Beecher Island 1868: Outnumbered Scouts' Fight for Survival скачать в хорошем качестве

Beecher Island 1868: Outnumbered Scouts' Fight for Survival

In the summer of 1868, the Cheyenne, along with their Sioux and Arapaho allies, were wreaking havoc across America's Central Plains. Their primary targets included railroad construction teams, remote stagecoach stations, and the farms and ranches scattered along major east-west travel routes, especially in Kansas and Colorado. General Phil Sheridan oversaw this area of the Trans-Mississippi. However, the former commander of the Union's Army of the Shenandoah lacked sufficient troops to safeguard the region, and the forces he did have were mostly ill-suited for the task. After the Civil War, Congress, eager to reduce the national debt, drastically cut the size of the regular army. In an effort to further save money, the legislature favored infantry over the more expensive cavalry. As a result, most western posts were staffed with foot soldiers, whom the Plains tribes mocked as "walk-a-heeps." Since the Cheyenne were highly mobile and nomadic, with warriors considered among the finest light cavalry in the world, the infantry was ill-suited to track or challenge the Cheyenne or their allies. Having been a cavalryman himself, Sheridan decided to strengthen his small force by hiring 50 civilian scouts on horseback. Two army officers, Major George ‘Sandy’ Forsyth and Lieutenant Frederick Beecher, would lead them. Both had served in the Civil War and were well known for their good reputations. Beecher had been wounded at Fredericksburg and again at Gettysburg. Forsyth had fought with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley campaign and was highly respected for his boldness and bravery in battle. The two officers gathered 50 volunteers, including a doctor, from the Kansas settlements. They were paid a dollar a day. The scouts had to provide their own horses, but they would receive 35 cents a day for horse feed. Each scout was also given a Spencer repeating carbine, a point 45 pistol, and plenty of ammunition. See also:    • Battle Of Wabash 1791: US Army’s Greatest ...      • Видео   #Beecherlsland #ushistory #nativeamericanhistory #militaryhistory #historydocumentary