Martin Antonenko
A Fixture
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2008
- Messages
- 8,995
The Battle at Rosebud:
The "winner" has to withdraw badly battered!
On June 17, 1876, the first major military conflict between the Prairie Indians, who were still living free, and the US Army took place.
Since gold was found in the Black Hills in the Indian area, the Americans would like to appropriate the land - it's just a pity that the natives live right there, namely Cheyenne and Lakota!
And so the US launches a full-scale campaign against them!
With three strong columns they move into the Indian territory in an undeclared war:
General George Crook...
...comes from Fort Laramie from the south, from the west General Alfred Terry is marching...
... from Fort Abraham Lincoln and approaching from the west General John Gibbon...
...who comes from Fort Shaw.
Their order:
Either the indigenous people are to be forced into complete submission and then taken to reservations - or they are to be completely and totally destroyed!
The three generals, all experienced troop leaders from the US Civil War, don't take the Indians as opponents seriously!
You are neglecting the most elementary military rules!
Everyone acts just as he pleases, there is no contact between the three columns, no coordination of the procedure or even joint agreements!
What they all didn't expect is the military talent of Cheyenne leader Tashunka Witko ("Crazy Horse")...:
Based on reports from his scouts, he very quickly recognizes the uncoordinated approach of the three army columns and decides to first deploy all his forces (about 2,000 Cheyenne and Lakota warriors) to one column, namely Crook's...:
On June 17, 1876, General Crook ordered his force (950 infantry, 86 Mounted Infantry assigned to perform cavalry duties, 100 armed US Army civilian employees and a large number of Indian scouts) to pause at the Rosebud River.
He feels so safe that not even sentries are set up - although he would have them, because his troop includes a whopping 86 scouts from the Shoshone, who are enemies with the Cheyenne and Lakota!
Tashunka Witko's sudden attack takes Crook's squad by surprise!
The army is badly flogged! 28 dead and 46 wounded soldiers as well as eight dead Shoshone are then counted.
In addition, almost all of the ammunition carried was used up during the several-hour battle.
Tashunka Witko, on whose side there are about 30 dead, had previously told his people before to take advantage of the rugged terrain, as he knows the superior firepower of soldiers' guns.
When the Cheyenne leader is of the opinion that Crook's column has been harassed enough so that it can no longer become offensive, he retreats with his people and leaves the battlefield to the army...:
Due to this circumstance - namely the "claim" of the battlefield - General Crook will later claim victory for himself...
In truth, all he can do is retreat south with his battered column - the battle is clearly a strategic Native victory!
Eight days later, Tashunka Witko will once again demonstrate his military talent:
Along with the other Indian leaders Tatanka Yotanka ("Sitting Bull")...
...and the Hunkpapa leader Matohinshdar ("Gall")...
... he will on June 25, 1876 the 7th US Cavalry Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer...
...nearby, on the Little Bighorn River, destroy almost to the last man!
Compare the heroically overloaded portrayal of this event by the US-Americans...
...with the rather matter-of-fact depiction of the battle from the hands of the victors...:
Be that as it may, the US land grab campaign begins with two heavy defeats...
The "winner" has to withdraw badly battered!
On June 17, 1876, the first major military conflict between the Prairie Indians, who were still living free, and the US Army took place.
Since gold was found in the Black Hills in the Indian area, the Americans would like to appropriate the land - it's just a pity that the natives live right there, namely Cheyenne and Lakota!
And so the US launches a full-scale campaign against them!
With three strong columns they move into the Indian territory in an undeclared war:
General George Crook...
...comes from Fort Laramie from the south, from the west General Alfred Terry is marching...
... from Fort Abraham Lincoln and approaching from the west General John Gibbon...
...who comes from Fort Shaw.
Their order:
Either the indigenous people are to be forced into complete submission and then taken to reservations - or they are to be completely and totally destroyed!
The three generals, all experienced troop leaders from the US Civil War, don't take the Indians as opponents seriously!
You are neglecting the most elementary military rules!
Everyone acts just as he pleases, there is no contact between the three columns, no coordination of the procedure or even joint agreements!
What they all didn't expect is the military talent of Cheyenne leader Tashunka Witko ("Crazy Horse")...:
Based on reports from his scouts, he very quickly recognizes the uncoordinated approach of the three army columns and decides to first deploy all his forces (about 2,000 Cheyenne and Lakota warriors) to one column, namely Crook's...:
On June 17, 1876, General Crook ordered his force (950 infantry, 86 Mounted Infantry assigned to perform cavalry duties, 100 armed US Army civilian employees and a large number of Indian scouts) to pause at the Rosebud River.
He feels so safe that not even sentries are set up - although he would have them, because his troop includes a whopping 86 scouts from the Shoshone, who are enemies with the Cheyenne and Lakota!
Tashunka Witko's sudden attack takes Crook's squad by surprise!
The army is badly flogged! 28 dead and 46 wounded soldiers as well as eight dead Shoshone are then counted.
In addition, almost all of the ammunition carried was used up during the several-hour battle.
Tashunka Witko, on whose side there are about 30 dead, had previously told his people before to take advantage of the rugged terrain, as he knows the superior firepower of soldiers' guns.
When the Cheyenne leader is of the opinion that Crook's column has been harassed enough so that it can no longer become offensive, he retreats with his people and leaves the battlefield to the army...:
Due to this circumstance - namely the "claim" of the battlefield - General Crook will later claim victory for himself...
In truth, all he can do is retreat south with his battered column - the battle is clearly a strategic Native victory!
Eight days later, Tashunka Witko will once again demonstrate his military talent:
Along with the other Indian leaders Tatanka Yotanka ("Sitting Bull")...
...and the Hunkpapa leader Matohinshdar ("Gall")...
... he will on June 25, 1876 the 7th US Cavalry Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer...
...nearby, on the Little Bighorn River, destroy almost to the last man!
Compare the heroically overloaded portrayal of this event by the US-Americans...
...with the rather matter-of-fact depiction of the battle from the hands of the victors...:
Be that as it may, the US land grab campaign begins with two heavy defeats...
