Any live Custer fans here?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

Jeeze, you must be really, really old.

[DivinBreuvage]

1. He has plenty of live fans, though probably not here on DU

A lot of them insist that his decisions at the Little Bighorn were the correct responses of a competent and courageous commander, and that he was sacrificed by the drunkenness of one subordinate and the betrayal of another. And in fact if he had been facing a small village full of women, children, and old folks (such as the one he courageously destroyed on the Washita River in 1868) he probably would have pulled it off. Unfortunately for him and his hapless troops, the Little Bighorn encampment was one of the hugest that had ever come together and it was full of pissed-off fighting men!

Uh oh, general, that ain't no old lady!

[No2W2004]

9. Even his "fans" have to admit

he disobeyed a direct order from a superior officer by charging into that camp. Custer was looking for headlines to start off his political career. Instead, he let himself and his command be killed.

The only monument Custer should have left standing is one dedicated to the women and children he helped slaughter.

[DivinBreuvage]

12. Personally I agree with you, but they explain that away, too

with the argument that Terry was too far away and so Custer had to strike while the iron was hot, lest the Indians get away and go on to be a continuing thorn in the Republic's side or maybe even attack Terry. I've found that it doesn't matter how ill-advised or downright foolish a decision was, any historical figure, especially a military one, can always find plenty of admirers to absolve him of any blame whatsoever.

[doc03]

2. Gen. Custer and Clark Gable came from Cadiz, Ohio and they

have museums for both and various streets and business places named after Custer. Cadiz is about 30 miles from here.

[DivinBreuvage]

3. I believe Custer was born in New Rumley

He may have grown up in Cadiz, though. Didn't know about Clark Gable! My town has its own little infamous claim to fame:

[doc03]

5. You're right, Cadiz is the nearest (big city) pop.3308 it's actually

on some maps.

[amerikat]

4. Not me......He was Evil

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

6. who the heck is that?

[No2W2004]

7. Dustin Hoffman

Really!

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

8. Oh yeah, forgot about that movie

I think I slept through it

[amerikat]

13. little big man

I know a cat by that name

[NoPasaran]

10. Present!

Although best remembered today for his actions during the wars with the Plains Indians, George Armstrong Custer proved himself as a brave and gifted leader of the Union Cavalry during the Civil War. His capture of Lee's supply trains at Appomattox Station on April 8, 1864 set the stage for the surrender of the rebel army the next day and the end of the conflict.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

11. Actually, he was gifted at making war... as long as he was

supervised well. When off on his own, he was quite foolhardy. So wrote Sheridan about Custer in a fitness report in 1865.

My favorite Custer story comes from when he was on McClelland's staff in summer 62. the AOTP came to a river (Rhapahannock, IIRC) and stopped because the CSA was dug in on the far bank. Big Mac called up the engineers to find out how deep the river was, where it could be forded and so on.
This touched off a large discussion on the best way to do this, when to do it, if infantry would be needed for cover, should they make a diversionary attack to protect the mission... et cetera.
Custer listened to all this for a few minutes, then rode off from HQ very fast.
While the staff were still discussing options, Custer's voice came through the trees along with the sound of shots.
Looking down from the bluff, the staff saw Custer on horseback in the middle of the river, splashes from bullets all around him, occasionally firing one of his pistols behind him.
"General!" he shouted when he saw they were looking, "this is how deep the river is, sir!"
He then spurred his horse and returned to the lines.

He was ahead of his times, for sure. He just got too complacent with the Souix.