What could Custer see?

[deadwoodgultch]

Ahaaaaaa!

[dave]

Beth
Now that you mention it I have been banned from another forum for expressing the heresy that Benteen was the only man to perform adequately and that Custer was the reason for the 7th Cavalry's defeat at the LBH. I obviously have not learned my lesson but it was due to being led astray by an older person. Don't worry Deadwood I won't mention your name as the one who lead me to rebel against the Malevolent Musketeer who expressed his displeasure for our p+** poor attitudes. Who knew that reality would cause his basement walls to tumble down!
Regards
Dave

[BrevetorCoffin]

Jun 8, 2017 0:04:07 GMT Beth said:

Dave don't tell those who adore Custer that he was almost lost in history and would have been just a few paragraphs in a history book if not for his last command.

Why not if it is basically true?

[Beth]

Jun 8, 2017 0:41:22 GMT BrevetorCoffin said:

Jun 8, 2017 0:04:07 GMT Beth said:

Dave don't tell those who adore Custer that he was almost lost in history and would have been just a few paragraphs in a history book if not for his last command.

Why not if it is basically true?

Maybe I should have said as experience shows you can tell them but they will ban you or delete you.

[quincannon]

Draw up a list of ten ACW U S Army Major Generals, go out on any main street in America and I would bet that nine out of any ten people you would ask who were these people, would only recognize Custer, and most of the ones that did recognize him would not have a clue that he fought in the ACW.

He would not rate two paragraphs. Probably not even one in any overall ACW history.

[Beth]

I suspect that is true. I know that Sam's AP history class could not identify either Custer or Sitting Bull and she was a bit embarrassed explaining why she could. (Mostly from getting books down for me from upper shelves)

[mlynn]

Jun 8, 2017 1:19:55 GMT quincannon said:

Draw up a list of ten ACW U S Army Major Generals, go out on any main street in America and I would bet that nine out of any ten people you would ask who were these people, would only recognize Custer, and most of the ones that did recognize him would not have a clue that he fought in the ACW.

He would not rate two paragraphs. Probably not even one in any overall ACW history.

I would have to agree with you on this.  Most people could not identify any beyond Lee and Grant.  I also believe they would have a hard time identifying any battles beyond Gettysburg and possibly Vicksburg unless they lived close to one of the sites of the battles. 

[quincannon]

ML: There would be more than you would think to the point of nausea, that could not tell you who won the American Civil War.

[yanmacca]

Yes, it does have all the symptoms of a man who knew that this could be his last shot for ultimate glory and blew it all with a rash decision.
His mind could have been on what great things were looming over the horizon when got back a hero, you can kinda lose all focus it those situations, especially if you are a person like he was who put himself first.

When this campaign was over he was looking at the next stage in his life and he didn't want the pipe and slippers just yet.

[yanmacca]

I can honestly say that here in Britain, hardly anyone under the age of 35 will know anything concerning anything military before WW2, it is just not taught anymore in Schools. I bet even Korea and the Falklands too is off the agenda, it as if its not politically correct to tell kids that we beat the Spanish here or the Germans there or the French here, there and everywhere.

[Beth]

I was lucky when it came to my American History teacher-instead of teaching from colonial history forward, he taught from modern times back so it was easier to link how every modern events had a link to past events. When history is just dates and simple facts, it has no life and no appeal to students to learn more. It has to be relevant to their lives to build an interest.

I have found that nearly everyone is interested in their local history because it is something that effects their lives or they see nearly daily. When you can take local history and link it to the rest of the world, then perhaps it is a stepping stone to building a lifetime interest in history.

Schools can never cover the full scope of events and unless there is some way to stimulate students seek more information beyond their classes then they can never really see why it's so important to understand our past with the hope that we don't make the same mistakes in the future. Unfortunately history is malleable so the same events can be used to justify many sides of an argument

[azranger]

Jun 7, 2017 14:50:33 GMT quincannon said:

Running off to Libby was gross dereliction and negligence.

The officer's call was reportage of what other officer's thought, not proof that Custer thought anything.

There is never any excuse for a commander to take his eye of the ball of duty.

Neither one of you ever did I'd wager.

There were two reported occasions leading up to 25 June that Custer was reported to be introspective. I find that completely normal under the circumstances. It may have been nothing more than Custer thinking - OK I'm here, now how do I pull this off. That feeling may have been magnified by the fact that he was out on his own hook, with no one to tell him what to do. Could have been for a number of other reasons as well. I do not believe we should make this an exercise in mind reading when we have absolutely no contemporary evidence that he expressed anything verbally regarding these matters to anyone else.

As an NCO there would limited opportunity as compared to a commanding officer. Also I never had to write written orders.

Steve

[quincannon]

If you had anyone reporting to you, you then commanded.

I am not sure what you mean about never having to write written orders.

[mlynn]

Jun 8, 2017 15:02:57 GMT Beth said:

I was lucky when it came to my American History teacher-instead of teaching from colonial history forward, he taught from modern times back so it was easier to link how every modern events had a link to past events. When history is just dates and simple facts, it has no life and no appeal to students to learn more. It has to be relevant to their lives to build an interest.

I have found that nearly everyone is interested in their local history because it is something that effects their lives or they see nearly daily. When you can take local history and link it to the rest of the world, then perhaps it is a stepping stone to building a lifetime interest in history.

Schools can never cover the full scope of events and unless there is some way to stimulate students seek more information beyond their classes then they can never really see why it's so important to understand our past with the hope that we don't make the same mistakes in the future. Unfortunately history is malleable so the same events can be used to justify many sides of an argument

I hated history in school.  It had no meaning to me all the facts and names.  I did not connect it to my life at all until I was a senior and had a GREAT government teacher who connected the dots of the past to the present.  Everyone in my class, even today, sing praises to this teacher and give him credit for their interest and understanding of how our government works and where it came from. I also started reading and studying it when I started to travel and in college.   I am kinda a joke in my family with my little history lessons.  My kids and grand kids tease me constantly about my history conversations.  It must pay off because (I got to brag here for a minute) my grandson just got the 3rd highest score in history on the basic skills tests they take every year in Iowa.  He must of been listening.

[Beth]

Great teachers bring out the best in their students whether they are in a school or grandmas.