The June 25, 1876 Battle of The Little Big Horn is being commemorated soon. We generally know what happened 150 years ago. Some aspects will never be known. However, after reading essential books, can we learn more? One research tool is to kriegspiel the battle several times.
One difficult dynamic is adopting historical warrior tactics. This is accomplished using a Reaction System. An old one was significantly improved because it failed to produce those tactics enough. We became satisfied after five games featuring the Rosebud Battle and two with Major Reno attacking the LBH village.
As we mount up, let us be reminded what J.W. Vaughn said in With Crook On The Rosebud. "To the men and warriors on both sides of the battle who fought for the right as it was given them to see the right."
In the Spring of 1876 Plains Indians journeyed to The Little Big Horn River they called Greasy Grass. At first, they gathered in hundreds, then thousands into five great circles to protest mistreatment at agencies, mining the sacred Black Hills, to protect their way of life and if necessary, to fight for these with the largest alliance of warriors ever gathered.
Welcomed new arrivals approvingly say, "Hoye" as they enter one of five tipi circles.
Storms gather portending the terrible fight to come as....
One of several US Army commands approach to force The Plains Indians to return to their reservations and agencies. Here is a portion of the 7th Cavalry including....
Company F.
CLOSING REMARKS
1. We'll play our games historically, but a question arises.
2. What else could General Custer have done to avoid defeat after committing to battle?
3. What do readers recommend? Maybe we'll try some.
4. Two books I've found very useful are:
CUSTER'S LUCK by Edgar I Stewart
and
LAKOTA NOON, The Indian Narrative of Custer's Defeat by Gregory F. Michno
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3 comments:
The tactic employed by Custer had worked on previous occasions - use of multiple columns to ensure the Indians 'did not get away'. The essence was speed, which is why he took no artillery or Gatlings.
The problem was there were just too many Indians with many armed with repeaters.
I suppose you could game it where the cavalry did not divide or where they had Gatlings and artillery. (Would the Indians then have acted the same way?)
Or the cavalry could take their swords and charge! I don't know how well that would go against repeaters.
An interesting project. I am intrigued to hear more of the rules system and type adopted. Secondly what books are a gateway into this subject?
Your remarks are appreciated Quantrilltoy and Alan. See my Closing Remarks, Alan. I've just added two essential books.
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