lens
New Member
Posts: 24
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Post by lens on Mar 4, 2017 13:25:47 GMT -6
Hi All I just found this place I think for a second time when my son asked me about "Custers Last Stand". I have been reading the threads and find them very interesting. Everyone perceives information, at least at first, from what their own experience is. For example the military people look at tactics, what was done and how does it fit with what they know from their own experience. I have a BA in history but am not a historian amateur or otherwise I just like to read and am curious. My background that will color/influence me is 20 years volunteer firefighter and paramedic currently a ER nurse. I hunt and shoot. I fish,both conventional and with fly fishing gear. I will not insult fly fishers everywhere by saying I am a fly fisherman maybe in another year or two. I just picked up from the library Son of the Morning Star and A Terrible Glory, let the education and addiction begin. As a side note, it is interesting that two of the most " famous" thing in the American Western mythology/history are things that are the biggest mysteries. Everyone "knows" about the Little Big Horn, NO ONE will ever know exactly what happened, all we can ever have is best supported theories. The other comes from the Alamo. The Bowie Knife. I was surprised to learn that there is no real agreement on what it actually looked like, who made it, or where it is. Everyone knows what a Bowie knife is but do we?
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Post by fred on Mar 4, 2017 15:28:46 GMT -6
Len,
Well, welcome here!! May I be the first to welcome you... and like I have said many times in the past, please contribute, even if it is nothing but questions.
Your choices of books are rather good. A word of caution, however. The Donovan book can be very one-sided. Do not play into Jim's favorites and do not accept all his criticisms. The strongest feature of A Terrible Glory-- in my opinion-- is the individual vignettes. Again, however, do not accept his conclusions as to the performance of those individuals. Over time you will develop your own opinions. That is the biggest problem with this event. You nailed it by comparing the LBH to the Alamo: two big mysteries. Because of that, "students" rely on the books they read and most of the books on the LBH are subjective rather than objective, i.e., written with an agenda rather than a search for the historical truth. You will find a lot of that here as well, but don't let it influence you. Be your own man: voice your own opinions, not those of others.
And remember something else: your credibility goes up dramatically when you support your opinions or arguments. Without that support everything you say or write merely becomes more bloviating claptrap and no one will ever take you seriously.
Like I said, welcome!!!
Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by tubman13 on Mar 4, 2017 15:43:08 GMT -6
Welcome, lens, Fred, above has his own book, which is very good, also not slanted. I should have said 2 books. Fred, by the way is Fred Wagner III, check him out on Amazon!
Regards, Tom
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Post by dave on Mar 4, 2017 16:07:55 GMT -6
Lens Welcome to the board! Hope you continue to increase your knowledge and expand your library. The Strategy of Defeat at the Little Big Horn: A Military and Timing Analysis of the Battle, Fredrick C Wagner III, AKA Fred, is an excellent source of information and informative maps which I highly recommend. You need to reread each chapter at least twice to absorb the depth of material available.
Custer's Trials: A Life on the Frontier of a New America by T.J. Stiles is one of the best sources about information about the man himself and his values. I suggest you certainly add this book to you library as well.
Glad to have you with us. Regards Dave
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