Forgot My History
General (Lt Colonel) George Armstrong Custer.
Died this day in 1876, age 36, of over-confidence.
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General (Lt Colonel) George Armstrong Custer.
Died this day in 1876, age 36, of over-confidence.
My understanding is that Custer was figuring on running against U. Grant for the presidency and he believed he needed a strong military win in order to take that one. Basically, he traded his life for a chance at the golden ring.
Custer had the tenacity to testify in Congress against Grant’s brother Orvil’s corruption in being part of the “Indian Ring” which provided state-of-the-art rifles to the Sioux while supplying defective weapons to U.S. troops and reaped personal financial rewards in so doing. This was one of the two great scandals that marred Grant’s administration.
Grant was infuriated by Custer’s testimony. Was this why Custer was betrayed on the battlefield by the desertion of one of his subordinates with his troops, and betrayed by another leader of troops who showed up late for the Little Bighorn battle? Look up the names of Benteen and Reno for more info on that.
Custer led his troops on the field with much courage and forethought. He was criticized for letting his hair grow long and wearing a buckskin jacket but his response was that it was so his troops could easily see him and respond to signals from him in the heat of battle.
His wife Libby, (Elizabeth Bacon Custer) spent years gathering information and wrote books to counteract the vilification and mockery her husband’s reputation was subjected to. General Nelson Appleton Miles also spent years gathering evidence and even interviewing lndian survivors of the battle to counteract false accusations about Custer. Lots of info out there for anyone who wants to know more detail.
Never before read or heard that Custer had political aspirations.
John Barleycorn (must die)
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Posted
I haven’t read extensively of Custer or Little Big Horn but I’m aware he had delusions of becoming President. He was a psychopathic murderer. The most memorable image of him in my head is how he was portrayed in the movie Little Big Man starring Dustin Hoffman. Also, I enjoyed the scene where Faye Dunaway was bathing young Dustin. This is the opening scene of the movie. Watch this then scroll down to Dunaway asking “Are you thinking of Jesus?” https://www.tcm.com/video/297789/little-big-man-1970-movie-clip-for-what-they-was
Aw shit… “403 Forbidden” means no mortal may enter. Gonna have to pay someone somewhere to watch the bathtub scene.
Odd.
Watched the first vid and when I clicked on the other one I got this:
403 Forbidden
Before you go to bed… look at yourself in the mirror and ask, “Am I a 403?” Be honest.
Until now I never knew about Custer’s political ambitions. Also, never saw the Dustin Hoffman movie. There is still much debate about Custer. He was hated by some in his day and is still hated by some in our day. He was an audacious soldier, said by some to be reckless, seen by others as a gallant leader.
I don’t believe he was a Lt. Calley type, indiscriminately killing all men women and children. He took prisoners, provided horses on which captured Indian women were allowed to ride.
My Mexican uncle used to say, regarding differences of opinion, “Was you there Charlie?” Of course I wasn’t there, but when I read of the corruption in the Grant administration I thought there might be more to the Custer story than what I’d been taught. I’ll leave the question to the experts, of whom I am not one. But if a student told me that he, or she, was going to write a paper about the topic, I’d advise not to overlook the angle of government corruption possibly contributing to Custer’s defeat and death.
Donald Jeffries has written a most fitting item to accompany your thoughts, Walt. Do we EVER get the real story of what went down and how? I know the World Trade Center towers went down but HOW will cause people to strangle each other before “case closed” is declared. Jeffries has written a book titled “American Memory Hole: How Court Historians Promote Disinformation.” I haven’t read this but I will. HIS story is what HE said, who ever owns the largest share of the pulpit. https://donaldjeffries.substack.com/p/first-world-bombs-from-third-world
Thanks for the link Tom. Powerful piece by Jeffries.
Found it! Though this clip was videoed off a TV through a screen door from a ways… here’s the preacher’s wife scrubbing Jack Crabb. At the age of 121 he described this as “the greatest bath that I ever had in my life.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOtNBUBSukY
If you reach a high level of fame, someone is going to bring the hate. Take Patrick Mahomes, people want to hate him merely because he wins too much. Then you have adorable Nancy Pelosi…
My position is that Custer was a brave officer, and a solid commander who met his demise in Montana, when gravely outnumbered. His record in the Civil War is astounding. I saw the Little Bighorn and walked the battlefield myself. He found the best ground available and that was his last option. You can back and forth it all day about his subordinate commanders, but somedays the Indians just outnumber you.
He was the goat of his West Point Class, which is traditionally a renowned position among the cadet corps. Of his class, he finished the Civil War with the highest rank. Ironic, but there is a genius that goes with that last man in the class stuff. it’s hard to explain.
Was his personality cloying? Was he over-ambitious? I knew of his aspirations in the army and government. None of that causes me to flush him wholesale. Did he make the ultimate mistake in battle? Yes, but he died in place like a man.
Hal Moore had basically a “Last Stand” battle in the Ia Drang, but made good and defeated the NVA. A battle my dad was in, which is more amazing than the battles already mentioned (a vertical assault up a cliff in Italy, in the winer, and at night). It was an impossible event, and makes the one depicted in The Devil’s Brigade movie look just plain stupid. Anyway, I mention it because of the actions of one 1LT James Loose, whose platoon occupied Ridge X late in the battle, and who was surrounded by Germans who were much better placed, and who attacked from all points of the clock over the course of his defense (I forget how long – over a day I think). Loose was given the Silver Star for his thinking through which direction the Germans would attack each time, based on the terrain and situation. He was good as Hal Moore, and more successful than Custer in the last stand battle. I once in awhile chat with his surviving son, which is a real privilege for me.
“My position is that Custer was a brave officer, and a solid commander who met his demise in Montana, when gravely outnumbered. His record in the Civil War is astounding…”
Agreed Casey. Well said. Thanks for adding your informed perspective. Thanks also for your mentions of Hal Moore, your Dad, James Loose. We need the stories of such men.