Custer George Armstrong Custer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jessgettysburg1863]

Hi to all,

Just wanted to get some feedback from the members on how they
rated Custer as a Cavalry Commander during the Civil War.

Thanks....................jessgettysburg1863 .

 

[Samuel.Sohm]

Hi to all,

Just wanted to get some feedback from the members on how they
rated Custer as a Cavalry Commander during the Civil War.

Thanks....................jessgettysburg1863 .

A few months back I read sacred ties while on my last field exercise in Germany, it was an interesting read about Custer, Rosser, Du Pont, Ramseur and Merritt during their time at West Point and Beyond. It opened me up to these men a little more and I felt like I knew them more personally than I did before. That being said I would say that Custer is somewhere in the middle of Sacred Ties version of him as the "Doting husband and great General" and Nathan Algren in the Last Samurai's "Idiot who fell in love with his own legend".

I believe he as a PRIME example of an officer who was advanced too quickly due to the Army needing trained men like him for command. It could not be helped, but the Little Bighorn (in my mind) ranks up there with Pickett's charge in the "he should have known better" column. Moral of Custer is never leave your Gatlings behind, and always ALWAYS bring your full basic load+25%

 

[jessgettysburg1863]

A few months back I read sacred ties while on my last field exercise in Germany, it was an interesting read about Custer, Rosser, Du Pont, Ramseur and Merritt during their time at West Point and Beyond. It opened me up to these men a little more and I felt like I knew them more personally than I did before. That being said I would say that Custer is somewhere in the middle of Sacred Ties version of him as the "Doting husband and great General" and Nathan Algren in the Last Samurai's "Idiot who fell in love with his own legend".

I believe he as a PRIME example of an officer who was advanced too quickly due to the Army needing trained men like him for command. It could not be helped, but the Little Bighorn (in my mind) ranks up there with Pickett's charge in the "he should have known better" column. Moral of Custer is never leave your Gatlings behind, and always ALWAYS bring your full basic load+25%

Hi,

Thanks very much for the post & information, l am not very surprised at your comments
about him.

Jess .

 

[Samuel.Sohm]

Hi,

Thanks very much for the post & information, l am not very surprised at your comments
about him.

Jess .

Why is it surprising?

 

[jessgettysburg1863]

Why is it surprising?

No l said l am not suprised, as l don't think l can recall ever hearing or reading
anything positive about him but l just wanted to hear what the members on this
site had to say and l do appreciate you feedback.

Many thanks.................Jess .

 

[cash]

Custer was impetuous and could get himself into trouble, but he usually also got himself out of trouble. He was an inspiring leader in the Civil War, and his men loved him. See the memoirs of J. H. Kidd, for example.

http://books.google.com/books/about/Personal_Recollections_of_Cavalryman_wit.html?id=UZQW8K3d-SgC

During the Civil War, he didn't tell his men to charge, he told them to "follow me" (to use the motto of the infantry). He would start off toward the enemy and call back, "Come on, you wolverines!" In the words of historian Paul Andrew Hutton, how could you not follow him?

A great book on Custer in the Civil War is Greg Urwin's Custer Victorious.

http://books.google.com/books?id=fB...s&hl=en#v=onepage&q=Custer Victorious&f=false

 

[Lee]

The Souix and the Cheyanne followed him well although I doubt that was out of inspiration or respect...................

 

[K Hale]

A valuable man, if kept on a short leash.

 

[Nathanb1]

A valuable man, if kept on a short leash.

Preferably attached to a shock collar.

 

[DanF]

Preferably attached to a shock collar.

The Sioux provided the Shock that got his attention.

 

[Bob Owen]

Very effective!

 

[damYankee]

Aggressive, brave and inspirational in youth, over confident and naive in maturity. Military leaders who rely on impetuous action and large doses of luck have a great probability of meeting a spectacular end.

 

[K Hale]

Preferably attached to a shock collar.

LMAO

 

[mulejack]

LMAO

I think Custer actually believed the Indians sould scatter at the sight of his Cavalry advancing towads their village . That being said, I think his ego was larger than Mount Rushmore. What ever else History records about the man no one could question his courage..

Mulejack

 

[Samuel.Sohm]

I cant disagree with anything said here. His main issue was youth and inexperience. Look at him vs. Winfield Scott Hancock. Two men who were roughly the same rank by the end of the war, but WORLDS apart in experience and confidence of their superiors. Do you think Hancock would have left his gatling guns?

 

[Poor Private]

I have to break down his life, are we talking his whole military career. I look at it as 2 parts of his military life. I will stick mostly to his civil war service. During the civil war he never lost a battle, he and his units captured over 40 confederate flags, defeated Stuart, who was/is acknowledeged as the premier cavalry commander at Gettysburg. which some say is as critical a battle as little round top. He never lost a artillary piece, never lost a color- I would put him equl to Forrest as the Unions most daring, most successful Union cavalry commander. A good read is
"Custer Victorious" The Civil War Battles of General George Armstrong Custer by Gregory W. Urwin .
Being from Michigan I always figured his history was all hype by the state of Michigan(you know how it is we all want someone from our particular state to be the best ever). So I really never read much about him until the last couple of years. He is actually what his hype said he was. Brass, bold, family oriented, a bit self centered, But he was just what the north needed at the time. Just like Grant.
In my opinion Stuart is the one who is not what myth makes him out to be. He was just better than the crappy union cav. at the time. When finally confronted with troops and command his equal he falls flat--Gasp did I type that OHHH MY- thats as bad a saying that Jackson wasn't all that either. Some Icons can't stand up to their myth.

 

[K Hale]

Being from Michigan I always figured his history was all hype by the state of Michigan(you know how it is we all want someone from our particular state to be the best ever).

Indeed.

 

[pattyjo]

We had this discussion before on the forum Some like him. some dont I think he was pretty effective in the CW but he was imature and impetuous compared to other Generals He was probably resented by m any because he, did go up in rank so fast

 

[Nathanb1]

In my opinion Stuart is the one who is not what myth makes him out to be. He was just better than the crappy union cav. at the time. When finally confronted with troops and command his equal he falls flat--Gasp did I type that OHHH MY- thats as bad a saying that Jackson wasn't all that either. Some Icons can't stand up to their myth.

​

Whoa.

​

 

[cash]

The Souix and the Cheyanne followed him well although I doubt that was out of inspiration or respect...................

I don't believe the Lakota or the Cheyenne had any contact with Custer during the Civil War.