Orders - Sherman to Sheridan to Terry

[carl]

Did Sherman give a written order to Sheridan and if so what was it.

Did Sheridan give a written order to Terry and if so what was it.

[quincannon]

My guess is no, neither did. That is based on had they, knowing you as well as we all do, you would have found them by now.

I believe if any such orders were issued though they would contain only the what, and not the how, especially between Sherman and Sheridan. The tenor of the times suggest that, between long time associates, little if anything reduced to paper would have been thought unnecessary.

Looking at how both Crook and Terry operated in the early stages of the LBH Campaign, they both seemed to be winging it without central direction or coordination which suggests the absence of the restrictions that would be applied by specific orders.

[yanmacca]

I don’t really know the answer to Carl’s question but here is a book that may have some answers, it opens in “pdf” format so I hope you can access the files on your computer, it takes around 10 seconds to upload too.

www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA416928

The book is called “THE U.S. ARMY’S SIOUX CAMPAIGN OF 1876” and was written by someone from Fort Leavenworth.

Yan.

[yanmacca]

A couple of interesting points made in the book was that in Crooks column, he was not the troop commander, the “Co” was Col. Reynolds and Crook was accompanying the expedition in his capacity as the department commander only.
And the column contained ten companies of cavalry (2nd and 3rd regiments) and none of the colonels and majors from these two regiments accompanied the expedition.

Yan.

[azranger]

I like the premise of his paper. The COG was the horse and not the village. Of Course it fits my opinion of what Custer should have done. Drive off the horses.

Regards

AZ Ranger

[yanmacca]

So you managed to open it then Steve, that's good.

Yan.

[Beth]

Very interesting stuff. Unfortunately I'm about to head out for the afternoon so I will have to wait to make further comment. As for Sherman's orders to Sheridan and Sheridan to Terry, I believe that someone posted something like that on Rini's board.


link to Rini's board


This link also looks like an interesting explore 

Oral History of North Dakota Tribes

[quincannon]

I am all for going for the horses as a means to an end, but not the end (or Center of Gravity) itself.

Could a warrior still fight without a horse? Yes.

Could a warrior still fight without a horse AND the infrastructure that supports daily life? No.

Therefor the center of gravity, the tipping point, must be considered as being the infrastructure. Take the horse away makes life very difficult. Take the infrastructure away spells complete destruction of war making ability.

The first is a stepping stone to the second and most decisive. A center of gravity must lead your enemy down the road of no possible recovery.

Please think of it this way destruction of the horses, may win the battle. Destruction of the infrastructure wins the campaign.

[carl]

Thanks Beth.

I should have read the other sites post more carefully..

On Feb 8, 1876 Sheridan issued his operational orders

to Crook and Terry. Specifically what was the

content in its entirety? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Beth]

Everything I can find says the orders on Feb 8 where to commence the campaign. I wonder if the plans for the campaign were dispatched earlier assuming that then NA would be unable to meet the deadline to 'come in.' Possibly the plans were mostly laid out in the Nov. 1875 meeting in Washington.

Alas Sheridan's papers are at the Library of Congress and not searchable via online.