Post by montrose on Dec 23, 2010 8:51:23 GMT -6
1. Purpose. Discuss the Wolf Tooth band and its' implications on the battle.
2. Background. Fred and Darkcloud raised some interesting points about Wolf Tooth and crew. There are few testimonies from the estimated 50 Indians in this band. Main source of testimony is second hand, from John Stands in The Timbers recollection of Wolf Tooth and Big Foot.
However, the LCN debris indicates that US forces were firing at someone. They were not firing at Ford B, it is so far out of range as to be just silly. (This has not stopped one or two theorists from going there anyway).
I call this the LBH Heisenberg Uncertainty Principal. We lack the data to pinpoint exactly who, what, when, where, why. But enough evidence exists from the reaction of other players that there must have been Indians on east side of river, and their presence impacted decisions and actions of US forces.
3. Wolf Tooth band. The band was a collection of Indians who snuck out of camp. Their intent was to find US forces believed to be in the area, and conduct an attack for prestige and honor, vice a higher tactical goal. Implications:
a. Weapons. As younger men seeking honor, it is unlikely that this group had many firearms. Firearms were more likely to be with older, more experienced warriors. This is because the older folks are more easily able to afford to buy one, or recover one on a previous battlefield. Firearms are a prestige item, so the more powerful men are more likely and able to have firearms than the youngsters.
I think of it like cars. Look at a high school parking lot and a major corporation parking lot. Where do you think you will find clunkers vice luxury cars?
b. Adhoc. The adhoc nature of the group means many did not know each other. Since it appears there were mixed tribes, some could not speak to each other. This lack or organization contributes to the lack of testimony.
Oral tradition survives better in tribal societies and tribal histories. A warrior society has a vested interest in preserving tales of their members. Same for a group who fought together: their later telling and retelling of exploits allows people who fought together to let their stories feed off each other.
So a single man in a group of strangers has credibility issues from the get go.
c. Ineffective. The Wolf Tooth band didn't do much of consequence. The band followed US forces from a distance. It is unlikely that they inflicted any casualties until much later in the fight.
4. Time line. It is difficult to fit the band into a time line. The band split in two, half going north and half south.
a. Weir ridge-Reno Hill area of operation. There is clearly a gap in time and space where messengers, stragglers, brothers flowed through this area freely. The arrival of the Wolf Tooth band, and particularly the south group after the split, would start to close this window.
b. Luce and Nye/Carter firing. The firing on this ridges is most likely in reaction to Wolf Tooth band and a few infiltrators from the villages. Wolf Tooth said in early morning he had avoided sentries on the heights, so their may have been Indian sentries in the area. Even if the Wolf Tooth story is a complete fabrication, the firing on the two ridges had to be directed at somebody. My assumption is that controlled fire is used for long range. This means targets 4-600 meters from the firing locations.
c. Wolf Tooth. Wolf Tooth stayed with the north band. The challenge here is fitting in what he did after the split. It appears he passed by the Keogh sector and action and ended up at the Custer LSH fight. It is unclear whether he followed Custer, or what he did during the Ford D excursion.
5. Summary. I am clear as mud on the Wolf Tooth episode. Does anyone know of any testimony from participants other than Wolf Tooth and his cousin?
2. Background. Fred and Darkcloud raised some interesting points about Wolf Tooth and crew. There are few testimonies from the estimated 50 Indians in this band. Main source of testimony is second hand, from John Stands in The Timbers recollection of Wolf Tooth and Big Foot.
However, the LCN debris indicates that US forces were firing at someone. They were not firing at Ford B, it is so far out of range as to be just silly. (This has not stopped one or two theorists from going there anyway).
I call this the LBH Heisenberg Uncertainty Principal. We lack the data to pinpoint exactly who, what, when, where, why. But enough evidence exists from the reaction of other players that there must have been Indians on east side of river, and their presence impacted decisions and actions of US forces.
3. Wolf Tooth band. The band was a collection of Indians who snuck out of camp. Their intent was to find US forces believed to be in the area, and conduct an attack for prestige and honor, vice a higher tactical goal. Implications:
a. Weapons. As younger men seeking honor, it is unlikely that this group had many firearms. Firearms were more likely to be with older, more experienced warriors. This is because the older folks are more easily able to afford to buy one, or recover one on a previous battlefield. Firearms are a prestige item, so the more powerful men are more likely and able to have firearms than the youngsters.
I think of it like cars. Look at a high school parking lot and a major corporation parking lot. Where do you think you will find clunkers vice luxury cars?
b. Adhoc. The adhoc nature of the group means many did not know each other. Since it appears there were mixed tribes, some could not speak to each other. This lack or organization contributes to the lack of testimony.
Oral tradition survives better in tribal societies and tribal histories. A warrior society has a vested interest in preserving tales of their members. Same for a group who fought together: their later telling and retelling of exploits allows people who fought together to let their stories feed off each other.
So a single man in a group of strangers has credibility issues from the get go.
c. Ineffective. The Wolf Tooth band didn't do much of consequence. The band followed US forces from a distance. It is unlikely that they inflicted any casualties until much later in the fight.
4. Time line. It is difficult to fit the band into a time line. The band split in two, half going north and half south.
a. Weir ridge-Reno Hill area of operation. There is clearly a gap in time and space where messengers, stragglers, brothers flowed through this area freely. The arrival of the Wolf Tooth band, and particularly the south group after the split, would start to close this window.
b. Luce and Nye/Carter firing. The firing on this ridges is most likely in reaction to Wolf Tooth band and a few infiltrators from the villages. Wolf Tooth said in early morning he had avoided sentries on the heights, so their may have been Indian sentries in the area. Even if the Wolf Tooth story is a complete fabrication, the firing on the two ridges had to be directed at somebody. My assumption is that controlled fire is used for long range. This means targets 4-600 meters from the firing locations.
c. Wolf Tooth. Wolf Tooth stayed with the north band. The challenge here is fitting in what he did after the split. It appears he passed by the Keogh sector and action and ended up at the Custer LSH fight. It is unclear whether he followed Custer, or what he did during the Ford D excursion.
5. Summary. I am clear as mud on the Wolf Tooth episode. Does anyone know of any testimony from participants other than Wolf Tooth and his cousin?