George Armstrong Custer and the Indian Wars
2019 Gettysburg Symposium
When: August 3rd, 2019: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: Gettysburg Heritage Center
(297 Steinwehr Ave., Gettysburg, PA 17325)
Location: Gettysburg Heritage Center
(297 Steinwehr Ave., Gettysburg, PA 17325)
AGENDA AND SPEAKERS:
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9:00 am – 11:30 am: Optional Battlefield Tour: Custer at East Cavalry Field with Licensed Battlefield Guides Jim Hessler & Chris Army.
(Transportation to and from the tour site is on your own. Meet at the Hanover Rd. entrance to East Cavalry Field.) 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm: Registration at the Gettysburg Heritage Center |
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: The Battle of the Rosebud Re-Examined
Speaker and author Robert O’Neill will present an overview of the battle of the Rosebud (which Paul Hedren terms as possibly "the largest Indian battle ever fought in the American West"). Bob will then discuss Crook and Custer, their Civil War interactions, contrast their leadership styles, and compare decisions each made during the 1876 Sioux Campaign.
Speaker and author Robert O’Neill will present an overview of the battle of the Rosebud (which Paul Hedren terms as possibly "the largest Indian battle ever fought in the American West"). Bob will then discuss Crook and Custer, their Civil War interactions, contrast their leadership styles, and compare decisions each made during the 1876 Sioux Campaign.
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm: Marcus Reno From Harrisburg to Little Bighorn and Beyond
The name Marcus Reno immediately stirs heated debates among Little Bighorn enthusiasts. Was Reno a drunken coward, whose failures doomed Custer? Or did Reno perform as well as could be expected and made a scapegoat by Custer’s supporters? Gettysburg historian and author James Hessler will discuss the battle’s most polarizing figure, from his commendable Civil War career to his later battles with the bottle, Native Americans, and Custer’s partisans.
The name Marcus Reno immediately stirs heated debates among Little Bighorn enthusiasts. Was Reno a drunken coward, whose failures doomed Custer? Or did Reno perform as well as could be expected and made a scapegoat by Custer’s supporters? Gettysburg historian and author James Hessler will discuss the battle’s most polarizing figure, from his commendable Civil War career to his later battles with the bottle, Native Americans, and Custer’s partisans.
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Red Wave?
Legendary LBH scholar Bruce Liddic will address two main competing theories on how Custer’s last battle developed. Did a “red wave” of warriors overwhelm Custer’s troops and prevent them from mounting any resistance? Or was Custer on the offensive and fighting a pitched battle almost until the end? Listen to the evidence on both sides and decide for yourself!
Legendary LBH scholar Bruce Liddic will address two main competing theories on how Custer’s last battle developed. Did a “red wave” of warriors overwhelm Custer’s troops and prevent them from mounting any resistance? Or was Custer on the offensive and fighting a pitched battle almost until the end? Listen to the evidence on both sides and decide for yourself!
Cost:
- Symposium Fee (Afternoon speakers at the Heritage Center): $35.00
- Optional Morning Battlefield Tour on East Cavalry Field (Transportation on your own): $20.00
- Discounted Price for Both Events: $45.00!