Little Big Horn, A Study of a Cavalry Regiment in the Indian Wars

[Abbott Shaull]

Wow. They only had 100 carbine rounds and 24 pistol rounds.

Yeah I would say it probably more lack of resupply of ammo, in combination with some reckless tactics, and some disregard of orders (depending on how you look at it). It kinda like reading one of those Second from disaster shows. Not one thing in particular may have led to a lost battle, but enough incidents happen during a timeline that led to failure.

I do find it interesting that Major Reno wasn't court martial afterwards, but considering how many Officers in the Army felt about GAC. There were many who felt he only got to his position by luck and hadn't really earned his way to position he held in the war and lack the experience of the post Civil War Army that held too.

On a side note, same Lt. Colonel GAC, seems to have been suspended from command of the said regiment, and was court martial for being AWOL due to the fact he went to see his wife.

[copeab]

Originally Posted by Abbott Shaull

Wow. They only had 100 carbine rounds and 24 pistol rounds.

100 rounds per rifle wasn't far off "official issue" numbers in WWII.

[mikeo80]

Originally Posted by Abbott Shaull

Wow. They only had 100 carbine rounds and 24 pistol rounds.

I do find it interesting that Major Reno wasn't court martial afterwards, but considering how many Officers in the Army felt about GAC. There were many who felt he only got to his position by luck and hadn't really earned his way to position he held in the war and lack the experience of the post Civil War Army that held too.

Major Reno was court martialed for "improper advancements on a fellow officer's wife" in 1877.

What the press did to him is very familiar to what happens today if a military officer "gets out of line".

[dragoon500ly]

When you look at the available ammo loadout, you need to consider the means of transport. The typical cavalry mount has a useful load of 240 pounds. Attached is a list of equipment to be carried by a trooper for a five day patrol.

Halter: 2lbs 1oz
Watering Bridle: 1lb, 1.5oz
Bridle: 2lbs 13oz
Saddle: 14lbs 13.5oz
Saddle Bags: 2lbs 2oz
Filling of near side pouch of saddle bags,
10lbs of rations with meat in the can: 11lbs 2 oz
Filling of off side pouch of saddle bags,
1pr socks, 1 pr drawers, 2 shirts, 40rds carbine ammo, toilet articles: 7lbs 8
oz
Forage Sack with 15lbs of oats: 15lbs 6oz
Lariat and pin: 3lbs 1.5oz
Overcoat: 4lbs 6.5oz
Brush and shoe pouch: 1lb
Near-side pocket, curry comb and brush: 1lb
Off-side pocket, 2 horseshoes, 15 shoe nails: 2lbs
Saddle cover: 1lb
Surcingle: 11.5oz
Saber & slings: 4lbs 13oz
Waist belt and plate: 1lb
Pistol and holster: 3lbs 2oz
Carbine sling and swivel: 10lbs 4 oz
Carbine cartridge box: 1lb
24rds carbine ammo in box: 2lbs
Pistol cartridge pouch: 4oz
12rds pistol ammo in pouch: 14oz
Man: 140lbs

Total weight: 240lbs 12.5oz

As you can see, there is not a lot of room for extra gear, this is perhaps the major reason why the saber was left in garrision, that 4lbs and 13oz translates allowed for extra carbine/pistol ammo.

[dragoon500ly]

I do find it interesting that Major Reno wasn't court martial afterwards, but considering how many Officers in the Army felt about GAC. There were many who felt he only got to his position by luck and hadn't really earned his way to position he held in the war and lack the experience of the post Civil War Army that held too.

Reno called for and was granted a Court of Inquiry, this court was little more than a dog-and-pony show, carried out by career military officers who wanted nothing more than to white-wash the entire LBH episode. Aided by the effort by the Seventh's remaining officers to avoid disgrace the unit. Their stories differed from reports made at the time, the only testimony against Reno was made by several of the civilian packers whose testimony was dismissed.

The finding of the court was as follows: "The conduct of the officers throughout was excellent, and while subordinates, in some instances, did more for the safety of the command by brilliant displays of courage than did Major Reno, there was nothing in his conduct which requires animadversion (criticism or censure) from this Court."

It was later discovered that one of the Courts officers Colonel Wesley Merritt had "closeted with the Recorder alone for several hours, and, it is understood, did most of the work of the decision, the Recorder having no voice save to present the case on trial."

Merritt had hated Custer since their days in the Cavalry Division of the Army of the Potomac and there was little doubt among the handful of Custer supporters that he had taken full advantage to blacken the name of his old rival.