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Ok, this is more of a probe for knowledge than any kind of debate starter.

Does anyone know what the hell Custer was thinking?

   

I'm not sure but I think he should have listened to this guy.

   

Custer was thinking like any normal typical post-Civil War 19th century white man. They could do anything, anywhere, anytime. The Indians just happened to be the targets after the Civil War and Westward expansion. Underestimation and two subordinates Reno and Benteen didn't help matters either. The tactical need to divide his troops was probably the worst decision and Reno retreating. Some say Custer disobeyed orders to attack and other say he had freedom to attack. Get a bunch of angry Indians in one spot and the crows will have a feast.

   

hmm. I always though Reno's actions were a part of Custer's "plan". I've really only read book on the Great Sioux War, or pardon two, and both of them said that he changed his direction outside of orders once he encountered the path of the Dakota camp.

However, the Sioux were still terribly over-confident (part of what costed them the war), they almost didn't manage to get organized to recieve Custer's attack after facing Reno.

   

Actually you might blame Custer for not informing Reno of his plan. Miscommunication I suppose wasn't Reno's fault but it saved him instead of Custer. I've never heard of it called the great Sioux wars but all of it was a part of the U.S governments plan to round up Indians that went off reserve. All part of the Indian Wars up until Wounded Knee.

   

"Great Sioux War" refers to the series of wars the United States fought specifically with the Sioux. The Sioux won the first two treaties of fort Laramie. I've actually only read that term in one of those books.

I wouldn't exactly call Wounded Knee a battle but it was certainly the last confrontation. I wonder why the Indians never tested the so called "bullet proof" paints or clothes they designed. Quanah Parker had the same problem, somebody in the Kwahadi Comanches thought that they had made bullet proof paint. Quanah accused him of being a fake but unsuccessfully. He was proven so when one of Quanah's warriors yelled his war cry over-confidently early and ruined a surprise attack against American buffalo hunters.

The Dakota were "off reserve" but only because the Americans had decided to make their reserve smaller and no longer including the Black Hills (funny thing it was Custer who started up all the jazz about gold in the Black Hills) wherest the Dakota believed spirits dwelled.

   

There were several stratigic problems.

Col. Custer underestimated had tried this too many times, the element of surprise was lost.

The US Army did not use the Springfield rifle because they did not want to deviate from the standard bullet. As only the
Dakota had magazine rifles.

Thirdly Custer refused the gatlin gun he was offered which whould have given him back firepower.

   

Er, I think they were Lakota not Dakota. Both Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse were part of these tribes.

   

Great book on him was Son of the Morning Star : Custer and The Little Bighorn. It was also a movie but I didn't see it so I cannot recomend it. A bit of a ramble all over but it covers a great deal of details of the army at the time, the nature and moral of the indian wars and Custer himself,

   

Are you sure they were Lakota? I must of had my shit mixed up. This Nakota guy told me that Dakota were Teton Sioux and Lakota were Yankton. A little off topic but there was this Lakota guy who fought the Americans, his name was Red something or other, do you know his name?

   

"I'm not sure but I think he should have listened to this guy."

Thanks so much for that 797

   

Red Cloud was his name. He fought the Americans in what is called "Red Clouds War" and made the Americans to committ to the treaty of Laramie. He didn't fight in Custers last stand. I'm pretty sure they were Lakota but there are many variations of the Sioux tribe so I guess there are Dakota Indians.

   

Oh yeah I know Red Cloud didn't fight in the war involving Custer, that was Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. I was just wondering what would've happened to him in the time between wars if Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse were both Lakota as well.

I'm pretty sure the three major Sioux groups are the Dakota, Lakota and Nakota (Stoney or Assiniboine).

   

im pretty sure he was thinking that, there was no way the indians could beat the US army. Greatly underestimating the enemy, with terrible consequences...thats my simple explanation for it.

   

British neutrality and the dislike of the Lakota at Wood Mountain by Canada's Metis and Assiboine populations also played a crucuail role.

   

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