VCR Alert (UK)

[Louise]

At last! A programme about LBH on this side of the pond:

Command Decisions: The Battle of the Little Bighorn
Thursday 26 May, 7:30 - 8pm
History Channel (Sky: 561, NTL:504/138, Telewest: 234)

Don't know anything about it. Has anyone on that side of the pond seen it before?

[Tricia]

For those who have more than cursory knowledge of the battle, "Command Decisions," provided nothing new or particularly interesting. Very, very simplistic rendering of a complex situation--they presented multiple choice questions in given scenarios. "What would you do?"

It was rather interesting to see Bob Reece of the Friends of the Little Bighorn interviewed as well as Neil Mangum--but I found they were the only reason I kept watching. Bob mentioned somewhere that he was quite impressed with the level of the questions he was posed during his part of the interviews, but somehow, it never was translated into the finished, edited product.

Welcome to the forum!
Leyton McLean

[Steve Wilk]

Louise, I haven't seen that particular episode, but did see an episode of this show once. It's actually a very good show where they present battle scenarios and give the viewer multiple choice "quizzes" on what the correct command decision would be. My guess would be they take shots a Custer while exonerating Reno and Benteen, but I could be wrong.

[elisabeth]

Louise, I'm on the UK side of the pond, and saw this a few months ago. I'm not as expert in all this as Rice (or many others), but for what it's worth I'd echo his verdict. Bits of it were pretty laughable, and a lot of the Big Questions weren't even tackled, but the interviews were well worth seeing. And -- as you say yourself -- any opportunity to hear the subject discussed is not to be missed!

[bigpond]

Pity we dont get TNT as well

still will set the recorder,many thanks ;D

[markland]

Bob and Neil were the best serious parts of the questions. I guarantee you will get a stomach-ache laughing at some of the possible "answers" to the multiple choice questions.

Pick up tomahawk and charge.....indeed.

Billy

[Louise]

Actually I have in my possession a Native Indian made bone whistle, allegedly taken from the hands of a dead cavalryman after the battle. God knows what the guy was doing with it at the time as it's an unlikely thing to snatch from an assailant.

Although I don't hold with the idea of the Custer part of the battle being a total rout so maybe this man took the whistle into battle and was using it to rally his men in some way?

Anyway, I digress....and will look forward to seeing the multiple choices.

;D

[Tricia]

Louise said:

Although I don't hold with the idea of the Custer part of the battle being a total rout so maybe this man took the whistle into battle and was using it to rally his men in some way?

If what you mean by Custer's part of the battle was "not a total rout "was that there were, once the offensive was lost, some attempts at organized defensive strategies, that might have slowed the battalion's ultimate desmise, then I would agree with you. I think anybody who studies the battle would do so as well.

But, at the same time, I cannot think of a more complete example of the term "rout" than losing an entire five battalions--well, except for Walt's Lt. Harrington, who seemed to get away for a few miles before he, too, met his end.

Regards,
Leyton McLean

[bigpond]

Louise,Elisabeth I hope you have been watching the "Ray Mears" programme on BBC 2,the 3rd part tonight,about Jim Bridger & the Shoshone.
Next week it is earlier ,about 7 or 7.30

[elisabeth]

Thanks, Bigpond -- I hadn't spotted this at all! I'll try to catch what's left, and hope for a repeat of the series soon.