Ten Myths of the Little Bighorn

[Smokin_Gun]

Here's a link to some historical facts.... http://www.historynet.com/ten-myths-of-the-little-bighorn.htm 

[chuckr1952]

                                                                                   Good read SG, thanks.

[Smokin_Gun]

Just watched a special on the Military Channel about General Custer's last stand ... long story short ... ferenzic studies show they were not 21 year old or greater and elite seasoned Cav Men ... most of the 200 were 17 & 18 year olds instead of the elite soldiers as they were said to be.... they had split up onto 3 hills and were attacked and chased to Custer Hill ... was a Mythe that it was a glorious last stand as they were out gunned and out numbered by the Indians with Spencer and Henry Repeaters compared to Custer's single shot trapdoor carbines and Colt six shooters ... catch it if you see it again as it was very interesting ...
SG

[S4B]

Ya, I saw that show a while back. Sure puts a new light on things.

[Smokin_Gun]

I surely wasn't in his boots, but I would have taken at least the Gatling  Guns and probly some Field Cannons... ya know? Well he made it to a General at 23 years old, but was last in his Class at West Point ... it showed I guess even though he made it Gloriously thru the Civil War...

[Baron Von Kesselwalker]

out gunned    an   poor   tactics   ...  not   me     


                                                                           

[Smokin_Gun]

Puttin' you in charge of the 7th CAV  Baron ... 

[Baron Von Kesselwalker]

   sorry    ,   almost   forgot   these   nite  candles   ...            

[Smokin_Gun]

Heh heh good ones Baron .... 40 Mike Mike alum  grenades ...

[StrawHat]

HAd they had proper ammunition for the Springfield Single Shot Rifles, the outcome could have been much different.  However the weak copper cased cartridges tended to swell in the chambers and stick there, rendering the rifle inoperable until a ramrod could be passed down the line and used to drive the empty casing out of the chamber.  The "Trapdoor" had a much more effective range than the repeaters of the day (Or this day).  The Gatling guns, of which he had two, would have been left behind in any kind of hurried action to get to a defendable area.  They are to unwieldy and Custer was correct in leaving them at the fort.  Unfortunately, they were caught out by a vastly larger group.  Communications were poor and his "back up" couldn't or wouldn't come to help.

Just an aside, we have all heard of the Sullivan rule, where no members of the same family can be on the same ship.  All the able bodied male members of the Custer family were killed at the Little Big Horn. 

[Captainkirk]

HAd they had proper ammunition for the Springfield Single Shot Rifles, the outcome could have been much different.  However the weak copper cased cartridges tended to swell in the chambers and stick there, rendering the rifle inoperable until a ramrod could be passed down the line and used to drive the empty casing out of the chamber.  The "Trapdoor" had a much more effective range than the repeaters of the day (Or this day).  The Gatling guns, of which he had two, would have been left behind in any kind of hurried action to get to a defendable area.  They are to unwieldy and Custer was correct in leaving them at the fort.  Unfortunately, they were caught out by a vastly larger group.  Communications were poor and his "back up" couldn't or wouldn't come to help.

Just an aside, we have all heard of the Sullivan rule, where no members of the same family can be on the same ship.  All the able bodied male members of the Custer family were killed at the Little Big Horn. 

Strawhat, Custer should not have "been in a hurry". He had time to drag the Gatlings along and make his rendezvous with Crook and Terry on time. That was the whole point; he did not WANT to meet Crook & Terry. He wanted to "scoop" all the action and glory for his potential bid for the White House, as some think, myself included. As I'm sure you know, the campaign was a three-pronged pincer movement designed to catch the Lakota from multiple directions, everyone's timing was on except Custer, who arrived early deliberately. A cautious commander also would have listened to his scouts; Custer did not Lonesome Charlie Reynolds, Bloody Knife and others went into battle knowing full well their fate, while many of the other less dedicated scouts fled. They knew what was coming and told Yellow Hair.
My whole point is, Custer could have taken the Gatlings but weighed their advantage against his plan to willfully disobey orders and decided to leave them....for a reason.

[Smokin_Gun]

Wreaked of Treason, Disobeyed orders, Darelection of Duty... Airegant self seeking pompus ass...

[Captainkirk]

Yup. But that's how "Soldiers of Fortune" got ahead back then....take the risk, slaughter a bunch of "savage redskins" (aka women and children) thump their chests and get medals pinned on.....then run for Great White Father.
Custer was no different, and no better.
The historical readings I've consumed pretty much paint him just the way you've described him; arrogant, self-seeking, and pompous.
Had he taken the Gatlings, AND waited for Crook and Terry, most likely the Sioux would have hit in smaller skirmishes and fled. The campaign likely would have been successful.....but leaving Crook or Terry as the next possible White House tenant. Custer knew this, and I believe this determined the course of his action....and sealed his fate.