The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Mr. Gatling's Terrible Marvel by Julia Keller

buckhorn · June 27, 2012, 12:33 PM

Custer had access to Gatling guns before he left for The Little Big Horn, but chose to leave them behind. His reasoning was, they would slow him down. I believe he left 3 .45-70 Gatlings and some small artillery pieces behind when he left the fort.I don't know if it would have turned the results of the battle, but it couldn't have hurt. Also, right before he left for the Black Hills, and his demise, the 7th cavarly was issued the new single shot Springfield rifle, instead of the Spencers that they did have. That could've made a difference as well. But, as history shows, Custer was an accident waiting to happen.

June 27, 2012, 12:33 PM	#7
buckhorn Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2012 Location: mid michigan Posts: 196	Custer had access to Gatling guns before he left for The Little Big Horn, but chose to leave them behind. His reasoning was, they would slow him down. I believe he left 3 .45-70 Gatlings and some small artillery pieces behind when he left the fort.I don't know if it would have turned the results of the battle, but it couldn't have hurt. Also, right before he left for the Black Hills, and his demise, the 7th cavarly was issued the new single shot Springfield rifle, instead of the Spencers that they did have. That could've made a difference as well. But, as history shows, Custer was an accident waiting to happen.