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Post by markland on Jan 7, 2008 7:59:24 GMT -6
Saturday I embarked in the late afternoon on gathering data for another project, itemizing monthly desertions per Army regiment for the time period of 01/1866 through 12/1877 (the end date is flexible.) We have all heard the tales of how GAC's strict discipline caused hundreds (or billions & billions  ) of the 7th Cav.'s soldiers to desert so I thought a comparative look at the numbers might be enlightening on whether that was a truthful & fact-based assumption or just another case of GAC being the whipping boy for assumed truths. I was able to get the 1st Cav.'s numbers through 12/74 on Saturday and will input the 7th Cav.'s numbers tonight. Wednesday I am taking the day off (why have six weeks of vacation plus a carry-over week if you aren't going to use them?) so I will hopefully get two or three other regiments entered. Once the raw data is input, I will attempt to put a yearly time-line of where each regiment was and what duties it was performing. Once the data is compiled, I will put it in PDF form and place it at either my site or donate it to the Friends of the Little Bighorn Battlefield for dissemination. Any suggestions on other things to include will be considered. Billy |
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Post by elisabeth on Jan 7, 2008 8:22:26 GMT -6
Billy, that'll be great.
Excellent idea to add in data on where each regiment was at any given time. That must surely have been a factor in the 7th's troubles in 1866/7, operating so close to the goldfields.
If we're going to judge GAC's success or otherwise by these figures, might it be good to identify the commanding officers of the other regiments, year by year, as well? It might give us a picture of what effect, if any, the personality of the commander had on desertion rates.
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Post by markland on Jan 7, 2008 9:19:16 GMT -6
Billy, that'll be great. Excellent idea to add in data on where each regiment was at any given time. That must surely have been a factor in the 7th's troubles in 1866/7, operating so close to the goldfields. If we're going to judge GAC's success or otherwise by these figures, might it be good to identify the commanding officers of the other regiments, year by year, as well? It might give us a picture of what effect, if any, the personality of the commander had on desertion rates. Billy, that'll be great. Excellent idea to add in data on where each regiment was at any given time. That must surely have been a factor in the 7th's troubles in 1866/7, operating so close to the goldfields. If we're going to judge GAC's success or otherwise by these figures, might it be good to identify the commanding officers of the other regiments, year by year, as well? It might give us a picture of what effect, if any, the personality of the commander had on desertion rates. Excellent suggestion Elisabeth! Much of the information can come from Rodenbough's <sp> History of the Army at: www.history.army.mil/books/R&H/R&H-FM.htmBut, corroboration with the regimental returns will add a layer of fact-checking to the contributors to his compilation. Billy |
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Post by markland on Dec 3, 2008 7:47:25 GMT -6
OK, finally got around to working on this. Here is the table of raw yearly numbers for all regiments, 1866-1874 and partial numbers for 1875. I have not gotten around to researching the returns for any regiment in 1876 yet. Unfortunately, I have only had time to pull the numbers and did not itemize location nor commander. That has been added to the "To Do" list but will come after a study of the 7th Cav. on a monthly basis, the parameters of which have yet to be determined. freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~familyinformation/Custer/Desertions_Yearly.pdfBilly |
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Post by biggordie on Dec 3, 2008 11:11:31 GMT -6
I thought you said that you were going to do this by month!! What gives?!?!? How about surnames, DOBs, grave sites, and children's names?!?!? There's a start for your parameters, buddy!!!
Another half-fast project from the land of the half-fast Chiefs and Royals!!
Best wishes,
Amomeemus
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Post by markland on Dec 3, 2008 11:41:54 GMT -6
I thought you said that you were going to do this by month!! What gives?!?!? How about surnames, DOBs, grave sites, and children's names?!?!? There's a start for your parameters, buddy!!! Another half-fast project from the land of the half-fast Chiefs and Royals!! Best wishes, Amomeemus Damned Canadians, never happy....must be the frustration of living in snow for eleven months and shoveling for the remainder of the year. Check your email oh ungrateful one. Billy |
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Post by runaheap on Dec 3, 2008 14:32:16 GMT -6
Billy, would Rodenbough's have Court Martials for Desertion info also? Not to add to your research, but since GAC was also CM'd for his handling of deserters, the situation of troopers taking "The Grand Bounce" must have been plentiful enough for his actions. I realise that their desertion in plain site of the regiment influenced his response. I beleive I also read that many enlisted in the Eastern States for free transportation close to the Gold discovery areas.
Greg
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) of the 7th Cav.'s soldiers to desert so I thought a comparative look at the numbers might be enlightening on whether that was a truthful & fact-based assumption or just another case of GAC being the whipping boy for assumed truths. I was able to get the 1st Cav.'s numbers through 12/74 on Saturday and will input the 7th Cav.'s numbers tonight. Wednesday I am taking the day off (why have six weeks of vacation plus a carry-over week if you aren't going to use them?) so I will hopefully get two or three other regiments entered. Once the raw data is input, I will attempt to put a yearly time-line of where each regiment was and what duties it was performing.
