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World's worst general

Discussion in 'History Forum' started by Matt Black, Jun 4, 2004.

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  1. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    Custer was OK under adult supervision in the Civil War.

    Left to himself, he was a disaster. How he earned a reputation as an Indian fighter, I don't know. His foolhardy reports practically started the war with the Souix, and his gallantry wasn't enhanced by his massacre of women and children at the Battle of the Washita.

    Technically, Custer was a lieutenant colonel at the time of his demise, his brevet rank having expired in the demobilization that followed the Great Unpleasantness.
     
    #21 rsr, Jun 6, 2004
  2. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Custer was ruthless in fulfilling the wishes of Kearny and Sherman - wholesale slaughter of the Plains Indians. He made a BIG mistake at the Washita under Phil Sheridan - he attacked the village but did not send men up river to cut off a retreat. This allowed some to escape.

    At the Greasy Grass he was not going to make that mistake again. Sending in Reno full bore into the camp, Custer took his men around to cut off the retreat of the village.

    History tells us Reno/Benteen were stopped and forced to fight a defensive battle. And Custer never even got down to the river to slaughter the fleeing Sioux. He had run into 2500-5000 instead of a helpless village and his position and running fight lasted only a few minutes until all of HIS troops were slaughtered in turn.

    Another great battle plan but based on faulty intelligence.
     
    #22 Dr. Bob, Jun 6, 2004
  3. Major B

    Major B <img src=/6069.jpg>

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    Custer was supposed to be hammer, and a large contingent of infantry under General (Terry, or Crook, I forget which) was supposed to be the anvil. The infantry had been slowed down by a Sioux assault upriver the previous day, and Custer did not wait for them. His key mistakes may have been (1) Giving Benteen the pack train (with the extra ammo) and (2) turning down gatling guns. Reno/Benteen had no better a position than Custer, and about the same number of men, but they had enough ammo to keep up a sustained rate of fire, while Custer's men did not.
     
    #23 Major B, Jun 6, 2004
  4. Jeff Weaver

    Jeff Weaver New Member

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    Wally Gator, I mentioned Custer on Page 1. ;)

    You might enjoy this page: Custer Page at PBS

    Custer's ante and postmortem reputation was largely based on his wife's political and social connections.

    The referenced article says that Custer performed well in the Civil War. I would argue the point that such was not actually the case. At 3rd Winchester, September 19, 1864, one understrength dismounted cavalry regiment held up Custer's entire brigade for two hours, until the Confederate ran out of ammunition. Granted the Confederates were behind a stone wall. Custer could seem to grasp that he should have bifurcated his force, kept the Confederates engaged, and sent the remainder into their flanks or rear. They were mounted. But his wife's friend, Phil Sheridan was in command in the Shenandoah at the time, so nothing was ever said about it.
     
    #24 Jeff Weaver, Jun 6, 2004
  5. Matt Black

    Matt Black Well-Known Member
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    What about the Union guy who surrendered Harper's Ferry in Sept 1862 just before Antietam. I forget his name but isn't there a rumour that he was so drunk and incapable - and hated by his men - that he was killed by 'friendly fire' just after surrendering the arsenal?

    Yours in Christ

    Matt
     
    #25 Matt Black, Jun 7, 2004
  6. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    Colonel Dixon Miles was the commander and was facing two-to-one odds; he was, reportedly, mortally injured by a stray Confederate shell, which left Brigadier General Julius White (yes, White outranked Miles but volunteered to serve as second in command) to make the formal surrender. White later asked for a court of inquiry, which acquitted him.
     
    #26 rsr, Jun 7, 2004
  7. delly

    delly New Member

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    General Grant
    General McClellan
    General Burnside
     
    #27 delly, Jun 9, 2004
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