Okay, to bring the topic back on topic, here we go again. I have spent some time with the map and doing time-distance computations. The results are below:
1. Problem. If Custer took all five companies from Calhoun Hill to Ford D and returned, could Companies C, I, and L reach their final defensive positions unopposed and be destroyed at the 'proper' time.
2. Background:
a. The conventional theory is Custer Left C, I, and L behind on the Custer Ridge/Calhoun Hill complex, and took E and F to recon Ford D, leaving about 1430. He was either repulsed from Ford D or left before making direct fire contact with the Indians and occupied the Cemetery Ridge – Last Stand Hill Complex. The five companies were attacked from both East and West and the battle concluded at about 1543. The postulated route of the Custer Battalion from Calhoun to Ford D and return and the movement of two Indian bands from Ford B to the Calhoun Ridge Complex are shown on the below map.
Black: Cavalry Movement Red: Indian Movement
b. Some believe Custer took all five companies – C, E, F, I, and L – all the way to Ford D and the companies then occupied the position generally indicated where the markers are where they were destroyed.
3. Facts Bearing on the Problem a. US Cavalry specified Horse Gaits (From Upton's Cavalry Tactics as quoted in Wagner, page 46.)
i. Walk: 3.75 mph or 5.5 feet per second
ii. Trot: 7.5 mph or 11.9 feet per second
iii. Gallop: 10 mph or 14.7 feet per second. (We will assume the 7th maintained the gallop for the purposes of this analysis.)
b. There appear to be no casualties except for Mark Kellogg on the trip to/from Ford D. (Wagner, Map D, page 168)
c. The markers generally are thought to indicate a reasonable location as to the general area where the companies were destroyed, even though some markers are spurious and were placed without regard for the number of soliders found on the Custer part of the battlefield, and other markers may have no artifacts or have the remains of 1 or 2 troopers.
4. Assumptions.
a. The Custer Battalion conducted all operations at the gallop at a speed of 10 mph or 14.7 feet per second (Wagner, p 46, said to be from Upton’s Cavalry Tactics)
b. The Indian moved from Ford D at the gallop at 17 mph or 25 feet per second. (My guess.)
c. E CO (Smith) arrived on Calhoun Hill from Ford B at 1420 (Wagner, page 222, event #314)
d. The Custer Battalion could use several formations for its movement.
i. Five Companies in Column. Easiest to Control, good fire power to the flanks, poor fire power to front and rear, but easy to move into line abreast. Takes the longest to clear a given point.
ii. Battalion in line, with the companies in column. Harder to control, better fire power to front and good fire power to flanks, easy to move into companies in line battalion in line. Hard to control. Takes up more space which may not be available in the avenue of approach. The line would quickly clear a give point.
iii. Battalion in Double Column, 2 companies on one flank and 3 companies on the other flank. Slightly better fire power to the front, good fire power to the sides, easy to control, and easy to deploy into battalion on line. Takes less time than five companies in column and more than the battalion on line to clear a given point.
f. A 2 company front and a 3 company depth would be about 60 feet wide and about 660 feet long and would take, AT BEST, take 2 minutes to clear Calhoun Hill, more likely closer to 5 – 7 minutes to as the lead companies would move first while the trailing companies would begin to move in order to keep their distance from the leaders. (Wagner, page 46.)
g. Custer departed Calhoun Hill with the battalions in two columns: E and F on one side and I, C, L on the other side at 1430 (Wagner, page 222, Event #316).
h. The Indians departed Ford B in pursuit of Custer perhaps as early as 1416 (Wagner, page 231, Event 307) and as late as 1430 (Wagner, page 232, Event 315)
i. I will use 1430 as the departure time for the Indian main bodies going up Deep Ravine and Deep Coulee with separate bands.
j. It does not appear that the Custer Column was closely pursued during the movement to and from Ford D.
k. Company L defends on Calhoun Hill and Company C defends along the ridgeline to the south.
l. The battle ends about 1543 (Wagner, page 229, Event 356).
m. Both Cavalry and Indian Bands use the gallop as they move from position to position and computing the time-distance relationship, we can construct the following tables.
5. Discussion.
a. Given the assumed start times and speeds, the Custer battalion could not have moved with 5 companies without close pursuit unless at least one or two companies were left as a rear guard. It is possible that the Indians, even starting as late as 1430 could have arrived on the hill and been able to engage the Cavalry before they were even clear of Calhoun Hill.
b. Without a rear guard, the Indians could have occupied the ground and/or closely pursued the Custer Column and inflicted casualties on the moving column during both its movement to Ford D and its return to the Calhoun Hill/Ridge Complex.
6. Conclusions.
a. If Custer takes the entire battalion to Ford D at 1430 AND the Indians begin crossing Ford B at 1430, the Indians would easily be able to occupy the Calhoun Complex before Companies C, I, and L could return from Ford D and,
b. They could pursue the Custer Column for the entire movement.
c. From the timing, it appears C, I, and L would have been left as the rear guard.
