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Another very interesting book is "Indian Fights and Fighters," by Cyrus Townsend Brady, originally published by McClure, Philips & Co., � 1904; soft cover edition Univ. of Nebraska Press, � 1971.

Among many of Brady's interviews with soldiers and Indians who were at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, are interviews with certain officers who discussed pros and cons whether or not Custer disobeyed a direct order from General Terry, before Custer and his men left camp. Many believe it led to the disaster at the Little Big Horn River.

There is still controversy to this day about it. Who knows?????

L.W.

Peter Thompson, one of the Medal Of Honor recipients of the battle, was actually separated from his detachment and was making his way down the river with another soldier and actually saw Custer up on the bluffs for over 15 minutes, not engaging the camp. He testified of this in the hearings of Reno and Benteen after the battle. No one then or now gives that statement any credence, for what reason, I don't know.

This would indicate that Custer was in fact, waiting for Benteen as his adjutant had sent a message to Benteen to hurry and bring packs of ammunition as they encountered a big village. Supplies and the pack train were miles back and there was no expectation of that kind of support.

The Gatling gun theories are worthless as well, as there is no way they could travel this kind of country and pull those carriages with condemned horses.

There are theories of Custer being shot down by the river and then brought back up on Last Stand hill by his troops, as some Indian accounts said they had seen the removal of an important person that could have been Custer. Nothing proves this, but the theory still exists.

He didn't retreat North, he actually was more East of the camp where he and his command were killed. Once you see the battlefield, you can get a feeling of how desperate they were as fragmented as they were and nowhere to go. There are also accounts of a couple survivors that did flee the battle and we are researching that possibility...

He didn't retreat North, he actually was more East of the camp where he and his command were killed. Once you see the battlefield, you can get a feeling of how desperate they were as fragmented as they were and nowhere to go. There are also accounts of a couple survivors that did flee the battle and we are researching that possibility...

Well George Custer, got caught, he had no Idea what he was facing and the ground gave every advantage to the enemy!

Ya, but such audacity had repeatedly served him very well in the War Between the States. Notable among these being his accepting 4 to 1 odds against his own force when charging JEB Stuart's Invicibles head-on at Gettysburg

Custer may well have been a real tool on a personal level, but he compiled an exemplary combat record overall. And like I said, the likelyhood of 2,000 enemy combatants being present weren't too far removed from the odds of the Lakotas deploying A-10 Warthogs or something.

JMHO,
Birdwatcher

You mentioned there are accounts of a couple survivors. I watched a show over the weekend that was called something like Lone Survivor of the Battle or something like that. The man lived in Washington State until he died in the 30's I believe.

Is this one of the survivors you are talking about? If so, do you believe his story?

Sharapnel I'd be happy to hear any input:

Relative to Custer and his judgement; I believe Custer legitimately had no reasonable expectation of encountering a camp containing 2,000 enemy combatatants (not including women and children).

Likely the largest Indian force present anywhere at any time on one battlefield across our whole 200 year plus Frontier period.

Just to put things into perspective; at the Battle of Newtown in 1779, the Iroquois could muster only around 900 effectives, even though their very survival depended upon them stopping the Sullivan Expedition into their heartlands.

In 1799, Arthur St Clair's in his defeat on the Wabash in present day Western Ohio lost 632 men in a single battle against Miami Chief Little Turtle's assemblage of warriors. The Indian force is thought to have numbered around 1,000, a huge force in context.

The Great Comanche (actually Comanche/Kiowa) Raid of 1840 here in Texas is thought to have involved around 1,000 Indians. Again a huge number in context, and likely only possible because it came right after the big 1840 intertribal peace treaty assembly at Bent's Fort.

2,000 armed Indian combatants in one place? Unheard of.

Birdwatcher

Looking for two or three good book recommendations about Custer and the battle.