In the early 1900s, Edward Sheriff Curtis, a famous photographer and amateur historian of the American West, interviewed some of the Native American survivors of the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Among those who were interviewed were some survivors from the Crow Scouts who rode with Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer on the fateful day of June 25, 1876. One of the more controversial bits of information these interviews brought to light was that Custer might actually have had a chance to win the battle, despite the great disparity of numbers.
As those familiar with the battle will recall, Custer had split his force, the Seventh Cavalry, into three separate commands. The first, commanded by himself, consisted of about 225 men. The second, composed of about 175 men, was commanded by Major Marcus Reno. The third, a small detachment left to guard the pack train, was commanded by Captain Frederick Benteen. Reno's command was ordered to attack the southern end of the large village of Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Indians which the Seventh Cavalry had encountered, while Custer moved to the northern end of the village to launch his own attack.
However, Reno's attack quickly ran into trouble, as almost all of the over 2,000 warriors in the village quickly concentrated against him (at this time, the Indians were apparently unaware of Custer's separate column). Reno was forced into a defensive position, where he was soon joined by Captain Benteen and engaged in a fight for his life, and that of his command.
According to the account given to Curtis by the surviving Crow Scouts, as Reno's men were being forced back into said position, however, George Armstrong Custer was sitting on a hilltop, not far away, watching the action through his field glasses. His command was arrayed behind the hill, out of sight of the Indians. The hill was on the flank of the Indian position as they attacked Reno. The Crow scouts are said to have urged Custer to ride to Reno's aid and attack into the flank of the Sioux/Cheyenne/Arapaho host. Custer refused, saying, "No, let them fight. There will be plenty of fighting for us to do."
But what if, instead of riding off to his doom as in OTL, he had listened to the Crow Scouts and launched a charge into the flank of the Indian positions? Flank attacks tend to be disproportionately effective compared to the number of men engaged in them. The sudden impact and shock of a cavalry charge, riding downhill, into the flank of a surprised foe, could well have scattered the Indians and won the day, right then and there.
So lets say he does. The attack is a complete success, and the warriors are scattered. Custer chases them into the village itself, joined by Reno, and never lets them regroup. You end up with something like the Battle of the Washita, only on a much greater scale. Custer survives the battle, and is a national hero.
So where does he go from there? What part would he have played in the remainder of the 19th century? Presidential aspirations? Commander of the American Expeditionary Force in Cuba in 1898?
As those familiar with the battle will recall, Custer had split his force, the Seventh Cavalry, into three separate commands. The first, commanded by himself, consisted of about 225 men. The second, composed of about 175 men, was commanded by Major Marcus Reno. The third, a small detachment left to guard the pack train, was commanded by Captain Frederick Benteen. Reno's command was ordered to attack the southern end of the large village of Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Indians which the Seventh Cavalry had encountered, while Custer moved to the northern end of the village to launch his own attack.
However, Reno's attack quickly ran into trouble, as almost all of the over 2,000 warriors in the village quickly concentrated against him (at this time, the Indians were apparently unaware of Custer's separate column). Reno was forced into a defensive position, where he was soon joined by Captain Benteen and engaged in a fight for his life, and that of his command.
According to the account given to Curtis by the surviving Crow Scouts, as Reno's men were being forced back into said position, however, George Armstrong Custer was sitting on a hilltop, not far away, watching the action through his field glasses. His command was arrayed behind the hill, out of sight of the Indians. The hill was on the flank of the Indian position as they attacked Reno. The Crow scouts are said to have urged Custer to ride to Reno's aid and attack into the flank of the Sioux/Cheyenne/Arapaho host. Custer refused, saying, "No, let them fight. There will be plenty of fighting for us to do."
But what if, instead of riding off to his doom as in OTL, he had listened to the Crow Scouts and launched a charge into the flank of the Indian positions? Flank attacks tend to be disproportionately effective compared to the number of men engaged in them. The sudden impact and shock of a cavalry charge, riding downhill, into the flank of a surprised foe, could well have scattered the Indians and won the day, right then and there.
So lets say he does. The attack is a complete success, and the warriors are scattered. Custer chases them into the village itself, joined by Reno, and never lets them regroup. You end up with something like the Battle of the Washita, only on a much greater scale. Custer survives the battle, and is a national hero.
So where does he go from there? What part would he have played in the remainder of the 19th century? Presidential aspirations? Commander of the American Expeditionary Force in Cuba in 1898?