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Post by crzhrs on Jan 31, 2006 14:58:58 GMT -6
The warriors gave conflicting reports about Custer's fight . . . or maybe not. Some saw bravery, others cowardice. I'm sure not all soldiers showed the white feather, but there must have been many, especially newly enlisted who did not put up much of a fight once things started going downhill.
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Post by Tricia on Mar 21, 2006 8:31:27 GMT -6
My final assessment of An Obituary For Major Reno by Richard Wheeler: compelling story, one that almost forces the reader to move forward--even though you know what's around the bend. Wheeler's style doesn't bog you down in heavy descriptions--though there are some places where the narrative hiccups and repeats things that were mentioned perhaps a page previously--and this breezy approach is another factor that leads to the ease of reading.
Major problems (historically): Thomas Weir is "demoted" to lieutenant in one chapter, only to be "promoted" within the next, Lieutenant George Wallace "pops" out of the middle of nowhere, and is stuck into the midst of a scene--only called "Wallace," with no mention of his connection/rank to the Seventh. Wheeler maintains a rendezvous date between Terry, Gibbon, and Custer of June 26, 1876.
Wheeler also introduces "horse fatigue" as a reason Benteen didn't move more quickly once in receipt of Custer's final orders. I found that argument fascinating and worth further research. One character, Mary Hannah Reno, is an important part of the narrative, although she has already been dead for several years when the story begins--Wheeler cites her death as the root cause of Reno's descent from able soldier into the problematic.
All in all, a terrific read! Leyton McLean
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