dave
Brigadier General
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Post by dave on Dec 7, 2015 0:59:02 GMT
Yesterday I drove by Brice's Crossroads, the site of Samuel D. Sturgis's total defeat in 1864 by Nathan B. Forrest, and started thinking about his career in the army. I knew he was a graduate of West Point in 1846. Had to read about him since I knew so little about the man.
He served in the Mexican War where he was captured for a short time and then spent time of the frontier till the firing on Fort Sumter led to him being promoted to Major and serving in the 1st US Cavalry. At the Battle of Wilson's Creek in August of 1861 he took over command of the Union forces upon the death of General Lyons and the wounding of his deputy. Sturgis lead the Federal forces in a retreat from the field and left the Confederates in possession.
He served in the IX Corps at Antietam where he was breveted Brigadier General at South Mountain under Ambrose Burnside. Later at Fredricksburg he was breveted Major General. He was sent to the Western theater were he suffered his embarrassing defeat at the hands of Forrest. He was mostly left on the shelf for the duration of the War.
He took over the 7th Cavalry in 1869 and served as Colonel until his retirement in 1886. He is an enigma to me and I found very little written about him before, during or after his command of the 7th. He lost his son James at the Battle of the Little Big Horn.
Some Questions that come to mind:
1) Was it the custom of the US Cavalry to have commanding officers too old to participate in field operations and rely on their second in command such as Sturgis?
2) If yes above what Colonel Reynolds of the 3rd Cavalry who led his command at the Battle of the Powder River and he was as old as Sturgis, why was he in command instead of his LTC?
3) Was Custer so special that he led the 7th based on his reputation?
4) Were the other US Army regiments, infantry and cavalry, led by Colonels only or did they have a similar arrangement as the 7th?
5) Was Sturgis's leadership during the Nez Perce campaign in 1877 average, above average or poor? Regards Dave
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dave
Brigadier General
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Post by dave on Dec 7, 2015 4:18:04 GMT
Sturgis, South Dakota was named for Samuel D. Sturgis in 1878. I find it to be correct that a town named for a cavalry commander is one of the largest gathering of motorcycles in the world. Motorcycles were used for scouting, sending messages and moving troops a perfect segue from a horse.
Can just imagine keogh driving a motorcycle with a sidecar holding one of his confederates. Would he wear googles or go au naturel? Regards Dave
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Post by deadwoodgultch on Dec 8, 2015 3:13:04 GMT
Yesterday I drove by Brice's Crossroads, the site of Samuel D. Sturgis's total defeat in 1864 by Nathan B. Forrest, and started thinking about his career in the army. I knew he was a graduate of West Point in 1846. Had to read about him since I knew so little about the man. He served in the Mexican War where he was captured for a short time and then spent time of the frontier till the firing on Fort Sumter led to him being promoted to Major and serving in the 1st US Cavalry. At the Battle of Wilson's Creek in August of 1861 he took over command of the Union forces upon the death of General Lyons and the wounding of his deputy. Sturgis lead the Federal forces in a retreat from the field and left the Confederates in possession. He served in the IX Corps at Antietam where he was breveted Brigadier General at South Mountain under Ambrose Burnside. Later at Fredricksburg he was breveted Major General. He was sent to the Western theater were he suffered his embarrassing defeat at the hands of Forrest. He was mostly left on the shelf for the duration of the War. He took over the 7th Cavalry in 1869 and served as Colonel until his retirement in 1886. He is an enigma to me and I found very little written about him before, during or after his command of the 7th. He lost his son James at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Some Questions that come to mind: 1) Was it the custom of the US Cavalry to have commanding officers too old to participate in field operations and rely on their second in command such as Sturgis? Friends in high places kept him on detached duty most of his time with the 7th. He was an able administrator
2) If yes above what Colonel Reynolds of the 3rd Cavalry who led his command at the Battle of the Powder River and he was as old as Sturgis, why was he in command instead of his LTC? Miles was a Col. as well, so was Mackenzie, Crooke was a BG. they all commanded in the field.3) Was Custer so special that he led the 7th based on his reputation? If he was so special why were Miles and Mackenzie ahead of him in grade?4) Were the other US Army regiments, infantry and cavalry, led by Colonels only or did they have a similar arrangement as the 7th? T 5) Was Sturgis's leadership during the Nez Perce campaign in 1877 average, above average or poor? Samuel Sturgis took personal command of the regiment and led the 7th Cavalry in the campaign against the Nez Percé in 1877. Sturgis and his soldiers headed off the Nez Perce and waited to attack them after when they emerged from their passage through the wilderness of Yellowstone Park. The Indians deceived Sturgis with a feint and eluded him, continuing their flight northward toward Canada. Sturgis soon caught up with the Nez Perce but at the Battle of Canyon Creek, the Indians, although outnumbered two to one, again they escaped his grasp. Regardse Dave
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dave
Brigadier General
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Post by dave on Dec 9, 2015 21:29:42 GMT
Looking into Sturgis's career recently it became obvious he never achieved the success, fame or glory that Custer secured. In fact I have not been able to find any books written about him and few that mention him at all. That being said:
Why did Sturgis hold a regular army rank higher than Custer when? 1) He did not have Custer's experience or success during the War 2) He did not have Custer's persona and flair for self promotion 3) He had been humiliated by Forrest at Brice's Crossroad and put on the shelf in shame 2) Custer had Sheridan and Sherman as his "Rabbis" who did Sturgis have?
So who did Sturgis have in his corner to be promoted over Custer. Did there not have to be a better reason than just seniority to outrank Custer? Looking for answers. Regards Dave
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Post by Beth on Dec 9, 2015 23:09:41 GMT
I suspect it might have to do with he spent years in the Regular Army while Custer jumped to the Volunteer Army. If Custer had stayed with the regular army at the end of the war when they mustered out Sturgis had the rank of Lt Colonel while Custer was a Captain.
And I do believe that the military operated based on seniority and not merit. Can you imagine an army built with all sorts of Custer diva-types instead of someone who just goes in and just gets the job done?
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Post by deadwoodgultch on Dec 10, 2015 12:42:48 GMT
Dave, You can pick from 1/2 of this group. The class of 1846 included among its graduates John Gibbon, George B. McClellan, Jesse Reno, and George Stoneman, who would fight on the Union side and Ambrose Powell Hill, Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson, and George Pickett, who would fight on the Confederate side.
McClellan would be my best guess, from his class. Even after his fall from grace McClellan, still wielded a fair amount of power. After the ACW McClellan wielded much power in the Democrat party and I am sure the party had friends in the War Department. Then again it could be that he, in fact, was an able administrator. Maybe Sheridan and Sherman knew that Sturgis highest and best use could be in areas other than combat.
I think I have mentioned this before, I know a Navy Captain(still serving) still young. He serves in intelligence, got his eagles fast, but will probably never get a star. Why? Never commanded a ship, sub, or flew a plane. While he never commanded anything other than a joint services base in England, he has made a number of others, who will get a star look real good.
Understand, that support and staff officers can make combat officers heros or goats. I am not coming down on either side of your Sturgis discussion, just saying I have no copies of his fitness reports. Maybe Sturgis, in his poor combat performance, had poor logistical support.
Francis Marion, Mosby, and others in our history will outshine regular line officers because of their energy and out of the box thinking. Maybe Sturgis, was not the type to overreach.
Enough blather on my part.
Regards, Tom
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Post by Beth on Dec 10, 2015 20:57:05 GMT
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dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Dec 11, 2015 1:28:21 GMT
Beth Great web site! Went there and found the following: "Pursuit of the Rebels under General Forrest to Ripley, Mis.; and in the second Expedition against General Forrest, being engaged in the Combat near Gun Town, Mis., June 10, 1864; awaiting orders, July, 1864, to Aug. 24, 1865."
What a remarkably bland assessment of his combat on June 10, 1864. The engagement near Gun Town is better known as Brice's Crossroads where Sturgis was so badly defeated that he was "awaiting orders, July 1864, to Aug. 24,1865." If you have not read about this battle you really should.
Tom I agree that McClellan was the bell cow of the class of 1864 till surpassed by Stonewall. The hidden gem of that class to me was Darius Nash Couch. He rose to second in command to Hooker at Chancellorsville. He and Hooker split in May 1863 and went to Pennsylvania and commanded militia till the end of the War. He was a professional who was able to lead volunteer soldiers and that was a difficult feat for many WP grads. Regards Dave
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2018 3:43:21 GMT
Dave -
I purchased a couple relics/shell casings from Fort Meade area on ebay. I dremeled away the grime, dirt and age from the shells. The bases contain the identification numbers, years of make. This one shell base 6 - '79 - R & F or H? F usually stand for Frankford Arsenal. This is a NICE *BRASS shell and quiet strong metal/brass. I went looking or reading online to see who was out at Fort Meade in JUNE of 1879 and this Colonel Sturgis. I know Colonel's & Lieutenants used *Brass shells/or these more expensive & stronger casings. I wonder if this shell casing is associated with him or the other officer who was out there at this time? Doug/Michigan
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Post by deadwoodgultch on Nov 10, 2018 10:26:26 GMT
Doug, first of all welcome to the board. If, in fact, Sturgis was the commander of the post at the time he was responsible for everything requisitioned and inventoried at the post/ft., did he actually handle it, who knows. Guess I should have let Dave answer, as you asked him, but was up early drinking coffee and feeding the dogs.
Regards, Rom
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dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Nov 10, 2018 18:12:08 GMT
Doug Welcome to the board! As to your question, I would agree with Deadwood as he far more knowledgeable than I am. I tend to study the War or as some would say the Civil War since I live in Mississippi and far more access to those battle sites.
I hope you continue to post and join the discussions on all the thread. Once again Welcome! Regards Dave
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