142 Years Ago:
George Armstrong Custer made two gross errors in estimation.
First, he grossly overestimated he and his men's capabilities.
Second, he grossly underestimated the size and resolve of his foe.
It's a speedbump on the expansion of the United States from Atlantic to Pacific.
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Well, leaving his artillery and Gatling guns behind didn't help either.
ReplyDeleteHey Angus;
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't much of a speedbump, the massacre highlighted the discrepancies of the U.S Army, as I recall Congress forgot to appropriate money for pay and equipment. WHen the Army goes with sharps rifles and the Indians have Winchester repeating rifles, the Army was outgunned, and Custer ignoring the information of the scouts for personal glory. When the newspapers got the news, it pushed the Army to handle the "Indian issue" earlier than they planned. And as Andrew mentioned, forgetting their gatling guns and artillery.
M1873 Carbines, also known as the Trapdoor Springfield, was the primary arm of the 7th Cavalry that day.
DeleteHad they retained their Spencers things might (maybe) have been a bit different, but as you said the Army was being starved and nobody wanted to deal with getting more ammo for them.
The carriage guns weren't forgotten. They were deliberately left behind.
I am not sure full funding and arming the 7th better would have changed the outcome much at all. I went out there and check out the battlefield on foot when the grass had grown back from the fire. Not only can you be five yards from someone who isn't trying to hide, there's acoustic shadows there so your friend can't hear you YELLING at them.
It's an eerie place.
It's often forgotten, and Willard will likely step in here, that Custer's movement was supposed to be part of a bigger action. Custer couldn't stand sharing glory, and that led to him over extending and being out of place from units which might have been able to support him... If he'd bothered to inform them before charging in that is.
I've been to the battlefield.
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