Ways for Custer to win a LBH? Presidency?

So I'm writing a TL with the eventual goal of a US alliance with the Central Powers, the main reason for US joining would be a surviving Empire of Mexico. However for strong anti-British feeling to exist prior to 1900 but after the 1870s I thought having Custer instead of R.B. Hayes. I don't think Hayes would be very anti-British. Plus I like Custer, I think he would be a good president for this TL. A more cavalry centric US Army would be interesting. If he ran against Hayes could he win? Also remember E. of Mexico exists so some butterflies could give him a larger force, maybe rumors of British support for the Natives Grant might be forced to give Terry a larger force. Perhaps giving the US Army Winchester Muskets due to larger threat form U.K, E. of Mexico, E. of France?
EDIT: For a VP what about Winfield Scott Hancock? Two Civil War Heroes could win easily.
 
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Custer takes the Gattling Guns OTL he refused for idiotic reasons, easily defeats the natives. His popularity explodes and it sends him straight to the white house.
Also, so the CSA loses but the Empire of Mexico survives? Interesting
 
So I'm writing a TL with the eventual goal of a US alliance with the Central Powers, the main reason for US joining would be a surviving Empire of Mexico. However for strong anti-British feeling to exist prior to 1900 but after the 1870s I thought having Custer instead of R.B. Hayes. I don't think Hayes would be very anti-British. Plus I like Custer, I think he would be a good president for this TL. A more cavalry centric US Army would be interesting. If he ran against Hayes could he win? Also remember E. of Mexico exists so some butterflies could give him a larger force, maybe rumors of British support for the Natives Grant might be forced to give Terry a larger force. Perhaps giving the US Army Winchester Muskets due to larger threat form U.K, E. of Mexico, E. of France?
EDIT: For a VP what about Winfield Scott Hancock? Two Civil War Heroes could win easily.
This sounds like it would make an interesting TL, if or when you write it, please PM me a link.

As for Custer winning the BotLBH, I agree with Not Henry G. Take the Gattlings and have Custer listen to his scouts.
I believe in OTL he dismissed their reports.
 
I am in the midst of a similar departure in my TL with a surviving Mexican Empire. However my war between great alliances is going to be butterflied more away from the standard Entente v Central Powers. I am interested to see how you keep the Second Empire going...

I do agree that its survival might very well have the impact of forcing Congress to maintain a larger US army to protect both its internal and external frontiers.
 
Custer's VP would almost certainly have to be someone with political experience. George Pendleton, perhaps. What state was Custer from?
 
Obey Orders

Step number one is to follow his orders - locate and report so the other units could be brought up. Step number two, curb his ego to the point where he figures his 700 can only handle two or three times their number. Of course curbing his ego is pretty close to ASB and related to his failure with step one. I respectfully submit that the bring the gatling guns theory doesn't help much given the actual terrain of the battle field and the way the fight developed. He had no time to organize a piece of ground on which to deploy them. Then again had he complied with step one it is hard to see how he would have gathered enough of the credit to propel him into the White House.
 
Hm this is interesting, hope you make it into a TL.

Will this involve a surviving french second empire?
I've thinking about it however I don't think so, as much as I'd like to I don't see how to make it happen, without weakening Germany. Though If my TL continues into the 1930s... well you can guess what's gonna happen.
 

fred1451

Banned
I have to vote with the "The Gatlings would not have made much of a difference", team. Looking at the terrain it would have been too easy for the Sioux to simply go to the flanks. Also don't forget that a lot of the Indians were armed with Henry Rifles or their equivalent, and unlike many of the Westerns that feature the battle, the 7th was using single shot breach loaders, not Winchesters.
 

shiftygiant

Gone Fishin'
Custer as President? Hmm. Well, part of his reason to fight was Prestige- he was vain, arrogant, and hotheaded glory-hound had been demoted from Major General to Lieutenant Colonel/Colonel following a court-marshal for going AWOL, and sought to regain prestige he had lost by testifying against President Grant's administration over the Trade Post Scandal, and had engaged in a volatile clash against the President himself. His charge into Little Big Horn was to regain prestige and become a hero. If he did win, high office isn't too far fetched, and it's likely he'd run a Democrat, having been burned by the Republicans. It's worth noting he was also heavily versed in the idea of PR, his image carefully constructed to produce that of a true American hero. Another thing that is worth note is that before he charged, he promised his Arikaras scouts he would look after their people 'when he became President'.

Thankfully, the list of failures spells out what Custer could have done to save himself- Take support battalions from General Terry, take the Gatling guns, and don't divide his force.
 

Driftless

Donor
An undoubtedly brave man, but too rash for his own good. His wife, Libby, was the brains of the pair. She was central to his being glorified as a fallen legendary hero, instead of as a disasterous failure.
 

takerma

Banned
Purely based on Wiki

1. Gattling guns, Custer had a good reason to leave them. While possible to have them there it is not likely.

If they are there, most like use for them is for Reno attack. They can set them up and start mowing down the camp killing women and kids. Counter attacking them head on Native warriors will have one hell of a time.

2. Reno see the side of the camp says fuck it and instead of deploying his men into skirmish line withdraws quickly and in order. Perhaps then once reunited with the 3rd column they can move together and save Custer. They will definitely be in better position then in OTL where Reno retreat was pretty much a rout.

Custer plan does not seem that bad, he just severely underestimated the numbers involved and Native willingness to fight.
 
Custer as President? Hmm. Well, part of his reason to fight was Prestige- he was vain, arrogant, and hotheaded glory-hound had been demoted from Major General to Lieutenant Colonel/Colonel following a court-marshal for going AWOL, and sought to regain prestige he had lost by testifying against President Grant's administration over the Trade Post Scandal, and had engaged in a volatile clash against the President himself. His charge into Little Big Horn was to regain prestige and become a hero. If he did win, high office isn't too far fetched, and it's likely he'd run a Democrat, having been burned by the Republicans. It's worth noting he was also heavily versed in the idea of PR, his image carefully constructed to produce that of a true American hero. Another thing that is worth note is that before he charged, he promised his Arikaras scouts he would look after their people 'when he became President'.
While he could certainly run, and as pointed out his PR machine might even let him win, he'd be an absolute and total disaster as president. I hate to think what he'd do to the country.

Probably get impeached when Congress didn't just roll over and do everything he wanted, leading to him trying to rule as a dictator by executive fiat and failing miserably.

Thankfully, the list of failures spells out what Custer could have done to save himself- Take support battalions from General Terry, take the Gatling guns, and don't divide his force.

Of course, the fact that he DIDN'T do any of those things is entirely indicative of his character.
 
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