[An Old Marine]

Easy boys,

There is an element of truth in what you all say however... numbers stated really do not matter. Us Injuns were armed with repeaters, you white eyes were armed with single shot Springfield's. And anyone who seriously knows tactical ops will tell you that is the name of the game.

Further the Sioux/Cheyenne warriors uncharacteristically used a volley fire for the first couple of minutes. That is the only time in all the history of the Indian Wars that they showed that much discipline.

Nothing could have saved Custer that day except a massive infusion of troops, repeating rifles, or possibly having the Gatling guns offered to him that he supposedly refused. Even then he would have had to found some way to induce the Sioux/Cheyenne to attack him.

[Michael.SF.]

Nothing could have saved Custer that day except a massive infusion of troops, repeating rifles, or possibly having the Gatling guns offered to him that he supposedly refused.

Two comments:

Custer's downfall was that he learned to late that the Indians battlefield tactics had changed. He fought as he was use to fighting. The Indians did not, they adapted.

He did in fact refuse the Gatling guns, as he thought them impractical against Indians on horse back.

Although many Indians had repeaters, as you have said, I thought they was the exception, not the rule. I am not sure on how many repeaters the Indians actually had.

[LS]

Absolutely right on the Indians' use of repeaters. What Fox found, however, was that the Indians' repeater ammo was mingled right amongst the cavalry---not 50 yards away, as if the soldiers were shot down from range, but as if the enemy had used the grass and ravines to conceal their approach until they were right on top of them.

Also, as you well know, and has been documented many places, the cavalry's carbines were notorious for jamming.

[LS]

Absolutely right on the Indians' use of repeaters. What Fox found, however, was that the Indians' repeater ammo was mingled right amongst the cavalry---not 50 yards away, as if the soldiers were shot down from range, but as if the enemy had used the grass and ravines to conceal their approach until they were right on top of them.

Also, as you well know, and has been documented many places, the cavalry's carbines were notorious for jamming.