The Custer Myth:W.A. Graham

[strange]

Mar 2, 2013 20:57:11 GMT -5 joewiggs said:

Page 200, Graham's quote from Benteen regarding the conduct of Capt. Moylan:

" I didn't know that the men of the regiment had such an aversion to Mylie Moylan, but my! how correct they were in so having!

On 25th June, 1876, when my battalion got to crest of hill where Reno took refuge from his "charge" (quotation marks are Benteen's not mine)from bottom, the first thing which attracted my attention was the gallantly-mustached captain of Troop "A" blubbering like a whipped urchin, tears coursing down his cheeks."

This description of a Captain action's in the battle was described by Benteen in a letter to T. Goldin after the battle. What do you suppose the reaction would have been from board of the Reno Inquiry had they heard this? They didn't! Benteen was too busy hanging fault on Custer.

And how was Reno, Mr Benteen?

[joewiggs]

Funny you mention that, Benteen had a great deal of disparaging thoughts about quite a few of the officers involved in the battle. He also accused Reno of suggesting that on the night of the battle, that the wounded be deserted! Unbelievable!

[strange]

Poor Moylan was just really having a bad day.

[whitebull]

He really did because he was really a good soldier and had been Custer's right hand man in the past. I don't think anyone can question Sgt. Ryan's bravery and he even though things were way to hot for everybody.

He said: "Just at that moment the Indians fired into us from all sides, and I said to Captain French of my company; "The best thing that we can do is cut right through them." by this time they had us surrounded."

Anybody can have a bad day in the middle of a whole lot of good ones.

[tbw]

Mar 3, 2013 17:27:12 GMT -5 strange said:

Poor Moylan was just really having a bad day.

Possibly Sir Strange. But I do have to ask... Did anyone know why he was crying? Was he asked? Or did he offer? Or was the reason just assumed? We have to remember the Reno Hill location wasn't their first position taken upon those bluffs, yet that's where everyone assumed Moylan was blubbering. Place that command anywhere within a third to a quarter mile beyond Reno hill and what they seen was what he was crying about, guaranteed.

[strange]

It was also pretty damn hot out there, I imagine there was a lot of water coming out of everyone.

[joewiggs]

Mar 4, 2013 9:24:54 GMT -5 tbw said:

Mar 3, 2013 17:27:12 GMT -5 strange said:

Poor Moylan was just really having a bad day.

Possibly Sir Strange. But I do have to ask... Did anyone know why he was crying? Was he asked? Or did he offer? Or was the reason just assumed? We have to remember the Reno Hill location wasn't their first position taken upon those bluffs, yet that's where everyone assumed Moylan was blubbering. Place that command anywhere within a third to a quarter mile beyond Reno hill and what they seen was what he was crying about, guaranteed.

Benteen made a specific reference to Moylan:

"blubbering like a whipped urchin, (crying like a child), tears coursing down his cheeks. Now I know he hadn't much of what we called in the south "raising", but I had accredited him in my mind with having some nerve, though I had never seen him in a position before to display it;but as sure as you are born, the bottom tumbled out-and all the nerve with it, before we reached the crest of the hill.

Custer Myth, page 200