The 7th cav.

[lboos]

Bob, Thanks for the kind word's. I can't think of a better hobby then collecting small parts of our Country's History.

[lboos]

Bob, I found This pic. of Custer when he was the 7th Cav. Commander in his full dress uniform. His uniform, Helmet and award hanging down on his chest look very close to your Great Great Uncle's Uniform. Even though one's a Pvt. and the other is a LT/COL.

[45govt]

and award hanging down on his chest

What award?

[drm2m]

I must say...I have really enjoyed reading this thread.
Very informative.....albeit somewhat controversial....which adds to the interest.

David

[jon_norstog]

Part of the problem was inexperienced troops. the other part was not enough of them.

The United States Army had a vast country to police, and it had only a few men to do it with. Speaking generally of the problem in 1878, Lt. Gen. Philip Sheridan commented:

“No other nation in the world would have attempted reduction of these wild tribes and occupation of their country with less than 60,000 or 70,000 men, while the whole force employed and scattered over this enormous region . . . never numbered more than 14,000, and nearly one-third of this force has been confined to the line of the Rio Grande to protect the Mexican frontier. The consequence was that every engagement was a forlorn hope, and was attended with a loss of life unparalleled in warfare. "

The U.S. came really close to losing the Indian Wars in 1877 - the first 15-20 minutes of the Clearwater fight against the Nez Perce, before Howard pulled his troops together and got the howitzers and gatlings into the line.

All the northwest tribes were watching to see what would happen. A major US defeat would have triggered a general war against the NW tribes at first, and eventually all the tribes in the west.

[Fredtheobviouspseudonym]

I don't dispute that the other NW tribes might well have risen.

They would have lost, though.

By 1877 there were just too many Euro- and African-Americans (gotta be politically-correct these days before the PC police pull me in) in the USA for the Native Americans to win. After the War Between the States the US would not have allowed any section of what became the Lower 48 to be detached from the political control of Washington.

Between the surviving veterans of the War Between the States and the numbers of young men who grew up with stories of heroism, manhood and endurance (this was allowed in that dim benighted age) there would have been plenty of manpower AND experience needed to turn that manpower into good troops. The railroad already crossed the plains and could have brought as many troops and supplies as needed.

Basically, the last chance the Native Americans had to remain independent died with Tecumseh. And it was a slim chance then. There's only so far guts and skill will get you against a determined enemy with vastly superior numbers.

[doncb]

Didnt Custer get kicked out of the Army for shooting 4 of his men for desertion prior to his command of the seventh. I should get some emails on this. don b in Fl.

[lboos]

doncb,
Kicked out? He should have got a promotion.

[RickH]

Iboos, Bob, not to nitpick, but the saddle and saddlebags are Model 1904.

The Indian War equipment was dyed black and the correct pattern equipment would most likely have been Model 1874. There were distinct differences between the the two models, though the basic McClellan seat remained pretty much the same.

Still nice stuff, you just need to add a Patton saber and a Model 1903 !

[lboos]

RickH, Thanks for your interest. I was not trying to pass the saddle or the saddle bags off as Lt/Col. Custer's personal equip... Just a display that the Cav. used for many years.
Over the years i have talked to many wannabe antique saddle experts, some have written book's on them, and i have found that when i get a chance to talk to them and go over some pic's of antique saddles that i am just as much if not more of a saddle expert then most. Did you notice the screw holes that held the skirts on that the 1904 never had? Tommorow i'll post some better pic's, and let you guess agin, And your off on the bag's also.
Could you please give me your expert opin. on how you date'd the saddle and bags to model 1904?
And thank you for the kind word's..