Was the 7th Cavalry a bunch of new recruits?

This is a quick analysis of the percentage of raw recruits in the 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Many have hypothesized that the inexperience of the troopers may have led to the defeat of Custer.
In this video, we take a look at the data, which will allow you to decide for yourself if that was the case.

The data I used is available for download on my site at this address:

[eltonjohnson]

DataMeister: Great video. I think that the tendency for troops to shoot fast is one of the reasons why they switched out the full automatic option on the M16 rifle with the 3-round burst option. When I went through Boot Camp in 1977, our M16A1 rifles had the full automatic option. I carried a Heckler & Koch MP5 in Iraq and loved that weapon because of the full automatic feature.

[jamesnix]

Your presentations set a high bar. Not only do you add the history, context, and data, your "boots on the ground" approach brings it all together. I enjoyed the the last series but very interested to watch your Battle of the Bulge presentation. I know it will be top notch. Thank you!

[robsmithadventures]

I am from Waterford, Ireland. Even the county I'm from had at least three men killed at Battle of Little Bighorn.

[theycallmehoipilloi]

Another group of videos about the battle that I have seen were mostly about archaeological evidence from the battle. There were studies made on bone samples of some troopers and the conclusion by the experts in the video was that they were in terrible physical condition. The troopers had been in the field for a long time, were poorly fed, suffering from assorted physical ailments and undoubtedly way short of anything resembling proper rest. I've seen videos with testimony from the Indians that a lot of the troopers were acting like they were drunk, shooting in the air, staggering around, some who were trying to pump their arms and run away weren't going much faster than a walk etc. One would have to think that if they were in such poor condition, any extended maximum effort in that heat, with that kind of stress, the troopers were just physically and mentally incapable of performing effectively.

[jeffreybrunken]

As both a reformed (retired) engineer and a student of the history of the West, this presentation is right up my alley! Thank you! I’ve read compelling analysis that this defeat was a classic example of the failure of both Intelligence and Command & Control, but your video really helps add to the Big Picture.

[BELCAN]

Finally!
A data driven presentation that's not just someone's opinion. You got me!
Subscribed.

[harrytruman]

Thank you for your videos. I’ve enjoyed the hell out of them and have learned a great deal from all of them.

[derekp]

Thanks very much, that was a very well presented analysis.
Also, best wishes for your visit to the Battle of the Bulge, I hope you really enjoy your time there.

[johnchambers]

Two issues: One, the trooper marksmanship was pretty poor as there was very little ammunition allotted for target practice. Two, I have read that the troopers were physically small men of over 21 years old. To be in the cavalry, a young enlisted man couldn't weigh more that 140 pounds and be taller than 5'-6" as the Army didn't want the horses to be fully loaded to over 200 pounds. I think this is backed up by the small size of the cavalry carbines and the reduced loading to 45-55. Correct me if I wrong.

[jandrewhearne]

I think a large factor was exhaustion and overall health of the 7th Cavalry.

[joeritchie]

Thank you for analyzing and posting the data for the 7th Cav. It was very interesting and gives you a different perspective. I also agree that the sargeant should have maintained fire discipline a whole lot better. I still think that Custer should have kept the 7th together to maintain a concentrated fire. That is one thing that enabled the British to win the battle of Rourke's Rift.

[yankeepapa]

Oranges and apples. I served in the USMC as an infantryman in the late 1960s...and later in other branches. In all cases I had very intense and comprehensive "hands on" training. Re rifle marksmanship alone... I sent hundreds of rounds downrange in recruit training and later in combat training...to say nothing of pre-deployment training. Some years, Congress paid for as few as 14 rounds per soldier per year between the end of the end of the Civil War and the start of the Spanish-American War. Between 1866-76 the new 7th Cavalry was often not deployed as a unit and sometimes was scattered about the South on Reconstruction assignments.
...
...A substantial number of privates in the Regiment could walk or trot their mounts...but got their first experience of a hell-for-leather charge in the face of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors... Many had no experience of firing their weapons from the saddle. Bottom line was, that someone who spent two years at Fort Abraham Lincoln would have spent most of that time as a laborer... Daily formations and a bit of drill... but mostly no real combat training... One more reason for a high desertion rate... They were not treated as real soldiers for very long stretches at a time... Wonder is that some of them managed as well as they did... ...Yankee Papa...

[ludditechange]

Cory, I stumbled across your post channel today.

In looking at the chart on 3:47, there appears to have been a large intake of soldiers who had between 270-300 days of service (looks to be approximately 25% of all privates). This raises two questions in my mind. 1.) Where those troopers evenly distributed across the regiment, or were the disproportionally assigned to certain troops? 2.) What was the 7th Cavalry operational/training program and tempo from September/Oct 1875 to the start of the spring 1876 campaign season? {Even in the post Civil War and Indian War period on the frontier, the US Army maintained a predictable yearly training program of schools/individual training.

I don't know if you have looked into the old copies of the US Army Register from the Indian War period, but it includes much information on the individual officers of each unit. Something that I have found fascinating is looking at the 7th and 8th Cavalry in the 1870s. In each unit, between 5 and 8 of the most senior officers had been General Officers during the Civil War. In the 7th Cavalry this proved a somewhat toxic stew, while in the 8th Cavalry, it did not.

[josephstabile]

As if to further demonstrate why the LBH battle brings endless fascination, the Datameister brings new analysis to old facts, proving certain points discussed for 147 years, and effectively advancing our understanding.
The 7th was a reflection of all cavalry regiments stationed west of the Mississippi. Some recruits of little experience, all the way to ex-CW, foreign service, lifers. And, there's a reason why the Army has people with two or more stripes, and with shoulder straps. Also, cavalry companies are turned loose when they've ACHIEVED proficiency in horsemanship, shooting,
tactics, field craft, maneuvers. No one marches troops out on campaign unless these are trained & well-learned. Anything less is total chaos and disaster, say nothing of mission failure. Were all troops battle-hardened vets? NO unit ever is--even the marines coming ashore at Iwo Jima weren't all vets. But, this is important, ALL the troops reembarking after Iwo were VETS. Continuous battle only creates such units.
The 7th was NECESSARILY and SUFFICIENTLY trained.

[texasjasper]

Can’t wait for the Bulge video! My Grandad was in that area about that time.

[cyberleaderandy]

Great video and the intro for the BotB looks cool.

[T.S.Birkby]

Great video, you should do the NCOs next. What was their experience and proportion of casualties? If we assume that the troopers were lacking in experience, the loss of NCOs would be detrimental to the fighting ability and integrity of a unit

[henrykrecklow]

I've looked at the number of men on detected duty at the LBH and I noticed that over 100 of those detected were from the companies in the Custer Battalion. Not that it would have made a difference as it probably would have resulted in 100 more dead. But possibly one of those men might have gotten away to tell the store of what really happen.

[dsbond]

You cannot compare training to that of a modern army. Time spent does not equate to more training. Also, you should look at the general physical health and desertion rate of Custers troops.

[daniellastuart]

Thank you for this it was real honor .
i do think it did have some effect on some the Units within the Regiment, mix in all the other issue that impacted on the battel im not sure the 7th was a fit as some Historians in the past have claimed on that day also the Court of inquiry need to look at with a bit of ok we know what was said but what was the motive for saying it it reads as a bit of a whitewash.

By the way have a great adventure in Belgium i be looking forward to the Result and if you get free can i suggest you try a pop over the the field of Waterloo at the ridge of Mont St jean it be worth it even if for research to plan another visit