Lt Charles Gatewood, 6th Cavalry

[logan]

Only recently been reminded of this interesting man after watching the film ‘Geronimo’, plus a couple of talks by an author of books about him on YouTube, the latter I’ve still to buy

[noggy]

Mar 21, 2023 12:53:43 GMT -6 logan said:

Only recently been reminded of this interesting man after watching the film ‘Geronimo’, plus a couple of talks by an author of books about him on YouTube, the latter I’ve still to buy

I often feel that the Apache wars are neglected, compared to other US conflucts with native people. Some say it was because of the nature of the fighting., others that the Apache were way less "flashy" than the Plains Tribes. They did not dress up and were not great riders, but as far as guerialla warriors go and being able to get the "job done", I'd say they must have been among the best to ever resist the US/Mexican forces. 


Gatewood is like you say a really interesting character, among many from that theater of war. He was one of the good guys who actually wanted t treat the Natives as human beings, which ofc got him at times in trouble. If I don't get this wrong, he was never injured during fighting the Apache, it was during a range war between white Americans he was (and injured he indeed was; his arm was just about blown ooff by a bomb).

[logan]

What you say is incredibly true, even in my main interest. It is the Zulus most know about in South Africa more than the other tribes, obviously in part because of the films about two of the famous battles in 1879. There is a book comparing the Sioux to the Zulu called ‘The Dust Rose Like Smoke’ and another comparing Custer and LBH with Durnford and Isandhlwana.

Gatewood really interested me as I was looking for historical comparisons with Durnford, the latter had great sympathy for the African tribes and even tried to prevent the war with the Zulus, a war in which he was eventually killed by those he didn’t want to fight.

I do recall chatting to an author called Louis Kraft in the comments section of a couple of his YouTube videos about Gatewood, also including details about Capt Silas Soule and Sand Creek.

I can’t check the comment sections now, as I was cancelled, not sure why, asking too many questions on controversial subjects ? I’ve no idea, but the email I received to inform me of the cancellation was very politely worded almost apologetic, so didn’t have the heart to appeal the decision.

Capt Silas Soule was murdered only a short time after testifying against Chivington and the events at Sand Creek, in which the former refused orders to open fire on the Indian camp.

I try to find many historical figures of this era who were ahead of their time, understood the ‘bigger issues’ and were of a similar ilk,

[noggy]

Mar 22, 2023 12:16:09 GMT -6 logan said:

Capt Silas Soule was murdered only a short time after testifying against Chivington and the events at Sand Creek, in which the former refused orders to open fire on the Indian camp.

I try to find many historical figures of this era who were ahead of their time, understood the ‘bigger issues’ and were of a similar ilk,

Soule was a hero. He fought slavery and oposed/exposed the slaughter of Native women and children in a time where neither were traits you could take for granted. The fact that he is more or less forgotten today is a disgrace in my opinion.

Noggy

[logan]

Agreed !