dave
Brigadier General
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Post by dave on Oct 19, 2015 22:43:19 GMT
I posted this note on another board and wanted to share it with the members of this board as well. If I might make a suggestion for further research into Custer's actions and his motives read Last in Their Class: Custer, Pickett and the Goats of West Point by James Robbins. I purchased the e-book version on Amazon. This book is a gold mine of information about West Point and the men who matriculated there. Custer is covered from his cadet days to June 25, 1876. Excellent information with all sources cited and in the bibliography. Covers Custer's motives from shooting the deserters to appearing in Washington DC in 1876 prior to the LBH. I highly recommend this book. Regards Dave Read more: lbha.proboards.com/thread/5104/last-class-custer-pickett-goats#ixzz3p3YeKoar
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dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Oct 20, 2015 22:50:59 GMT
On the first page of the Little Bighorn chapter in Robbins' book it notes that Custer refused the addition of four companies of Montana Volunteer Cavalry. Is this same group as the four companies of the 2nd Cavalry? If not who are they? Looking for answers. Regards Dave
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Post by yanmacca on Oct 21, 2015 10:48:09 GMT
Dave I think the “Montana Volunteer Cavalry” was the 3rd US Volunteer Cavalry, they were active well before the ACW and fought in the Mexican-American war of 1847, they fought in many engagements in their early history and earned the name “Grigsby’s Rough Riders” in the Spanam war. They fought many battles against the Indians, and had skirmishes against the Mescalero, Jicarilla, Navaho and Ute, their role in the Rosebud battle is much documented, but here is a link to their exploits in Cuba; linkYan.
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dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Oct 21, 2015 15:01:55 GMT
Yan Thank you for the reply. On another board, Fred states that it was the 2nd US Cavalry and only the 2nd. Guess the author is way off base. Regards Dave
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Post by yanmacca on Oct 21, 2015 17:42:36 GMT
He could be right Dave, as before today I had never heard of them, I just did some cursory work and came up with a few things, maybe Fred has more data about them.
Yan.
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Post by yanmacca on Oct 21, 2015 18:27:44 GMT
Dave here is a breakdown of the US forces involved and as you can see there is no mention of any Montana volunteer cavalry, Fred is correct about the cavalry involved;
Dakota column (Gen. A Terry) Twelve Companies 7th Cavalry (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L & M) 17th Infantry (Companies C & G) Three Companies 6th Infantry (Companies B, D & I) Gatling Gun Detachment (Three Guns)
Montana column (Col. J Gibbon) Six Companies 7th Infantry (Companies A, B, E, H, I & K) Four Companies 2nd Cavalry (Companies F, G, H & L)
Wyoming column (Gen. G Crook) Five Companies 2nd Cavalry (Companies A, B, D, E & I) Ten Companies 3rd Cavalry (Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, L & M) Two Companies 4th Infantry (Companies C & D) Three Companies 9th Infantry (Companies C, G & H)
I am not sure if the missing cavalry companies were on other duties; 2nd Cavalry; Company C: was garrisoning Ft. Stambaugh, WY. Company K: remained at Goose Creek, WY Company M: was stationed at Camp Brown, WY. 3rd Cavalry; Company H: was sent to Sidney to patrol and guard the Platte River Bridge. Company K: was at a camp on Wind River.
Yan.
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dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Oct 21, 2015 23:18:09 GMT
Yan I appreciate all the troop information. I can't figure out why the author, Robbins, would have listed the cavalry as a Montana Volunteer unit instead of the 2nd US Cavalry. Regards Dave
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Post by Beth on Oct 21, 2015 23:27:39 GMT
Because he didn't fact check his book. I am surprised all the time when I read or hear things on TV that have not had the simplist fact check.
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dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Oct 22, 2015 0:06:55 GMT
Beth You could be right but why would a responsible author write that it was Montana Volunteer Cavalry? It could easily be checked and proven wrong. Beats me. Regards Dave
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Post by Beth on Oct 22, 2015 20:45:54 GMT
Beth You could be right but why would a responsible author write that it was Montana Volunteer Cavalry? It could easily be checked and proven wrong. Beats me. Regards Dave It's actually pretty easy. You read something in what you think is a reliable resource so you accept it as so. When you fact check you check against your resource material to make sure you quoted it right but not an outside resources--after all you view the first resource as reliable. When you are dealing with tons of information--its easy for one or two bits of misinformation to slip through. I have not read the book yet to know if the author is a careful researcher or if he just reassembled other people's research to support his theories. Is he citing a lot of primary source or secondary in his footnotes?
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dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Oct 22, 2015 23:47:37 GMT
Beth He heavily uses the United States Military Academy Special Collections. He uses primary sources as well but does not always include where he got some material. Case in point regarding the declining the use of 4 companies of Montana Volunteer Cavalry he does not provide a source. Overall still a good read as it deals with the Goat of each class and his fellow "immortals" those who stand at the foot of the class. Regards Dave
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Post by Beth on Oct 23, 2015 0:28:21 GMT
It does sound like a good read. I am working on the book about the 7th's health but am finding it a hard read--on the other hand I am catching up on sleep. Yesterday I decided to put it down for some lite reading and will go back to it in a couple days.
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dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Oct 23, 2015 1:34:55 GMT
I agree the book on the 7th's health is a dry reading. Kinda reminded me of reading Faulkner and I did read his works for fun but rather because I had 2 American Literature professors who had man crushes on ole Bill. The Last of their class is an interesting and informative read with stories about Picket, Custer and many other well know Generals such as Henry Heth of Gettysburg fame. Regards Dave
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Post by deadwoodgultch on Oct 23, 2015 21:59:13 GMT
Dave,
Much like your reading of Faulkner, the goats felt, cut the tedious BS let's cut to the chase. I liked Hemmingway and some others.
Regards, Tom
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Post by Beth on Oct 23, 2015 22:29:25 GMT
Dave, Much like your reading of Faulkner, the goats felt, cut the tedious BS let's cut to the chase. I liked Hemmingway and some others. Regards, Tom Hemingway-----nnnnnooooooooo
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