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Post by jdmackintosh on Jan 27, 2006 18:53:30 GMT -6
Weibert has that in his book and in his video of the battlefield. The man deserves much credit for his intimacy with the terrain, the discovery of the Crow's Nest and his dedication of many years. Bouyer killing him? I think proposing that a large meteor from space struck Custer on the head with a fatal blow is about as believable as that!
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Post by Tricia on Jan 27, 2006 19:15:39 GMT -6
Thanks for the clarification. Now I'm really confused! I think Shawn meant "my" book, the one I'm holding in my hand, rather than "my" book, the one I wrote. Being a writer, you naturally gravitated towards thinking he was writing, too. I've noticed "my book" used a few other times on these boards, and it can be very confusing! Diane-- NP! I'm sorry I'm such a literalist ... however, a title would have been really nice. Okay, critique sesson over ... and out (uhh, that was to Fred)! LMC
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Post by El Crab on Jan 27, 2006 23:37:00 GMT -6
Diane I was wondering why all that sounded so familiar! I never say "my book" I say my copy of this book. As for Weibert's theory -- codswollop. alfuso Now, now. You're hardly being fair to cod and their, um, swollop.
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Post by fred on Jan 28, 2006 10:17:56 GMT -6
"Codswallop?" "Balderdash?"
How about bullswipe?[/b]
Actually, I'm big on JD's meteor theory myself.
Shawn-- I love you dearly & you're young, polite, interested, & invigorating, but you really need to finish that book & move on to someone else's. Stuff like that can get you drilled on this Website.
Who was it?-- JD?-- who mentioned that Weibert really knew the terrain [oh, yeah, it was!] & does deserve credit for his discoveries & dedication, but it's sort of like dedicating your whole life to enriching a bank, only to steal the cash the day before you're set to retire. You wind up getting remembered as the guy who didn't have his full ration of coffee that morning.
Anyway, shawn, I would like to suggest you head next to the book pages here, & check out what your next selection should be. Son of the Morning Star, Stewart, Graham... good stuff there.
Best wishes, your friend, Fred.
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shawn
Junior Member
My sons and I...Reno Hill June 26th 2006
Posts: 98
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Post by shawn on Jan 28, 2006 10:47:01 GMT -6
Lol...I guess I should have clarified better...
In the copy of my book, Sixty-six Years in Custer's Shadow, Henry Weibert did stretch things a bit perhaps. His conclusions (about Mitch Bouyer) didn't come from anything concrete nor from anyone else's theory, and I doubt that he truly believed it. I think he just wanted to put a fresh idea out for people to start getting interested in what happened that day. There is nothing like a good conspiracy theory to get people involved.
Lots of his knowledge came from places other than what he found with his metal detector, other buffs and books. He literally knew lots of direct descendent's of the battle. And not just be nodding acquaintances with them, I'm talking about being friends. His best friend was George Curly, the grandson of the scout (he met Curly the scout when he was five or six). He spent many evenings around a campfire with his hunting buddies (Art Bravo, Chester Other Medicine, George Curly and Louis Caplett), drinking whiskey and spinning yarns while hunting the Wolf mountains. Who knows what they talked about? He also knew Thomas LaForge (the man who married Bouyers widow) and had business dealings with him. He knew William White (2nd Cavalry under Gibbon) when he was a youngster. And most of the renowned authors/historians of his time. They came to him for advice and vice versa. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that Weibert had access to resources that others didn't. Balderdash? Codswollop? Maybe, but who knows?
Fred... I'm currently reading "With Custer on the Little Bighorn" by William O. Taylor...its great so far. Id like to read SOTMS, and Ill get it when I have the chance. It seems like everyone here refers to it. Must be good.
Have a great day
Shawn
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Post by fred on Jan 28, 2006 14:15:33 GMT -6
Shawn--
I read Taylor's book a few years ago & it's good fun, but lacking for accuracy in many places. For example, he claims the command arrived at the Powder River on June 9, but in reality, Custer's horse was first drinking the river's alkaline waters around 3:30pm on the 7th. Taylor also claims Companies B, G, H, & K had about 25 recruits each. That's completely wrong. At the battle, B had 6 men w/ less than 6 months service; G had 3; H, none; & K none. Company H had none, period, not even at the Powder River Depot. Each company had a few men at the battle w/ between 6 months & 1 year's service, except K which had no one there w/ under 1 year's service.
He also got Reno's strength riding down the valley wrong by about 12%, & he was way off about the size of the crossing area at Ford A, but all of that stuff is small potatoes. The book is a lot of fun & reading something written by someone who was actually there sort of gives you a whole different perspective on things; you suddenly become part of it all.
Best wishes, shawn, Fred.
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Post by jdmackintosh on Jan 28, 2006 16:45:20 GMT -6
"Codswallop?" "Balderdash?" How about bullswipe?[/b] Actually, I'm big on JD's meteor theory myself. Who was it?-- JD?-- who mentioned that Weibert really knew the terrain [oh, yeah, it was!] & does deserve credit for his discoveries & dedication, but it's sort of like dedicating your whole life to enriching a bank, only to steal the cash the day before you're set to retire. You wind up getting remembered as the guy who didn't have his full ration of coffee that morning. Best wishes, your friend, Fred.[/quote] Yes, that meteor did Custer in. I have it right here by my PC and am getting ready to part with it, uploading sales info to ebay tonight, bids starting at $100,00.00! Seriously, I have read Weibert's book and all those years he lived there gave him a familiarity with the battlefield I can never begin to approach. He discovered numerous artifacts long before the 1980s NPS excavations. Plus, he did discover the Crow's Nest, unless you subscribe to the Vern Smalley school of thought. Yes, he was off the mark with Bouyer but everybody can't bat a 1000 all the time, so I sort of just laught that off.
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Post by fred on Jan 28, 2006 20:59:13 GMT -6
JD--
I agree w/ you, completely. Almost everything I read mentions something Weibert has done & has contributed. I[/b] should be as well remembered! Besides, I just met a person (who I really like), who knew him well. That sort of gives me a small tie there.
Best wishes, Fred.
P.S.-- I haven't been able to find your meteor on e-bay. Have you offered it yet? FCW
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Post by El Crab on Jan 29, 2006 1:30:07 GMT -6
Actually, Custer was done in by an iceberg. And not just any block of ice from the North Atlantic but the very same dastardly 'berg that sunk the Titanic. That's right, two of the biggest disasters in our past was caused by just one culprit. And it just so happens I have this infamous piece of history, complete with Certificate of Authenticity, on eBay with a low starting bid of 1.7 million dollars and no reserve! Happy bidding!
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Post by Jim on Jan 29, 2006 9:02:10 GMT -6
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shawn
Junior Member
My sons and I...Reno Hill June 26th 2006
Posts: 98
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Post by shawn on Jan 29, 2006 9:18:25 GMT -6
Lol...I found a picture made by Larson, depicting Custer's last stand, sofa and endtable!!
Shawn
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Post by fred on Jan 29, 2006 10:38:49 GMT -6
Shawn--
Explain this "Lol" business. I'm a newbie.
Your buddy, Fred.
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Post by stevewilk on Jan 29, 2006 11:11:15 GMT -6
Fred:
LOL = Laughing out loud
LMAO = Laughing my ass off
There are several of these abbreviations in computer speak, BTW. (by the way). Any decent beginner computer book should cover these.
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Post by stevewilk on Jan 29, 2006 11:12:15 GMT -6
Fred, the "A" stands for synonym for donkey...it got censored I guess.
Steve, I fixed it so that now you can talk about your ass all you want to! ;D Diane
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Post by fred on Jan 29, 2006 12:03:15 GMT -6
Steve--
Thank you. I guess there's more than just the Custer stuff I'm deficient at!
Best wishes, Fred.
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