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Post by quincannon on Oct 13, 2014 17:20:52 GMT -6
That is what makes it so difficult a call. I really don't see him going down there without orders to do so, but the possibility exists that he did. One of those things never to be known.
No question that the move into the coulee was the point where things became unhinged. Still that most likely would have happened without it but a little later. All five companies were out gunned and out maneuvered.
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Post by tubman13 on Oct 13, 2014 17:34:52 GMT -6
I still question distribution of talent. Would not Benteen, French, or McDougall have been more proactive than sitting in a swale waiting for the action to come to them? Did it really require three companies to scout to the left? Or were we just ridding our self of one who might question orders? So many questions, so few answers.
Regards, Tom
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Post by quincannon on Oct 13, 2014 17:52:29 GMT -6
Was it wrong in sending them, or was the wrong in not waiting for either results or their return?
The more I think about it, it was the act of sending them. Those that disagree, and there will be some, including Fred, must ask themselves, was the effort, worth the consequence of the act. Could there have been something out there? Yes. Was it likely? Maybe. Was it worth the dissipation and dispersal of combat power? No. Sometimes you have to pay your money and take your chances. Not sending them was a risk worth taking to husband combat power, in my view.
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Post by tubman13 on Oct 13, 2014 18:01:48 GMT -6
Answer to 1st question is, both. You answer as to why is below your question.
Regards, Tom
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Post by welshofficer on Oct 13, 2014 18:10:53 GMT -6
That is what makes it so difficult a call. I really don't see him going down there without orders to do so, but the possibility exists that he did. One of those things never to be known. No question that the move into the coulee was the point where things became unhinged. Still that most likely would have happened without it but a little later. All five companies were out gunned and out maneuvered. QC,
It's a hard one. GAC wasn't driving the hostiles anywhere. But with an organised fending withdrawal, much of his wing might have lived to fight another day and a wipe out avoided. But once C and L companies were overrun in quick succession, prospects for the rest were pretty grim.
WO
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Post by quincannon on Oct 13, 2014 22:18:03 GMT -6
WO: Withdrawal was possible, but it would have had to have been two timely calls not one. Neither one, Custer or Keogh, would move out, as long as they thought the other remained in place. Withdrawal then became moot.
Yes Tom, I did sort of answer my own question. It is very easy to see wild goose chases in hindsight. Much harder to realize they are in the present. My reasoning is this. You are entering a complete unknown, other than there are a bunch of Indians down there somewhere. Seems to me the prudent thing to do is maintain positive control until the situation solidifies somewhat, and not go looking for the dog poop in the corner again.
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Post by Yan Taylor on Oct 14, 2014 3:09:50 GMT -6
It could be that circumstances kept Keogh entertained over on the east side of the ridge line, and this effected his judgement as the Calhoun position was out of his LOS, having said that he was a battalion commander and should have been in a position to oversee all three of his companies, maybe he was exposed trying to control the situation, which resulted in him being hit, and one they got him under cover the whole command situation went to pot, his final location does resemble a fall-back position for the survivors of the other two companies, and the grouping of NCOs around him could suggest a heroic stand.
Ian.
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