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To: LS
Had Benteen and Reno ran to his aid, another 180 men would have died.

Very true and exactly what I was going to say. I would also add this, Custer had faced the Indians numerous times before and had always been strongly out numbered. However, based on his experience, the Indians had rarely fought back. Instead their tactics were to hit and run, then return later and repeat this. Rarely did they launch a continuous attack as they did at LBH.

LBH represented a change in Indian attack planning, which took Custer by surprise. It was this change that led to his defeat.

One very eerie sight is to stand at the top of the hill and look down towards where the attacks started and to see the serpentine like long line of crosses leading to the crest of the hill. Indeed by the time Custer's last men reached the hill, the outcome of the battle had long been decided.

14 posted on 02/15/2008 11:22:18 AM PST by Michael.SF. ("democrat" -- 'one who panders to the crude and mindless whims of the masses " - Joseph J. Ellis)
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To: Michael.SF.

the truth is, Custer achieved a surprise attack on Indians and was on the verge of a victory. However, Benteen and Reno let him alone, never gave him any support and he died waiting for them and trying to protect their arrival.

Custer fought with 210 men, Benteen and Reno waited on a hill with 400 other men.

AS US general-in-chief Nelson A. Miles said to summarize the betrayal of Little Bighorn, no one can win victories when 2/3 of your troops are out of the fight.


41 posted on 02/16/2008 3:20:09 PM PST by drzz
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