Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2021 10:01:49 GMT
DP | Who | Timeline | Location | Local Time | Clock Time | Event |
8 | Reno | H, I, J, W | Near the Indian Village vic DD: -107.416 45.521 MGRS: 13TCL11234366 | 1238 | 1335 | Reno orders troops to dismount, form skirmish line, and fight on foot. |
This seems like a no-brainer and perhaps a little over-analysis. Here you are charging down the valley, perhaps as fast as the horses can go. Suddenly you see the foe boiling out of the village like a nest of fire ants after you kicked it. You don't have a lot of time here, unlike the previous decision points. I would expect officers today to reach an almost instantaneous decision and rapidly choose between 1 - 3 alternatives, even at closure speeds of 15 - 40 mph and the engagement ranges are longer. He probably thinks he has lost surprise. So, here we go.
The map shows the approximate location of the skirmish line and its length with three troops abreast. As it is it would be about 1200-1600 feet long.
Course of Action 1
Continue the Charge
Advantages
1. Maintain the momentum. We might push right through and penetrate into the village.
2. Even though I have lost surprise, charging might surprise them and give me an advantage.
Disadvantages
1. Can't hit crap with pistols while at the charge.
2. Can't reload.
3. Hmmm, maybe we should have brought the sabers.
4. I'll probably end up surrounded, especially if I have to stop for an obstacle or do not break through.
5. Custer may not be able to catch up to provide me support. (Looks around: WTF is Custer?)
6. Is that a ravine I see? That could slow me down and that looks like where the Indians are.
7. How do I recover my wounded.
***Course of Action 2***
Dismount and form skirmish line
Advantages
1. Carbines give me a range advantage over the enemy, theoretically we can hit at out to 250-300 yards
2. Maybe I can keep them at far range.
3. I can use fire and maneuver to go forward or backward.
4. Custer can joint me on the skirmish line. (WTF is Custer?)
5. Even though I lose 25% of my firepower, my effective fire is improved due to range and stopping power.
(Hmmm, maybe I should have conducted more target practice when I was in command of the Regiment.)
6. After I dismount, I should have a little time to consider my next action.
7. My right flank has a little protection from the river.
Disadvantages
1. I lose 25% of my fire power by dismounting and I am unable to mount immediately.
2. I lose the mobility advantage.
3. How do I recover my wounded?
4. I am open to being flanked on the left.
5. Once I stop the charge, I probably won't be able to resume it.
Course of Action 3
Retreat toward the River.
Advantages
1. I don't see any good terrain right here to defend.
2. Custer should be seeing this and coming up to support me. (WTF is Custer?)
Disadvantages.
1. First I need to halt the charge and dismount to establish a base of fire, then bound backward by company,
2. Risks getting the rear guard overrun.
3. This will be hard to control, the men may panic.
4. How do I recover my wounded?
5. Their horses are faster than mine.
Recommendation: Perhaps I'm a sissy. I'm going to form a skirmish line. I might get lucky continueing the charge, but I will almost certainly get surrounded if something breaks my momentum. I don't see Custer. Retreating is probably near-suicide (as he discovers when bursting out of the woods). I can shoot better. WTF hasn't Custer sent a message back to me? I need to send him another messenger. What is Custer doing, he sure is not behind me. If I stop them, I can bound forward and push them back, at least till I find better ground.
Had they been at full strength the skirmish line might be about 2000 feet long. If he had not brought the squadron on line, he might have been able to establish a base of fire to begin giving ground or used it to pass through the first two troops and bounding forward. Perhaps I am giving 19th century horse cavalry too much ability to maneuver.
Note: For those that are interested (and even if you are not) the maps come from the usgs.gov sight and the apps.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ which lets you go anywhere in the US and look at maps. There is much more functionality there than what I am using with many layers and ability to download digital data. From the USGS site you can also download maps at 1:24000 scale (and some others) and print them out as PDFs or order them.
You can go to mytopo.com and request maps to a specific area, scale, and size with a variety of types available such as standard topographic (with added grid lines and shading), aerial/satellite views, and photo-topographic maps. Expense varies. I bought one in 1:10000 scale with grid lines and shading for 29.95 and its about 36 x 48 inches wide printed on heavy duty plastic like paper. You can easily mark on it with pencil or water soluble markers. I experiments a little with alcohol (permanent) markers but would not use them unless you know exactly where you are marking and have very neat hand writing.
The symbols come from www.mapsymbs.com/ which lets your download symbols as a font.
You can also go to opentopomap.org/#marker=13/45.54507/-107.38810 , which even though it is a german site, has the world on it. This view should take you to the LBH Battlefield.