM
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| That's excellent Rich, - beautifully done. Given Custer's temperament, and yes courage, plus his understandable belief the Indians were leaving camp, I can see why he took the approach he did. To add to it, he apparently had no knowledge of Reno's problems. ... In the over-all long term view of things/history, - that really wasn't all that long ago. Good reading - thx. |
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Fitzhugh Williams
Mohicanland Statesman
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July 17 2005
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Posted - June 28 2009 : 4:40:39 PM
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| And speaking of Indian victories, the anniversary of their greatest one is coming up on July 9. Usually in an Indian victory, such as the Little Big Horn, the Indian nations outnumber the opponents by a large margin. At the the Monongahela the Indian nations were the ones who were outnumbered and they won in a dramatic fashion. Yes there were French there, but the victory belonged to the Indians. |
"Les deux pieds contre la muraille et la tete sous le robinet" |
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