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Nov 10, 2014 18:27:11 GMT -6
Post by fred on Nov 10, 2014 18:27:11 GMT -6
Lastly, one question, Appendix B: Vegetation, my wife asked what variety of cedar, I could have given her chapter and verse on Buffalo Grass. But, alas, regarding cedar I could only tell it was not like ours. Tom, I have no earthly clue. Everything I know about the vegetation is contained in that short appendix. I suspect the cedars are short, stumpier versions of our much larger eastern trees. I have never walked down the coulee, though I have been quite near it. I am hoping to walk it this coming summer. You can be assured pictures will be taken. Best wishes, Fred.
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Nov 10, 2014 19:17:35 GMT -6
fred likes this
Post by Beth on Nov 10, 2014 19:17:35 GMT -6
Fred,
I believe I have mentioed before that whenever I menion Little Big Horn to Daughter 1, I have to listen to something about one of her favorite TV shows. Over the weekend I was telling her about some of the things out of your book. To my surprise, instead of then telling me about How I Met Your Mother or Dr. Who. She actually started asking me about your book!
I haven't finished enough to give a full critique, but I am alreadying planning on doing a second read during a nearly week long bus trip/college visits tour I'm taking with Daughter 1 latter this month.
Beth
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Nov 11, 2014 9:42:23 GMT -6
Post by fred on Nov 11, 2014 9:42:23 GMT -6
I think I need to make a few things clear about this new book.
One of the savviest and smartest posters on these and the other boards is a fellow named Henk-- some of you may recognize his moniker as "hevat"-- who resides in the Netherlands. Like QC, he expressed some disagreement in my opinion of Custer's "tactics," per se. I believe there to be some confusion as to my feelings on this whole thing, so I addressed Henk's comments from the other boards earlier this morning. I am posting here what I hopefully explained properly over there. Here is my comment to Henk...
Henk—
I think you missed my point. If you read the preface in the book, you will see a comment, thus… “we ask a multitude of questions throughout this volume, some of which we purposely do not answer. Sometimes the reader must do this himself, he must involve his own thought process. We want this to be a book where the reader can also make his own decisions and not just parrot mine; where the student of history can attempt to delve into the mind of a formidable American soldier and possibly answer—for himself—why George Custer did what he did that fateful day. We cannot answer those questions… maybe you can.”
You will notice I couch my defense of Custer’s tactics in light of his obeying/disobeying orders from Terry and the strategic plans/intentions of the campaign. You should also note I stated Custer made three “fatal” errors in the performance of those tactics. Those mistakes thwarted the objective of his tactics overall. As my friend “quincannon” on the other boards so admirably pointed out to me, there is a subset of tactics/strategy known today as “operational arts.” Where Custer’s tactics were good was in his movements, his placements, and his dispositions. An example of this is his movement down the ridges toward Ford B, while sending Smith back into the coulee as flank protection; Custer’s deployment of Smith along the river as skirmishers protecting him as he peered over the valley; Smith’s move up Deep Coulee, protecting Custer’s rear, rather than a helter-skelter run for the ridges. (And by the way, the same rationale can be applied to Reno’s actions in the valley.) These were solid, sound, smart “tactics”… “operational arts,” or whatever label we wish to apply: “tactics within tactics.” The movement itself to Ford B was a mistake; the movement north was a mistake; Keogh’s relinquishing his mobility was a mistake. “[W]e ask a multitude of questions throughout this volume, some of which we purposely do not answer. Sometimes the reader must do this himself, he must involve his own thought process. We want this to be a book where the reader can also make his own decisions….” Maybe my mistake was in using the words, “ask” and “questions.” Maybe I should have stated, “we posit myriad situations…” and let the reader decide for himself. And one must never judge this man's tactics without placing them in the context of his original orders and the intent of those orders.
Best wishes, Fred.
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Nov 11, 2014 9:47:57 GMT -6
Post by fred on Nov 11, 2014 9:47:57 GMT -6
I haven't finished enough to give a full critique, but I am alreadying planning on doing a second read during a nearly week long bus trip/college visits tour I'm taking with Daughter 1 latter this month. Beth, May I be so presumptuous to ask what schools your daughter is interested in? I interview prospective students for my school, and it is always of interest to me when I hear of parents bringing their child to see these marvelous institutions. Best wishes, Fred.
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Nov 11, 2014 16:51:08 GMT -6
fred likes this
Post by Beth on Nov 11, 2014 16:51:08 GMT -6
We are visiting two Iowa colleges Coe and Grinnell. OTher schools she is cosidering are Oberlin, Macalester and possibly Colorado College
Can I ask which school you interview for? Sam has recieved over 2300 emails from schools and I don't know how many letters.
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Nov 11, 2014 17:32:59 GMT -6
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Post by chris on Nov 11, 2014 17:32:59 GMT -6
Beth, 2 bits says Fred will say Georgetown University.
Fred, Amazon has increased their price for the Kindle e-book. I wonder why. At last look, McFarland is out of stock and Amazon too.
As it should, it looks good for you! Best, c.
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Nov 11, 2014 18:40:37 GMT -6
Post by fred on Nov 11, 2014 18:40:37 GMT -6
Beth,
Chris is correct: I graduated from Georgetown's School of Foreign Service and my daughter graduated from the School of Arts and Sciences. I have been interviewing for them since the mid-'80s.
That is a very nice choice of schools you are looking at. It seems you and your daughter are looking for smaller colleges and those are top tier schools; personally, I like that. Georgetown's undergraduate schools have about 6,400, so it too is not that large. If I am not mistaken, the school's graduate programs double the size and I know Georgetown Law is the largest in the country (and while it is a helluva good law school, size does not make best).
Chris,
Diane mentioned to me on Saturday that McFarland had sold out. I checked Amazon and saw they had also sold out and it seems-- by our phone conversation-- Rich Upton had likewise sold out. I should be-- and am-- flattered, though I don't have the guts to call McFarland and ask how large the print-run. My wife, Lisa, wants to call them and with my son's cajoling, I said OK. I didn't want to say anything: it isn't my style, though I guess from a marketing viewpoint, I should be doubly flattered, since it seems something like this stimulates even more demand.
Watch... it will be a print-run of 50!!!!! < G >
As for the Kindle price... you know as well as I: supply and demand, my friend. The more demand, the higher the price.
Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by tubman13 on Nov 11, 2014 18:41:16 GMT -6
Chris, you are even tight on a gimmie bet!
Regards, Tom
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Nov 11, 2014 19:42:48 GMT -6
Post by Beth on Nov 11, 2014 19:42:48 GMT -6
Y'all know where I live Georgetown, is just a little town north of Austin. It even has it's own university ;D
She is looking for a small but good school but cost of living in the area and financial aid are a factor. However, Georgeown is the type of school she is hoping to do her postgraduate work at. At this point though she is unsure if she wants to go into neuroscience or microbiology though.
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Carl
Full Member
Posts: 125
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Nov 15, 2014 19:19:44 GMT -6
fred likes this
Post by Carl on Nov 15, 2014 19:19:44 GMT -6
McFarland told me my order for "Strategy of Defeat.." was back ordered, but I received my copy today.
First impression, superbly done. Checked the maps (which are excellent) and read the acknowledgments and preface. Plan to take my time and absorb the content.
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Nov 15, 2014 23:28:08 GMT -6
Post by fred on Nov 15, 2014 23:28:08 GMT -6
Carl,
There are very few people I admire and respect as much as you. I have told you this before, you are one of the great American soldiers who have written our history and have paved the way for those of us who followed you. Your words and your comments mean a tremendous amount to me and I am flattered and honored by your comments. I hope you enjoy this book.
Very best wishes, Fred.
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