Post by joewiggs on Feb 21, 2013 16:28:26 GMT -5
We can never know "for sure" what happened in the battle but, we can surmise what may have happened based on reasonableness, rationality, and plausibility. Reno could not have known the actual warrior count of a village he never entered. What he did recall, I presume, that the entire command had already followed a Indian "trails" that merged with one another to such a point that a large village was ultimately guaranteed.
As he drew close to the outskirts of the village and, not seeing support, Reno immediately fell back to a refuge;the timber he had just passed. Instead of supervising a defense of an entirely defensible p[position, Reno and several officers, withdrew from the timber perimeter to discuss possibilities of what to do. This act, undoubtedly, led directly to the total collapse of command which embolden the Indians to rush forward with eagerness.
Unchallenged by troopers, the warriors infiltrated the timber, fired rounds, and cause a complete panic among the troops who, under the pretense of a "charge", fled for their lives.
Had Custer or Benteen been the commander in the above scenario the outcome (while unknowable) would have been vastly different.
As he drew close to the outskirts of the village and, not seeing support, Reno immediately fell back to a refuge;the timber he had just passed. Instead of supervising a defense of an entirely defensible p[position, Reno and several officers, withdrew from the timber perimeter to discuss possibilities of what to do. This act, undoubtedly, led directly to the total collapse of command which embolden the Indians to rush forward with eagerness.
Unchallenged by troopers, the warriors infiltrated the timber, fired rounds, and cause a complete panic among the troops who, under the pretense of a "charge", fled for their lives.
Had Custer or Benteen been the commander in the above scenario the outcome (while unknowable) would have been vastly different.
