WI: The 7th Cavalry Crushes the Indians at the Little Bighorn

This may have already been done before but let's just see where this sucker goes! Exactly what the title says, what will it take for the 7th Cav to defeat the Indians and what are the implications if they can do that?

Does Custer have a future in politics if he's part of a huge victory at the Little Bighorn?
 
Simple, have Custer wait for reinforcements including his gatling guns. Outside Custer possilbly becoming president it mostly means the Souix get crused a little earlier.
 
Though if Custer does wait, its possible that the Souix decide not to.

Not trying to be contrary, just that making sure that they, in a word, cooperate is going to be important. Gatling guns or no.
 
A short story in the Drakas! anthology has Custer waiting for reenforcements, getting brought up on charges of cowardice and incompetence, and cashiered.
 
If Custer wins no one but a historian would even remember his name. It'd just be one more example of modern forces defeating the natives.
 
Though if Custer does wait, its possible that the Souix decide not to.

Not trying to be contrary, just that making sure that they, in a word, cooperate is going to be important. Gatling guns or no.

True enough, they might take off. But to have a POD where they are crushed they have to stick around to be crushed.
 
True enough, they might take off. But to have a POD where they are crushed they have to stick around to be crushed.

That's my point.

If Custer does what he's supposed to and waits for backup, something has to keep the Souix convinced hanging around is a good idea long enough for things to get in position.
 
What happens if the POD could be Custer not leaving his base camp/fort without the Gatling guns?
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counter to that, did the Indians actually know he was coming before he was near to the camp?
 
What happens if the POD could be Custer not leaving his base camp/fort without the Gatling guns?
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counter to that, did the Indians actually know he was coming before he was near to the camp?

They had heard rumors of the summer campaign, and of multiple columns converging on their hunting ground. One of the smaller columns of 300 cavalry had been defeated weeks earlier, confirming the stories about the intended campaign. I'm unsure if any hunting parties had spotted Custers group earlier that week. Hunters may have spotted them earlier that day, but the camp had little actual warning.
 
If Custer wins no one but a historian would even remember his name. It'd just be one more example of modern forces defeating the natives.

I'm going to agree with this. If he wins he will probably be a footnote, just another general who used overwhelming technology and firepower to waste some natives.
 
I'm going to agree with this. If he wins he will probably be a footnote, just another general who used overwhelming technology and firepower to waste some natives.

He may be remembered as an effective leader in the Civil War, rather than a tragic figure/incompetent from the Indian Wars.
 
That's my point.

If Custer does what he's supposed to and waits for backup, something has to keep the Souix convinced hanging around is a good idea long enough for things to get in position.

Bad intelligence? It has happened more than once in RL. Maybe the Souix scouts don't notice things or underestimate the numbers or something until too late.
 
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