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Post by dan25 on Oct 15, 2015 9:01:16 GMT -6
I find it hard to understand or believe that Custer would ride down to Ford D just to recon a crossing.
If anything it was to find the noncombatants. It really seems to be his only option at this point to capture as many as he can and end this. I say as many as he could because i can't believe he could have got them all even with 5 companies
there were just to many, and certainly some would have still escaped. Most likely there were warriors with them but
would they take a chance of firing at the soldiers and have the soldiers return fire hitting the woman and children?
I am starting to believe that when Custer arrived at Ford D he didn't see anyone, turned around and left.
The Indians claimed they had a tremendous amount of Wikiup's some where in that area. If the majority of the noncombatants where hiding in them, it's possible they wouldn't have been seen from across the river.
Consider this,
Custer rides down to Ford D, see's the noncombatants, surely they would have seen him also, they panic and begin to flee again. Now Custer turns, rides back to Keogh gets the right wing then rides back down to the ford only to find the
woman and children have fled and where to? Some how this makes no sense.
Or,
Custer rides to Ford D, see's the noncombatants, sends a message to Keogh to bring the right wing , Custer remains there to keep an eye on them. Should they begin to flee he moves across the river gets in front of them to turn them around, Keogh arrives to their rear. Custer has his captives and his victory.
This is why I think he saw nothing at the ford and left.
dan25
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Post by callmeconrad on Oct 15, 2015 10:27:49 GMT -6
I am starting to believe that when Custer arrived at Ford D he didn't see anyone, turned around and left. Hi dan25, I've been kicking around a similar idea for a while now: Custer was expecting to place himself in a blocking position along the line of retreat for the fleeing villagers but he gets to Ford D and nothing happens besides a light resistance. It's possible he hears firing getting heavier down the river from Calhoun Hill environs or just wants to get back to higher ground to find out where the hell everyone is. One nice bit to this theory is it explains the possible delay in the Cemetary Ridge area as Custer and his HQ try to figure out what's going on and what's Plan B. Cheers, conrad |
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Post by tubman13 on Oct 15, 2015 12:53:59 GMT -6
Conrad,
Nice work, Custer could do nothing with the troops at hand, so he heads back to hasten his other three cos. finds them fully engaged. he is beginning to feel pressure from his front right while viewing Keogh from the cemetery area. His presence is no longer a secret as pressure begins to build from the fords he just left. He is pushed forward and to the left, fixed(a word understood by all), and gets whacked. The proceeding is opinion, not fact.
I am sure the godfather of "Participants and Strategy" will show us the error of my ways.
Regards,
Tom
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Post by dan25 on Oct 15, 2015 18:38:17 GMT -6
I wasn't thinking when I posted this thread. I realized after, it was very rude, it should have been put in Fred's Ford D.
I do apologize to every one.
dan25
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Post by callmeconrad on Oct 16, 2015 5:01:11 GMT -6
I am sure the godfather of "Participants and Strategy" will show us the error of my ways. Hi Tom, I expect he'll do the same to me. Fred and Will do a great job of keeping us all on our toes. dan25, I wouldn't feel too bad about doubling-up on a thread. It happens, and the best stuff usually works it's way into the larger thread anyways. Cheers, conrad |
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Post by tubman13 on Oct 16, 2015 5:19:10 GMT -6
Conrad, I considered posting "Did Custer Dawdle", thought better of it. I was also wondering if GAC was trying to take time to get his mind, set.
Regards,
Tom
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Post by AZ Ranger on Oct 16, 2015 6:19:38 GMT -6
May be closer to right than we think. If your mindset has the Indians always running then when you look at something in a hurry it appears to fulfill your mindset.
We tell students to look for brass in the chamber and not to look for an empty chamber,
Same idea
Regards
Steve
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Post by callmeconrad on Oct 16, 2015 7:03:07 GMT -6
All right, force me to post my pet theory of the moment...
Custer thinks the village is already on the run. He's seen a large mass on the run once before; the Appomattox Campaign. In both cases the quarry is still dangerous and has loads of capacity to strike back when confronted.
In the Appomattox Campaign Sheridan used his outnumbered cavalry to strike the Confederate rear, move along the flanks and block potential escape routes that may have caused problems, and finally Sheridan got his cavalry in front of the whole Army of Northern Virginia where he blocked their escape, leading to a surrender. (Of course lots of hard-marching infantry made the victory possible too.)
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, or so they say. Sheridan has just given Custer one last try to make something of himself in the West, and Custer needs a big win to prove himself. Custer sees a running enemy and tries to get to Ford D to block the line of march/retreat and force the Big Sioux Surrender on the Plains. But then almost nobody shows up. Time to go see where everyone is.
It's rather crazy, but that's been my preferred way of interpreting Custer's thinking lately.
Cheers,
conrad
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Post by callmeconrad on Oct 16, 2015 7:43:45 GMT -6
Conrad, I considered posting "Did Custer Dawdle", thought better of it. I was also wondering if GAC was trying to take time to get his mind, set. Regards, Tom Maybe throw it open to a vote, and allow posters to vote more than once? Seems legit. <G> Cheers, conrad |
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Post by Beth on Oct 16, 2015 9:52:51 GMT -6
May be closer to right than we think. If your mindset has the Indians always running then when you look at something in a hurry it appears to fulfill your mindset. We tell students to look for brass in the chamber and not to look for an empty chamber, Same idea Regards Steve Custer was expecting Indians to be fleeing so that is what he saw with every cloud of dust or NA movement. He was mentally blind to those who were instead coming out for a battle.. |
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Post by dave on Oct 16, 2015 10:30:23 GMT -6
GAC
Was known for his bravery and elan not for strategic thinking. During the War, Custer was famed for attacking on the fly after assessing the situation. He overplayed his hand a little when at Appomattox he rode up to General Longstreet demanding the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia and Longstreet rose from saddle and yelled and chased Custer off. This was a rash decision by an individual who was seeking additional fame and glory.
The point I am attempting to make is that Custer was impulsive and made rash decisions which had not been disastrous till June 25, 1876. Custer proved the old adage that strategy was above the shoulders and tactics below the shoulders. GAC was very good with direct supervision but performed poorly when operating on his own.
Regards
Dave
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