Posted on 06/25/2021 1:45:06 PM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal
Looks good to me. Happy reading!
“ SHERIDAN WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH Custer’s initiative that he remarked to Alger, “Custer is the ablest man in the Cavalry Corps.”
https://www.historynet.com/custer-vs-stuart.htm
Custer’s first battle with Stuart was at Hannover
Only 2 days after he had been given command of the Wolverines.
“ George Armstrong Custer had been promoted from Captain to Brigadier General on June 28, 1863, and been given command of the Michigan Brigade, which consisted of the 1st, 5th, 6th and 7th Michigan cavalry regiments. Custer is shown commanding his men during the fighting with Major General “Jeb” Stuart’s men in Hanover on June 30, 1863.”
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=5021
Roman_War_Criminal,
*He believed the Indians would “run”. They didn’t.
*He thought they numbered less than 1,000. Wrong.
*He woefully believed that officers who loathed him would be supportive and obedient to his orders.
*Reconnaissance. Reconnaissance. Foreign words apparently.
*Single-shot rifles and limited ammo
*Horses scattered when dismounted for a skirmish line
*The terrain favored the attackers (Indians)
I agree with your bullet points, but would add that the first two regarding the Indians running and numbers were shared by everyone on the expedition from General Terry on down. The only one that knew the answer to both of these was Crook and after the Battle of the Rosebud, a week earlier, he exited the country for camping and fishing by Sheridan, Wyoming and never tried to get word to Gen. Terry about his findings.
It was a perfect storm of things that got Custer and the 5 companies with him destroyed. The fact that Reno ran for the hills and Benteen failed to follow his orders to “Come Quick” probably saved the remainder of the 7th from destruction.
A better account of the battle of East Cavalry field.
Custer just could not fathom his enemy. It simply didn’t occur to him he was inferior.
Thank you for that link. He did seem to flip-flop about the importance of Custer’s role at East Cavalry field, but I thought the video was interesting and informative, so thanks again.
Lee’s last report said…
“ The movements of the army preceding the battle of Gettysburg had been much embarrassed by the absence of the cavalry. As soon as it was known that the enemy had crossed into Maryland, orders were sent to the brigades of [B. H.] Robertson and [William E.] Jones, which had been left to guard the passes of the Blue Ridge, to rejoin the army without delay, and it was expected that General Stuart, with the remainder of his command, would soon arrive. In the exercise of the discretion given him when Longstreet and Hill marched into Maryland, General Stuart determined to pass around the rear of the Federal Army with three brigades and cross the Potomac between it and Washington, believing that he would be able, by that route, to place himself on our right flank in time to keep us properly advised of the enemy’s movements. He marched from Salem on the night of June 24, intending to pass west of Centreville, but found the enemy’s forces so distributed as to render that route impracticable. Adhering to his original plan, he was forced to make a wide detour through Buckland and Brentsville, and crossed the Occoquan at Wolf Run Shoals on the morning of the 27th. Continuing his march through Fairfax Court-House and Dranesville, he arrived at the Potomac, below the mouth of Seneca Creek, in the evening.
He found the river much swollen by the recent rains, but, after great exertion, gained the Maryland shore before midnight with his whole command.
He now ascertained that the Federal Army, which he had discovered to be drawing toward the Potomac, had crossed the day before, and was moving toward Frederick, thus interposing itself between him and our forces.
He accordingly marched northward, through Rockville and Westminster, to Hanover, Pa., where he arrived on the 30th; but the enemy advanced with equal rapidity on his left, and continued to obstruct communication with our main body.
Supposing, from such information as he could obtain, that part of the army was at Carlisle, he left Hanover that night, and proceeded thither by way of Dover.
He reached Carlisle on July 1, where he received orders to proceed to Gettysburg. He arrived in the afternoon of the following day, and took position on General Ewell’s left. His leading brigade, under General Hampton, encountered and repulsed a body of the enemy’s cavalry at Hunterstown, endeavoring to reach our rear.
General Stuart had several skirmishes during his march, and at Hanover quite a severe engagement took place with a strong force of cavalry, which was finally compelled to withdraw from the town. The prisoners taken by the cavalry and paroled at various places amounted to about 800, and at Rockville a large train of wagons coming from Washington was intercepted and captured. Many of them were destroyed, but 125, with all the animals of the train, were secured.
The ranks of the cavalry were much reduced by its long and arduous march, repeated conflicts, and insufficient supplies of food and forage, but the day after its arrival at Gettysburg it engaged the enemy’s cavalry with unabated spirit, and effectually protected our left.
In this action, Brigadier-General Hampton was seriously wounded, while acting with his accustomed gallantry.
Robertson’s and Jones’ brigades arrived on July 3, and were stationed upon our right flank. The severe loss sustained by the army and the reduction of its ammunition, rendered another attempt to dislodge the enemy inadvisable, and it was, therefore, determined to withdraw.”
https://civilwarhome.com/leelastgettysburgor.htm
I had the thought, last evening while thinking over your questions and the various posts, that the LBH was what the post 1940 Army calls “A Meeting Engagement.” That is where two forces, knowing that someone is somewhere in front of them find and engage each other, without a formal plan of battle/attack. Thus the elements utilize the tactics they have found successful in the past.
The “most famous” [IMO] meeting engagement before this, on American soil, was the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg.
I spent 2 years as the S-2 of an armored cavalry squadron in the Fulda Gap (1983-85). We had our defensive battle plans for along the East-West German border, if we had time to get there, but otherwise, we had to rely on our training to fight a meeting engagement if the Soviets crossed the border before the V Corps forces were in position, i.e. a “no warning war scenario.” And during my time as a field artillery forward observer with a 3d Armored Division tank company (I had my own M-60A2 tank to work from) 75-78.
The Sioux were not laying in wait for ambush?
Yes, the whole idiot line with the kid… “your in fifth grade, what if you suddenly found yourself in 10th grade”
And the ‘Custer was somewhere on the field, wandered over, and then led the charge’
I think Custer led THREE charges that day. Charges that were effective in stopping the outnumbering Confederate Calvary from getting in the rear of the Union line.
If Lee’s plan would have worked, the Union line would likely have been routed and destroyed.
Lol, this movie clip, French translation of an American movie from 1941, shows the three charges.
First the 7th Michigan
Then the 5th and 6th Michigan charge.
Then the first Michigan charge.
“ With the Michigan Cavalry Brigade - also known as the “Wolverines” - (1st, 5th, 6th et 7th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry Regiments) General George Armstrong Custer (US) stopped the CSA Cavalry of James Ewell Brown Stuart near Gettysburg, the July 3 1863.
Avec les volontaires de la Brigade de Cavalerie du Michigan (1er, 5,6, et 7èmes Régiments), le général nordiste G. Custer arrête la progression des cavaliers confédérés de JEB Stuart près de Gettysburg, le 3 juillet 1863.
Video from “They Died with Their Boots On” (Raoul Walsh) 1941”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=plAe4WdZj_Y
1975 is the year I finished high school. The perspective: 46 years is just not that long a time in the overall scheme of things. Thank you for your comment.
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