Why there was a Custer's last Stand

[Deleted]

I realize that military topics in a military forum are not relevant .
Why there was a last stand is no secret , too few against too many , Custer set out with approx. 575 men which included 30 scouts against some 3000 Indian warriors , Custer was confident because his faulty information suggested there were only 800 warriors .

[Swampy]

There is always a last stand when a unit can't escape and has to fight to the death. So that answers the why.

[Deleted]

Reading about it I was surprised that the Sioux used Infantry tactics that are in use today , surprised because like most people I thought Indians didn't have much military sense .

[Sir John]

Custer should have had "Ming the Merciless" at his side.

GAC would have been back at General rank the next day.



SJ

[Deleted]

Custer was not awarded the MMI for that campaign , Sitting Bull got it instead .

[jerryfmcompushaft]

Jun 12, 2013 18:15:09 GMT -5 @muleskinner07 said:

Reading about it I was surprised that the Sioux used Infantry tactics that are in use today , surprised because like most people I thought Indians didn't have much military sense .

Contrary to current politically correct history, the Native American tribes were fighting each other loooong before the white man arrived... Only natural that they would have developed strategy and tactics.... those who didn't lost a lot of wars...

[Swampy]

Where did they learn the art of scalping? Not from the white man.

[Deleted]

Yes Indians were flogging each other for century's before the Europeans showed up , at Little Big Horn the Indians out maneuvered the 7Th Calvary using European tactics , true enough the Indians out numbered the 7Th by many but Indians were not in it for the long haul as is proven by Reno and Benteen's survival and what was left of their command so it was a quick slice an dice .

[jerryfmcompushaft]

What helped defeat the Indians is what helps defeat any army - logistics. The Indians only supply of guns was from their enemies - Indian munitions factories were not very efficient....

[Deleted]

Had Custer keep his command together and waited two more days for General Terry's people to catch up no doubt things would have been much different , but Custer wanted the glory and he got it , had he survived he would have been court marshaled .

[Deleted]

As Swampy pointed out one must avoid last stands at all costs .

[Deleted]

Giovanni Martini . Anyone know who this guy was , played a major role in little big horn .

[dontom]

Jun 12, 2013 13:05:07 GMT -5 @muleskinner07 said:

I realize that military topics in a military forum are not relevant .
Why there was a last stand is no secret , too few against too many , Custer set out with approx. 575 men which included 30 scouts against some 3000 Indian warriors , Custer was confident because his faulty information suggested there were only 800 warriors .

Tom & I almost went there last late April, but the weather was lousy (heavy snow) in that part of Montana. We now plan on trying to go there to Little Big Horn in early September. In the RV, with the doggies.

One of the very few places in the west we have not yet been to.

-Don- Reno, NV

[Deleted]

Jun 15, 2013 7:07:37 GMT -5 dontom said:

Jun 12, 2013 13:05:07 GMT -5 @muleskinner07 said:

I realize that military topics in a military forum are not relevant .
Why there was a last stand is no secret , too few against too many , Custer set out with approx. 575 men which included 30 scouts against some 3000 Indian warriors , Custer was confident because his faulty information suggested there were only 800 warriors .

Tom & I almost went there last late April, but the weather was lousy (heavy snow) in that part of Montana. We now plan on trying to go there to Little Big Horn in early September. In the RV, with the doggies.

One of the very few places in the west we have not yet been to.

-Don- Reno, NV

To me, it's one of the most awe inspiring places I've ever visited. Not so much the actual site of the last stand, although that is interesting, but rather the federal cemetery at the base prior to driving up the hill. I go there whenever I'm within 250 miles.

[Deleted]

Not sure if the whole thing is a Ntl. Park or not the actual event covered some three miles . Custer's hill , Keogh hill and Reno hill , to many hills for such a small command .