Fights On The Little Horn

Custer at Little Big Horn is a lesson in many things; human rights, heroism, and arrogant blundering. Some laud Custer on the same pedestal as Gordon of Khartoum and the men who defended the Alamo. Others see him as too brave for his own good.

    Harper, in his chapter The Question of Disobedience, discusses the communication aspect. Whatever communication there was between Custer and his superiors would’ve been spotty. There were no radios, and Custer was deep in hostile territory. The native tribes had better guns, also an example of blundering. The US Cavalry were issued single-shot Springfield rifles, while the Sioux and Cheyanne bought repeating Winchesters. If you’re wondering why, it’s because the US government were afraid the troops would fire in the air and waste ammo. When your enemy has the tactical advantage, plus ten shots against your one shot, the odds are in his favor. The exact same thing would happen to the Italian army in Abyssinia in the 1890’s; Emperor Menelik’s men were advised to buy quick-loading rifles, which would work fine with the traditional African tactic of swarming in large numbers. The Italians were, like Custer, trekking deep into hostile territory, where supplies would run low.

    The issue of disobedience on Custer’ gets attention too. Did Custer get his men killed? How many Indians were there? Did his scouts warn him that the trail was a mile wide? Did Custer listen, or did the scouts betray him? The British army made a similar mistake when they were peacekeepers in Sierra Leone; they didn’t listen to the native troops, drove deep into the forests, and were ambushed by the West Side Niggaz (called the “West Side Boys” in the papers, courtesy of political correctness) and had to be rescued by the SAS. It was a combination of colonial arrogance, failure to listen to the locals, and underestimating the ability of the enemy.

    I’d say that this book raises important questions, and makes the facts look even less clear than before. Undoubtedly, Custer’s heroism (or screwing up) will be discussed in military schools for decades to come.