Bad intel, like elections, can have devastating consequences.
The History Channel many years ago had an Oli Stone tin-foil hat episode where Grant was jealous of Custer so he gave his intel to the Indians and had him whacked..
I’ve been reading and learning more about this battle and the outcome. There’s a large and popular mythology that surrounds these events - much of which was created by Custer’s wife after his death.
Some items for starters:
1. Custer didn’t surprise the Indians. Their picket riders ran into Custer and discovered the size of Custer’s forces. This forced Custer’s hand as he was weighing the prudence of attacking what his Crow scouts were telling him was a large group of Indians.
2. Custer did know that there was a very large number of Indians in the area. His scouts and trackers were telling him this, but he refused to accept their interpretation of the tracks.
3. In the end, what did the 7th in was a failure of leadership. Custer failed to maintain unit cohesion, failed to deal with insubordinate officers under his command and he attacked without having a clear plan communicated to all units.
I personally can’t understand why someone wpuld cough up millions for this artifact.
Two good recent books on Custer and the battle - A Terrible Glory by James Donovan, and The Last Stand by Nathaniel Philbrick.
The Black Hills are in South Dakota. The battle was in MT.
It is my understanding the flag was recaptured by elements of the 4th Cavalry...is this the same flag for sale?
Interesting. Thanks to all posters. BTTT.
I’ve read so much about that battle and I still can’t figure out what Custer’s plan was. I know he thought the indians were aware he was in the neighborhood, which is why he attacked in the middle of the day, but what did he figure Reno was going to accomplish with his little attack. And what was the point in sending Benteen off on a wild goose chase?
Seems the flag is government property and belongs in a military museum.
Read the article after the 4th Cavalry post..no need to respond.
I enjoyed the book and the movie ‘We Were Soldiers’. Especially when Sgt. Maj. Plumley (Sam Elliot) said “Custer was a wussie. You ain’t.” to Lt. Col. Moore (Mel Gibson). In a replay of that our Congress is the ‘wussies’ now, specifically the RINO’s and anyone against this country.
The Little Big Horn was a classic failure of intelligence. Others would include the Israeli 6 Oct 1973 Yom Kippor surprise attack (for Egypt and Syria) the Gorelick Wall precipitating 9/11 (for America).
The 7th Cavalry fought well in the Pusan Perimeter in Korea as well as at LZ XRAY in Viet Nam. This article was interesting to say the least. I too thought the flag was the property of the US Government (as another comment said), the US Army in particular, and as such should be returned to them. If sold the flag and the monies received for it should be confiscated by the Government. (I would not condone this action in many circumstances but this one for sure) Free enterprise, for me, has no place here. As far as I am concerned the Detroit Institute is just SOOL!
That flag should be in the Smithsonian or at West Point Academy. Hopefully the winning bidder will donate it to an appropriate museum.
Yeah, the Sioux were shocked. Shocked I tell you. LOL
Roster 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment’s Little Big Horn Operations “personnel in combat” 25-26 June 1876
http://www.us7thcavalry.com/roster_lbh.htm
These days it may well be bought by the Lakotas or Cheyennes and displayed in a casino.
He said, as he opened the bidding...
The Brits better get out a map, while the Little Bighorn battlefield is in Montana the sacred Lakota Black Hills are in South Dakota.
