Custer Custer’s First Stand

[CMWinkler]

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.co...on&action=Click&pgtype=Blogs&region=Body&_r=0

 

[rhettbutler1865]

Thank you-great post. I only knew a small bit about that fight. Very illuminating! Custer--what a "colorful" figure... My mother was Born on Dec 5th, like Custer--and died on June 25th of last year, like Custer. (not same years, of course). I have never forgiven him leading his troopers into that slaughter at you-know-where, but I've been doing more reading about him since Mom died. One of the photos in my bedroom is with him at camp with his dog. (Anyone who loves dogs, IMO, can't be half-bad...)

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Interesting.

There's a chapter in my book on the Battle of Trevilian Station--fought June 9, 1864--that's titled "Custer's First Last Stand", which is a much better analogy than the steamrolling of Early's pathetic little force.

 

[rhettbutler1865]

Interesting.

There's a chapter in my book on the Battle of Trevilian Station--fought June 9, 1864--that's titled "Custer's First Last Stand", which is a much better analogy than the steamrolling of Early's pathetic little force.

Thank you-I will look it up!

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

June 11, not June 9. I had a Brandy Station brain fart there for a second. Apologies.

This is the book: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0803259670/?tag=civilwartalkc-20

 

[Alex Scotland]

Great read thanks for posting. Early should of been ashamed of his own actions rather than trying to blame his sub-ordinates and soldiers. And to think people believe this man when he attacks Gen Longstreet.

 

[hanna260]

Thanks for the extra info, Eric! And a great post, CMWinkler. You could say many things about Custer but one thing you always had to tack on was that he was brave.

Don't worry Scotland, I don't think many people believe Early about Longstreet anymore. Early is one of those figures whose rather wretched personality tends to overshadow their actual achievements; he was an inspired fighter and held off well against Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley.

 

[Patrick H]

Nice article. Thanks for the link!

 

[CSA Today]

Great read thanks for posting. Early should of been ashamed of his own actions rather than trying to blame his sub-ordinates and soldiers. And to think people believe this man when he attacks Gen Longstreet.

Great read thanks for posting. Early should of been ashamed of
QUOTE]

Would you be more specific?

 

[hanna260]

CSA, I'm not going to pretend to speak for him but I think he was talking about Early and Longstreet's feud and how Early blamed Longstreet for Gettysburg. I may be wrong though. I'm sure he will clarify.

 

[CSA Today]

CSA, I'm not going to pretend to speak for him but I think he was talking about Early and Longstreet's feud and how Early blamed Longstreet for Gettysburg. I may be wrong though. I'm sure he will clarify.

Think you are right about Longstreet, less sure about Early blaming his "sub-ordinates and soldiers."

 

[hanna260]

Think you are right about Longstreet, less sure about Early blaming his "sub-ordinates and soldiers."

Oh yeah. I didn't mean to imply that Early necessarily blamed his soldiers and subordinates.... though it did seem to be a little hard for him to praise most of his fellow officers after the war!

 

[CSA Today]

Oh yeah. I didn't mean to imply that Early necessarily blamed his soldiers and subordinates.... though it did seem to be a little hard for him to praise most of his fellow officers after the war!

I'm sure you have heard the story about a group of old Confederate vets, at the time of the Spanish American War, wishing they could see the expression on Jubal Early's face should either Fitzhugh Lee or Joseph Wheeler come through the Pearly Gate dressed in Yankee blue uniforms.

 

[MaryDee]

June 11, not June 9. I had a Brandy Station brain fart there for a second. Apologies.

This is the book: http://www.amazon.com/Glory-Enough-All-Sheridans-Trevilian/dp/0803259670/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425439033&sr=8-1&keywords=glory enough for all

As with all Eric's books, you'll be up all night reading! His books are all great reads. Do note that he's not exactly an admirer of Phil Sheridan (neither am I, even before learning his Civil War history).

I grew up and studied local history in Wyoming, where Custer, at least by my Wyoming history teacher, was considered an idiot. I didn't realize before reading Glory Enough for All that he had made the same mistake long before Little Big Horn!

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

As with all Eric's books, you'll be up all night reading! His books are all great reads. Do note that he's not exactly an admirer of Phil Sheridan (neither am I, even before learning his Civil War history).

I grew up and studied local history in Wyoming, where Custer, at least by my Wyoming history teacher, was considered an idiot. I didn't realize before reading Glory Enough for All that he had made the same mistake long before Little Big Horn!

When I began researching that book, all that I really knew about Sheridan was the mythology that he was a great cavalry commander. Then I got deeply into it and realized that he was at best a very mediocre cavalry commander, and his lackadaisical dispositions that led to his being surprised at Trevilians appalled me. I'm a lawyer. I go where the evidence leads me. And I must admit to being terribly disappointed by the conclusions that I ended up drawing as a result of my study of this campaign.

 

[Elennsar]

When I began researching that book, all that I really knew about Sheridan was the mythology that he was a great cavalry commander. Then I got deeply into it and realized that he was at best a very mediocre cavalry commander, and his lackadaisical dispositions that led to his being surprised at Trevilians appalled me. I'm a lawyer. I go where the evidence leads me. And I must admit to being terribly disappointed by the conclusions that I ended up drawing as a result of my study of this campaign.

I have to wonder how much of that was incompetence with cavalry, specifically, and how much just not being a good tactical commander at all (a hard fighter, but not a smart fighter - whatever his skills elsewhere).

That goes beyond this campaign, but any thoughts there?

 

[hanna260]

When I began researching that book, all that I really knew about Sheridan was the mythology that he was a great cavalry commander. Then I got deeply into it and realized that he was at best a very mediocre cavalry commander, and his lackadaisical dispositions that led to his being surprised at Trevilians appalled me. I'm a lawyer. I go where the evidence leads me. And I must admit to being terribly disappointed by the conclusions that I ended up drawing as a result of my study of this campaign.

I read your book (which was excellent) but am curious- why exactly do you think that Grant allowed Sheridan to get away with so much? Was he that impressed by Sheridan's bluster and energy?

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

I have to wonder how much of that was incompetence with cavalry, specifically, and how much just not being a good tactical commander at all (a hard fighter, but not a smart fighter - whatever his skills elsewhere).

That goes beyond this campaign, but any thoughts there?

Too young, too headstrong, too ambitious, too unethical, pathological liar. Those all describe Sheridan. I realized all of this as I researched him. I came to understand all of those things.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

I read your book (which was excellent) but am curious- why exactly do you think that Grant allowed Sheridan to get away with so much? Was he that impressed by Sheridan's bluster and energy?

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I have wrestled with that question for years, and I just cannot come up with a good explanation for it. Grant said that he admired Sheridan's ability to motivate men, which Grant admitted that he lacked. Beyond that, I have no idea. I have often speculated that Grant and Sheridan were drinking buddies, but I have absolutely no evidence to support that.

 

[hanna260]

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I have wrestled with that question for years, and I just cannot come up with a good explanation for it. Grant said that he admired Sheridan's ability to motivate men, which Grant admitted that he lacked. Beyond that, I have no idea. I have often speculated that Grant and Sheridan were drinking buddies, but I have absolutely no evidence to support that.

Thanks for the answer. I guess that Sheridan did have charisma. It baffles me too- though I guess Grant's presidency kind of showed that there wasn't a lying crook that he didn't want to instinctively give a job to and trust- so maybe that's why?