dave
Brigadier General
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Post by dave on Dec 6, 2015 23:02:58 GMT
Beth No doubt Custer thought more of himself than anyone with the possible exception of Libbie. When Terry got into the picture he saved Custer's bacon by almost insisting that he needed him to achieve success. I have often wondered how much Grant regretted listening to Sheridan and Sherman. They sure sold him a pig in a poke with reinstating Custer. Regards Dave
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Post by yanmacca on Dec 7, 2015 9:26:43 GMT
I get the idea that a large percentage of the troops in the 7th had either only seen Custer once or maybe twice in their career and some not at all until they set out on this fateful campaign, am I wrong here?
Yan.
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dave
Brigadier General
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Post by dave on Dec 7, 2015 18:54:04 GMT
I get the idea that a large percentage of the troops in the 7th had either only seen Custer once or maybe twice in their career and some not at all until they set out on this fateful campaign, am I wrong here? Yan. Yan You are correct I believe that many of the troops had not seen Custer before. I found a web site that provides information as to the placement of various companies of the 7th prior to the Summer Campaign of 1876. Regards Dave www.history.army.mil/books/r&h/R&H-7Cav.htm
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Post by yanmacca on Dec 7, 2015 20:09:22 GMT
Thanks Dave, amazing really to think that this iconic character in Custer, and his association with the 7th cavalry is really only know by films and folk lore to be the main commander of this legendary cavalry regiment, and it does compare to Rommel with the Afrika Korps, but in reality Rommel probably commanded Panzer Army Afrika longer then the DAK.
Yan.
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dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Dec 7, 2015 21:31:19 GMT
Yan I may be wrong but by 1876 Custer was no longer the Belle of the Ball but rather a tawdry looking old gal. I am not sure his reputation from the War had survived the 10 to 11 years of action on the plains. I wonder if a good many of the troopers were to young to have known much about Custer from 1861-1865?
Most of his antebellum glory or fame came from his writings and visits to the East as well as Washington DC. Political actions, magazine articles and society notices probably did not make it to all the various garrisons companies of the 7th were stationed. I betcha Custer was better known for being a "hard ass" and having little if any interest in the lowly privates of the regiment.
Never been in the military but since the army is an institution I have experience being the low man on the totem pole in one. No one and I mean no one knew my name or my face in a department of less than 100 people. The various Department Heads looked at us as they did secretaries, faceless bodies that toiled This type of attitude and treatment does little to build moral or unit cohesion. Regards Dave
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Post by deadwoodgultch on Dec 8, 2015 3:49:12 GMT
Dave, Many of the same troops involved in this campaign had been on the Yellowstone and Black Hills Campaigns as well. A fair number like Ryan had been with Custer for over 10 years. the attached will give some idea of enlistments. Custer did also from time to time visit detached companies. There were about 130 who had enlisted in the last year or so that probably seen very little of GAC. www.friendslittlebighorn.com/7thUSCavalry1876.pdfRegards, Tom
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dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Dec 8, 2015 20:40:22 GMT
Tom Thank you for the source. It is really interesting. I see that the records for Theo Goldin are a little different from many of his past statements. The man really lived a Walter Mitty life. Rergards Dave
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Post by Beth on Dec 8, 2015 22:20:54 GMT
Is that a polite way of saying the man wouldn't know the truth if it came up and bit him in the behind?
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dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Dec 8, 2015 22:32:01 GMT
Beth We would say Bless his heart he has a problem with the truth. Regards Dave
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