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Post by crzhrs on Feb 18, 2015 12:44:43 GMT -6
When Western militarys face each other they general know what to expect and sometimes even know what the other side will do. Fighting Indians was completely different, they could run, they could fight, they could run then return and fight, they could try to protect non-coms with rear guard action, etc. The point I am trying to make is: Did Custer do anything different in planning an attack on Indians rather than a conventional foe? Would he have kept his entire command together if he was attacking a large standing army or did he base his plan on attacking Indians who would do the unexpected? Remember, the greatest fear the Custer/Military had was Indians would run rather than fight. Did he base his actions on that or just attack and hope for the best like attacking another Western foe?
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Post by tubman13 on Feb 18, 2015 12:58:04 GMT -6
Crzhrs, I have no Idea what he thought. What I do know is if he had kept the command together and attacked up the valley, he would have had better results. If they run, he is pushing them towards Terry. If they fight he can bring substantial firepower to bare and if he needs to pull back he can do it while covering his rear.
Regards, Tom
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Post by mac on Feb 18, 2015 16:19:55 GMT -6
Would he have divided his command before he knew exactly where the Confederates were camped? ) I think this is the salient point here. I doubt Custer would have divided as he did without knowing the disposition of the enemy forces. I suspect that at LBH he thought he knew where they would be and what their distribution was and he was wrong on both counts. Cheers
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Post by crzhrs on Feb 19, 2015 12:58:49 GMT -6
Custer's best bet may have been to hit the camp with Reno/Custer acting as one. Not ordering Reno to "bring the Indians to battle" then Custer leaving off with only a promise of support. By piece-mealing his command he lost all advantage of a major shock and awe attack and gave the Indians the advantage of fighting off small units. He either underestimated the Indians ability or overestimated his own. I doubt he would have divided his command if he was attacking a Civil War encampment. In the end it leads me to believe Custer would never have separated his command if he was fighing a large standing western army and based his moves on an inferior enemy who would rather run than fight. In the end that was his and the rest of the military's greatest fear. His decisions at the LBH had more to do with Indians running than fighting.
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