Posted on Aug 4, 2020
Colonel Custer and 7th Cavalry attacked by the Sioux
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On August 4, 1873, during the Indian Wars while protecting a railroad survey party in Montana, the US 7th Cavalry under Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer clashed for the first time with the Sioux near the Tongue River. One man from each side was killed. From the article:
"Colonel Custer and 7th Cavalry attacked by the Sioux
While protecting a railroad survey party in Montana, Custer and his 7th Cavalry clash for the first time with the Sioux Indians, who will defeat them three years later at Little Big Horn.
During the previous two years, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and his 7th Cavalry had not fought a single battle against the hostile Indians of the western Plains. Hungry for action, Custer was pleased when the 7th Cavalry was ordered to help protect a party of surveyors laying out the route for the proposed Northern Pacific Railroad. The new transcontinental railroad (the third in the United States) was to pass through territory controlled by hostile Sioux Indians. Custer was optimistic that the assignment would give him a chance to improve his reputation as an Indian fighter.
Initially, the military escort saw little action. The hostile Indians seemed to be avoiding or ignoring the survey party. For Custer, the mission turned into something of a lark. He spent much of his time shooting buffalo, antelope, elk, and other animals. To find good hunting, he often led the 7th Cavalry far away from the survey party and the main body of the military escort.
On August 4, 1873, Custer was far ahead of the rest of the force, camping along the Tongue River in southeastern Montana. Suddenly, a large band of Sioux warriors appeared on the horizon and attacked. The Indians were led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, but the young braves seemed to have attacked impetuously and with little planning. Custer, who had been taking an afternoon nap, reacted quickly and mounted an effective defense. After a brief skirmish, the Indians withdrew.
Since only one soldier and one Indian were killed in the skirmish, Custer’s short battle along the Tongue River seemed relatively insignificant at the time. However, Custer’s easy escape in his first encounter with Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse may have given him a dangerously scornful view of their fighting abilities. It helped to confirm his belief that the Plains warriors tended to flee rather than fight. As a result, when Custer again encountered Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse at the Little Big Horn River three years later, his greatest fear was that they would withdraw before he could attack, and he rushed in without proper reconnaissance. That time, though, the Indians stood and fought, leaving Custer and more than 200 of his men dead."
"Colonel Custer and 7th Cavalry attacked by the Sioux
While protecting a railroad survey party in Montana, Custer and his 7th Cavalry clash for the first time with the Sioux Indians, who will defeat them three years later at Little Big Horn.
During the previous two years, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and his 7th Cavalry had not fought a single battle against the hostile Indians of the western Plains. Hungry for action, Custer was pleased when the 7th Cavalry was ordered to help protect a party of surveyors laying out the route for the proposed Northern Pacific Railroad. The new transcontinental railroad (the third in the United States) was to pass through territory controlled by hostile Sioux Indians. Custer was optimistic that the assignment would give him a chance to improve his reputation as an Indian fighter.
Initially, the military escort saw little action. The hostile Indians seemed to be avoiding or ignoring the survey party. For Custer, the mission turned into something of a lark. He spent much of his time shooting buffalo, antelope, elk, and other animals. To find good hunting, he often led the 7th Cavalry far away from the survey party and the main body of the military escort.
On August 4, 1873, Custer was far ahead of the rest of the force, camping along the Tongue River in southeastern Montana. Suddenly, a large band of Sioux warriors appeared on the horizon and attacked. The Indians were led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, but the young braves seemed to have attacked impetuously and with little planning. Custer, who had been taking an afternoon nap, reacted quickly and mounted an effective defense. After a brief skirmish, the Indians withdrew.
Since only one soldier and one Indian were killed in the skirmish, Custer’s short battle along the Tongue River seemed relatively insignificant at the time. However, Custer’s easy escape in his first encounter with Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse may have given him a dangerously scornful view of their fighting abilities. It helped to confirm his belief that the Plains warriors tended to flee rather than fight. As a result, when Custer again encountered Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse at the Little Big Horn River three years later, his greatest fear was that they would withdraw before he could attack, and he rushed in without proper reconnaissance. That time, though, the Indians stood and fought, leaving Custer and more than 200 of his men dead."
Colonel Custer and 7th Cavalry attacked by the Sioux
Posted from history.com
World History
American History
Cavalry
Combat
Military History
Posted >1 y ago
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Cheap bastards in Congress gave the Cav single shot rifles to save money on ammunition. The Indians had repeaters, It was a recipe for disaster.
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SGT Robert Pryor
SGT (Join to see) - They need to put more emphasis on fire discipline and teach troops to not to use the "spray and pray" method of engagement. The three round burst setting is BS IMNSHO. Only the individual launching the bullet knows what is needed in each situation-- and each situation is different. The morning after my last little incident in Viet Nam our detachment commander caught crap from a REMF bean counter about our having wasted so much ammo. Excuse me -- McFly? I went through four 20 round magazines and there were at least 100 bad guys out there. Pardon me for being so wasteful. It's a wonder they didn't bill me for using so much ammo.
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SGT (Join to see)
SGT Robert Pryor - Haha! I'll bet a few bean counters were considering it. Your 200+ wounds was more than enough to pay for ammunition you used!!!
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SGT Robert Pryor
SGT (Join to see) - The bean counter was a Major. My Detachment Commander was a First Lieutenant. They were bringing in all sorts of troops, building material and other supplies to reinforce/rebuild the camp -- so things were safe. Years later our Commander told me he had gone down without his weapon -- and that saved the Major's life. My teammates had been told I was dead, and our Commander was not in he mood for such foolishness.
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SPC Nancy Greene
SGT Robert Pryor when I pulled guard duty in FRG, we were not even allocated or authorized ammo... I always asked the OD what I was supposed to do with an ‘empty’ M16A1 if the enemy made it through the two sets of German soldiers with Ozzie, AK47’s and police attack dogs...the answer was always more guard duty...lolSGT Robert Pryor
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Just some thoughts on Battle of the Little Big Horn:
- Conventional tactics suggest creeping up a hill and looking down to survey the enemy to determine the strength and terrain. If time permits, formulate a plan.
- The Indians had repeating rifles and Custer's men had single shot rifles.
- He divided his forces into 3 groups. However, the Indians focused on one group at a time which gave them perhaps a 10-1 advantage.
- Some soldiers dismounted which limited their mobility.
Sometimes in war or battles assumptions are made that one hopes that future events will make them truths. However, Custer made two horrible assumptions. He assumed the number of braves to be far less than what he encountered. He also assumed if he took women and children hostage, the braves would sue for peace. Neither were true.
- Conventional tactics suggest creeping up a hill and looking down to survey the enemy to determine the strength and terrain. If time permits, formulate a plan.
- The Indians had repeating rifles and Custer's men had single shot rifles.
- He divided his forces into 3 groups. However, the Indians focused on one group at a time which gave them perhaps a 10-1 advantage.
- Some soldiers dismounted which limited their mobility.
Sometimes in war or battles assumptions are made that one hopes that future events will make them truths. However, Custer made two horrible assumptions. He assumed the number of braves to be far less than what he encountered. He also assumed if he took women and children hostage, the braves would sue for peace. Neither were true.
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