Some Newbie Questions..

[jwl]

Hi Everyone.

I used to be a member of the Custer Clan site (is this the new version?) but lost contact, so just recently re-joined.

I come back to LBH in cycles and in one now, reading up on various aspects, and just reading The Custer Myth, by W.A. Graham.

I'd appreciate it if you could clarify some general points about LBH...

1. I've always thought of the native Americans as having a close relationship and respect for their environment. However, in recent readings I've come across references to (a) leaving huge dumps of trash and garbage of life behind when moving on (compare to today's way of thinking to dispose of stuff responsibly, as in camping out, and so on, (b) shoving headless cavalry corpses into the LBH river. Why would they risk polluting the water they would depend on so much?

2. When Custer split the 7th, why did he not just do: Troops A,B,C with (i.e. Benteen), troops D,E,F with...instead of what he actually did, kind of randomly putting companies together, like A, F, M?

3. Finally, why do ranks keep changing so much in various books? In the above book, Capt. Benteen becomes Colonel (or is that Reno?) and Custer seems all over the place from General, Colonel, whatever, and I think I also recall General Terry later becoming Brigadier. Also, is there a place somewhere that would show me a list of U.S. military ranks and what they mean in terms of duties and responsibilities?

Thanks!

[edavids]

Jun 24, 2017 21:25:11 GMT -6 jwl said:

Hi Everyone.

I used to be a member of the Custer Clan site (is this the new version?) but lost contact, so just recently re-joined.

I come back to LBH in cycles and in one now, reading up on various aspects, and just reading The Custer Myth, by W.A. Graham.

I'd appreciate it if you could clarify some general points about LBH...

1. I've always thought of the native Americans as having a close relationship and respect for their environment. However, in recent readings I've come across references to (a) leaving huge dumps of trash and garbage of life behind when moving on (compare to today's way of thinking to dispose of stuff responsibly, as in camping out, and so on, (b) shoving headless cavalry corpses into the LBH river. Why would they risk polluting the water they would depend on so much?

2. When Custer split the 7th, why did he not just do: Troops A,B,C with (i.e. Benteen), troops D,E,F with...instead of what he actually did, kind of randomly putting companies together, like A, F, M?

3. Finally, why do ranks keep changing so much in various books? In the above book, Capt. Benteen becomes Colonel (or is that Reno?) and Custer seems all over the place from General, Colonel, whatever, and I think I also recall General Terry later becoming Brigadier. Also, is there a place somewhere that would show me a list of U.S. military ranks and what they mean in terms of duties and responsibilities?

Thanks!

Welcome. IMHO

1) Revenge on enemies far more important than environment. This was way b4 the 'going green' movement.

2). Commander's choice but little doubt he wanted to keep his most trusted officers close to him and they, for the most part commanded the companies that went with Custer. Exceptions were Myles Moylan's company A which went with Reno and Weir's company D which went with Benteen.

3). Officers were, out of courtesy, often addressed by their Brevet Civil War Ranks, therefore General (not Lieutenant Colonel) Custer, Colonel Benteen instead of Captain, etc.

Hope this helped.

Best,

David

[noggy]

Jun 24, 2017 21:25:11 GMT -6 jwl said:

Hi Everyone.

1. I've always thought of the native Americans as having a close relationship and respect for their environment. However, in recent readings I've come across references to (a) leaving huge dumps of trash and garbage of life behind when moving on (compare to today's way of thinking to dispose of stuff responsibly, as in camping out, and so on, (b) shoving headless cavalry corpses into the LBH river. Why would they risk polluting the water they would depend on so much?

Trash left behind by Indians in the 1800s would not be anything like our garbage of today. Stuff made out of hides, tusks, bones etc will be broken down naturally as compared to metals, plastic etc which we tend to throw around. Leaving tents made of wood and fur when leaving a place can`t be compared with a land filling of modern day Waste. Also, the whole thing is more about a way of life which was dependant on nature being intact, while "we" for a long time saw nature as something which could be exploited endlessly in order to make Our more and more industrial and technological way of life comfier.

I dont think it`s a health risk as long as the water is actually running. The bodies and whatever would be carried down stream (or up stream) and away from the village area very quickly. In a lake it would be a different story. Dumping dead humans and animals in wells and other still standing reservoirs of water is a classic and nasty tactitcal trick used by armies througoyt the centuries. 

[jwl]

Thanks to both for your great explanations.