Contempt for Custer?
One of the greatest heroes of the Civil War?
Savior of Gettysburg in his first action as General?
A man who always led from the front?
The man who forced Lee’s surrender at appomatax on April 9th with his bold moves?
How on earth could you have contempt for such a man!
"Contempt" isn't a word I would use to describe Custer either; but would you agree that Custer seemed to have changed dramatically after the Civil War?
It just seems like a different man is using the same name. Men who served under him - and admired him - during the War ended up hating his guts out West. He got Court Martialed because he basically abandoned his command to get home to Libby, he apparently abandoned Major Elliot to his fate at the Washita, he ordered summary executions of deserters... He exhibited traits out west that no soldier would admire or respect - traits that were not mentioned during the Civil War.
He baffles me.
did I miss the sarcasm tag?
Did you forget the sarcasm tag? Custer may have had some modest success on occasion during the late unpleasantries between the states but he often displayed qualities of rebellious misbehavior, recklessness and rank idiocy out West.
He got his whole command wiped out by seriously underestimating his enemy. It’s the most one sided loss in US history. I think that’s worthy of contempt.
He fought for the wrong side? heh
The man who forced Lee’s surrender at appomatax on April 9th with his bold moves?
***How on earth could you have contempt for such a man!****
Because he fought those sweet little darlins the Indians! That makes him bad!
Look at Chivington. His command saved the Union from defeat at Glorietta Pass in New Mexico, but he is only remembered for his “massacre” of “peaceful” Indians (who had admitted they were still hostile) at Sand Creek in which he found fresh white scalps and a robe fringed with white women’s scalps.
Custer did the Washita battle in Oklahoma. He followed the raiders back to the camp in fresh snow, attacked the camp and found white captives there. Same a Indians who were at Sand Creek.