Officer's of the Seventh!

[whitebull]

Well folks, I'm going to start a piece on the officers of the seventh cavalry. What kind of men where they? How did they face up to the Indians at the battle. If we can get some idea about that we should be able to get a idea of what kind of leaders they where. Now I'm gonna look for the good and the bad and, everything in between. I'm gonna start with the bad because I found this piece first and, i got to admit I was shocked at it.

Captain Moylan:

"I had made the trip for water with a young comrade named Jim Weeks. On our way back, Jim was hailed by Capt. Moylan, requesting a drink. I was surprised to hear Jim blurt out, 'You go to hell and get your own water;this is for the wounded.'

Nothing more was said, but I know that must have been a a hard pill for Moylan to swallow."

Page 59, Troopers with Custer.

Now this caught me with my pants down because for a foot soldier to tell an officer to go to "hell" today is bad but, back then it was almost suicidal. What in the hell happened there for a trooper to talk to a Captain like that?

[joewiggs]

I'm glad you found that book, I had forgotten about it. it seems that Moylan did not fare to well on the hill.

I would like to address an officer who did very well under action,. Godfrey. When the other commands fell back in a hurry from Weir Point, Godfrey was left holding the bad with his one company. As his compatriots flew past in a cloud of smoke, Godfrey instantly realized that the entire command was in danger of being overwhelmed by the warriors.

Instead of mounting and following suit, Godfrey placed his men in a regulation skirmish and fired. The pursuing Indians immediately bit the dirt and were thwarted from their vicious aims.

Godfrey refused to let his men "bunch" up, a sure sign of mental debilitation under combat stress and forced them to respond in a prescribed military fashion.

In summation, Godfrey prevented the complete annihilation of the command from occurring.

Now I ask the forum, why did Reno perform similarly as Godfrey?

[whitebull]

I never knew this! Godfrey holds up hundreds of Indians with one company while Reno got whipped and Custer got wiped out. I guess I just don't get it. Shaking my head here Boss! How could that happen?!

[whitebull]

I just thought of a good answer to my unanswered answer! Godfrey was sober!