Reader Gary sent me an email about George Custer. Read my post here. Here is Gary's email, edited a bit for length, but I think you get the jist:
I’ve been fascinated by General Custer’s story since I was a small boy. I
know, I know, Custer’s General’s rank was only brevet and that he was busted
to Lt. Colonel by the time the Little Big Horn happened, but he will always
be a General in my world. One of my favorite movies as a boy was Disney’s
“Tonka”(1958), a movie about Captain Myles Keogh’s horse Comanche, which was
said to be the only survivor of the battle. Of course we have to forget
about Reno and Benteen’s commands, but I was only a kid and didn’t care
about all the details.
As a junior in high school in 1970, I was placed in an independent study
program in history class where I had to research, write a paper and give a
presentation on two historical events of my choosing. Naturally, The Battle
of the Little Bighorn was my first choice.
The Custer Battlefield (politically incorrect) was my first tour of what
would be many battlefields that I’ve since visited. I know, I know it’s the
Little Bighorn Battlefield now, but when I visited in the mid 90’s it was
politically incorrect named The Custer Battlefield. My park handbook says so
on the cover! How times have changed. Ironically, it was Crow scouts that
led Custer to fight the Sioux (more politically incorrect) at The Battle of
Greasy Grass Creek (which is Indian (even more politically incorrect)
politically correct speak for the battle. Whew!)
My one regret after visiting the Gettysburg Battlefield was the lack of time
to visit the East Gettysburg Battlefield where Custer, a newly made General,
Brev, went toe to toe with General J.E.B. Stuart and prevented the
late-comer Stuart from flanking and attacking the rear of the Union Lines as
Pickett’s Charge was happening (what if Stuart had succeeded?). Custer later
help chase Lee to Appomattox and was present at the signing, receiving the
table on which the terms were signed from his commander, General Sheridan.(snip)
I’ve always been intrigued with the “what ifs” of the battle and I’m
convinced that if had Custer had only rested the troops and horses some time
before the battle, that Major Reno’s charge would have succeeded and that
would have placed Reno in the heart of the village of women and children.
Gall then would have been hard pressed to attack Custer, electing to defend
the village. In addition Captain Benteen very well could have been arriving
to support Reno’s rear or attacking the village from the west and provide
additional pressure on Gall. This would have left Crazy Horse alone to
either attack Custer head on or to retreat to defend the village. Either
way, there would have been no fatal flanking action from Crazy Horse. I
believe Crazy Horse would have retreated to defend and in the process once
again become disorganized and fall apart under the crush of the 7th’s pincer
move.
The mocking of Custer today is a trend among the politically correct who
have very little time or inclination to research the history behind an
event, and are looking for a “feel good” experience in tune with today’s
politically correct beliefs. I call them “accidental historians”, and they
usually end up getting it wrong. Thanks for a reason to dig out all my
Custer books for a walk down memory lane.
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