New Releases for August 2023 - Thunder on the Plains (1 Viewer)

Julie

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Feb 2, 2011
Messages
2,093
NEW RELEASES FOR AUGUST 2023
THUNDER ON THE PLAINS
THE BLACK HILL WARS 1876-1877
THE BATTLE WHERE THE GIRL SAVED HER BROTHER, 17[SUP]th[/SUP] JUNE 1876

The Cheyenne named, the more commonly known The Battle Of The Rosebud, The Battle Where The Girl Saved Her Brother. This was because of an incident during the fight involving the Cheyenne woman Buffalo Calf Road Woman, and her brother Chief Comes In Sight.
The battle took place on June 17[SUP]th[/SUP] 1876 in the Montana territory , between the United States Army and its Crow and Shoshoni allies, against a force consisting mostly of Sioux and Cheyenne Indians.
Led by Crazy Horse, the Sioux and Cheyenne managed to halt the offensive of General George Crook, untill August.

ssb-10_3_.jpg


Warrior Societies were an important aspect of the Plains life, which divided a tribe’s fighting men into distinct units which provided their members with a social club, and an organization in which they could progress through ranks of officership to bring great prestige.
Among the Lakota there existed several Warrior societies. The main function of these societies was for the training and development of fighting skills and the warrior ethos.
Moral character was also cultivated and taught.

ssb-10_1_.jpg


SSB-10

THUNDER ON THE PLAINS
THE BLACK HILL WARS 1876-1877
THE BATTLE WHERE THE GIRL SAVED HER BROTHER, 17[SUP]th[/SUP] JUNE 1876,
SIOUX WARRIOR.

ssb-10_2_.jpg


By the standards of the usual hit-and-run raids of the Plains Indians, the Battle of the Rosebud was a long and bloody engagement. The Lakota and Cheyenne fought with persistence and demonstrated a willingness to accept casualties rather than break off the encounter. The delaying action by Crook's Indian allies during the early stages of the battle saved his command from a devastating surprise attack. The intervention of the Crow and Shoshoni scouts throughout the battle was crucial to averting disaster for Crook.

Crook claimed victory by virtue of occupying the battlefield at the end of the day, but his actions belie his claim. Concerned for his wounded and short on supplies, Crook retraced his steps to his camp on Goose Creek, near Sheridan, Wyoming, and remained there immobile for seven weeks awaiting reinforcements. He would play no role in the Battle Of Little Big Horn, eight days later. Crook's Crow and Shoshoni allies left the army for their homes shortly after the battle. The Lakota and Cheyenne returned to the battlefield after Crook's departure and piled up rocks at the location of key events in the battle. Some of the rock piles they built are still there

THUNDER ON THE PLAINS
THE BLACK HILL WARS 1876-1877
THE BATTLE OF THE ROSEBUD, 17[SUP]th[/SUP] JUNE 1876
UNITED STATES CAVALRY

As settlers spread westward across North America after 1780, armed conflicts increased in size, duration, and intensity between settlers and various Indian and First Nation tribes.
In 1875, the Great Sioux War of 1876-77 erupted when the Dakota gold rush penetrated the Black Hills. The U.S government decided to stop evicting trespassers from the Black Hills and offered to buy the land from the Sioux. When they refused, the US government decided instead to take the land and gave the Lakota until January 31[SUP]st[/SUP], 1876 to return to reservations.

An United States cavalry regiment in 1876 consisted of 12 companies.
A cavalry company, at full strength had 3 officers and 70 enlisted men.
The US cavalry of 1876 used Lt. Col. Emory Upton’s Cavalry Tactics, which was an unified system of drill, which was compatible among the cavalry, infantry and artillery. This meant an officer could move from one branch of service to another.
Upton’s tactics incorporated a “set of fours” as the basic, or smallest, cavalry unit or squad. This was designed to simplify operations, increase speed, and eliminate cumbersome manoeuvres.

Dismounted skirmishing became the main cavalry mode of engagement with the enemy, which facilitated the dispersal of men on a firing line.
On campaign and in battle, cavalrymen did not always perform as mounted skirmishers but rather served as mounted infantry. By dismounting and kneeling under fire, the trooper presented a much smaller target for the enemy and could take aim much more accurately.
The preparatory command “to fight on foot”, followed by “As skirmishers”, required each cavalryman to dismount and deploy along a firing line at 5yd intervals, with 15yd gaps between each set of four men.
Odd numbered skirmishers in each set of four fired a round on command and then reloaded as even numbered skirmishers fired on order. Each man then continued to fire roughly in an odd-even sequence without regard to the others until “Cease fire” command was given. Skirmish tactics could be employed by the platoon, company, battalion or even at regimental level.
Dismounted skirmishing required one of every four men, designated as a horse holder, to remain with the horses of the other three. Horse holders retired to a safe position in the rear.

rsbud-123d_5_.jpg


On 28[SUP]th[/SUP] May 1876, Brigadier General George Crook assumed direct command of the Bighorn and Yellowstone Expedition at Fort Fetterman. Crook had gathered a strong force. Leaving Fort Fetterman on 29[SUP]th[/SUP] May the 1,051man column consisted of 15 companies from the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] Cavalry, 5 companies from the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] and 9[SUP]th[/SUP] Infantry, 250 mules and 106 wagons.
On the 14[SUP]th[/SUP] June, the column was joined by 261 Shoshone and Crow allies.
Based on intelligence reports Crook ordered his entire force to prepare for a quick march. Each man was to carry only 1 blanket, 100 rounds of ammunition, and 4 days rations. The wagon train would be left at Goose Creek, and the infantry would be mounted on the pack mules.

On 17 June, Crook's column set out at 0600, marching northward along the south fork of Rosebud Creek. The Crow and Shoshone scouts were particularly apprehensive. Although the column had not yet encountered any sign of Indians, the scouts seemed to sense their presence. The soldiers, particularly the mule-riding infantry, seemed fatigued from the early start and the previous day's 35-mile (56 km) march. Accordingly, Crook stopped to rest his men and animals at 0800. Although he was deep in hostile territory, Crook made no special dispositions for defense. His troops halted in their marching order. The Cavalry battalions led the column, followed by the battalion of mule-borne foot soldiers, and a provisional company of civilian miners and packers brought up the rear.

The Crow and Shoshone scouts remained alert while the soldiers rested. Several minutes later, the soldiers heard the sound of intermittent gunfire coming from the bluffs to the north. As the intensity of fire increased, a scout rushed into the camp shouting, "Lakota, Lakota!" The Battle of the Rosebud had started. By 0830, the Sioux and Cheyenne had hotly engaged Crook's Indian allies on the high ground north of the main body. Heavily outnumbered, the Crow and Shoshone scouts fell back toward the camp, but their fighting withdrawal gave Crook time to deploy his forces. Rapidly firing soldiers drove off the attackers but used up much of the ammunition meant for use later in the campaign. Low on ammunition and with numerous wounded, the General returned to his post.

Historians debate whether Crook’s pressing on could have prevented the killing of the five companies of the 7[SUP]th[/SUP] Cavalry Regiment led by George Armstrong Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

rsbud-123d_1_.jpg


RSBUD-123D

THUNDER ON THE PLAINS
THE BLACK HILL WARS 1876-1877
THE BATTLE OF THE ROSEBUD, 17[SUP]th[/SUP] JUNE 1876,
UNITED STATES CAVALRY

rsbud-123d_2_.jpg


RSBUD-01

THUNDER ON THE PLAINS
THE BLACK HILL WARS 1876-1877
THE BATTLE OF THE ROSEBUD, 17[SUP]th[/SUP] JUNE 1876,
UNITED STATES CAVALRY

rsbud-123d_3_.jpg


RSBUD-02

THUNDER ON THE PLAINS
THE BLACK HILL WARS 1876-1877
THE BATTLE OF THE ROSEBUD, 17[SUP]th[/SUP] JUNE 1876,
UNITED STATES CAVALRY

rsbud-123d_4_.jpg


RSBUD-03

THUNDER ON THE PLAINS
THE BLACK HILL WARS 1876-1877
THE BATTLE OF THE ROSEBUD, 17[SUP]th[/SUP] JUNE 1876,
UNITED STATES CAVALRY



RSBUD-04

THUNDER ON THE PLAINS
THE BLACK HILL WARS 1876-1877
THE BATTLE OF THE ROSEBUD, 17[SUP]th[/SUP] JUNE 1876,
UNITED STATES CAVALRY
 



HRSBUD-01A
THUNDER ON THE PLAINS
THE BLACK HILL WARS 1876-1877
THE BATTLE OF THE ROSEBUD, 17[SUP]th[/SUP] JUNE 1876,
UNITED STATES CAVALRY HORSES.
(2 pcs)



HRSBUD-01B

THUNDER ON THE PLAINS
THE BLACK HILL WARS 1876-1877
THE BATTLE OF THE ROSEBUD, 17[SUP]th[/SUP] JUNE 1876,
UNITED STATES CAVALRY HORSES.
(2 pcs)


Please note HRSBUD-02 will be a random horse from the HRSBUD-01A and HRSBUD-01B sets.
Therefore no picture will be provided.

NO PICTURE

HRSBUD-02
THUNDER ON THE PLAINS

THE BLACK HILL WARS 1876-1877
THE BATTLE OF THE ROSEBUD, 17[SUP]th[/SUP] JUNE 1876,
UNITED STATES CAVALRY HORSE.
(1 pcs)

**PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DEALER FOR FURTHER INFORMATION**
 
Like the cavalry figures but stating that this is a Battle of the Rosebud means no Custer figure. Every manufacturer has to make a Custer figure. It's in the toy soldier bylaws.^&grin
Mark
 
Like the cavalry figures but stating that this is a Battle of the Rosebud means no Custer figure. Every manufacturer has to make a Custer figure. It's in the toy soldier bylaws.^&grin
Mark

And that's the exact figure I'm waiting for John to produce. Patience is a virtue...
 
I prefer the movie uniform, it's more showy.Bliue and red pants? I've never seen him



Francisco
 
Blue and red pants? I prefer the movie uniform, it's more showy.

Francisco>

I prefer the movie uniform, it's more showy.Bliue and red pants? I've never seen him

Francisco

US Cavalry trousers were reinforced in the seat and the interior leg seams to prevent them from wearing out from riding. The reinforcing material was often a buff color or a "leather" color and sometimes made out of canvass. What you believe to be red and blue trousers is actually the blue trousers with the reinforcing material shown in a reddish brown color.

Mike
 
I like the old movie look to the cavalry as well. However considering their uniforms were not uniforms i will happily throw these great figures into my mix of k n c, Britains and FL and with the horse handlers they will look awesome
 
I like the old movie look to the cavalry as well. However considering their uniforms were not uniforms i will happily throw these great figures into my mix of k n c, Britains and FL and with the horse handlers they will look awesome
I will wait for future releases of K&C cavalry or Kronprinz toy soldiers based on J.Ford movies.
 
There are things I like with the figures and things I do not.
So, I'm on the fence as to whether or not i will get them.

the likes:
They have the correct belts, and leather gear.
their Springfield carbines are relatively accurate.
They have reasonably good period correct coats.
Yes, they did stitch in tougher materials into the seats of their pants to prolong wear.
this could be leather, bed ticking, canvas, or a double layer of the blue kersey wool pants.
They don't have matching yellow bandannas.

The not so likes,
Their hats are all the same and nothing like any period Army issued hats. particularly with a grey hat band.
so I assume this particular company went together to a town dry goods store and all bought matching hats?
Their horse equipments are another story. the saddle blankets are not light blue with a yellow stripe. These were wool blankets
made to civil war pattern and many were left over from the CW. These were dark blue wool with woven-in perimeter stripes of orange.
the saddle gear and saddles are also missing a few elements, and details.

I admire the effort to depict troopers from a particular time and battle, and you never see these with horse holders and horses.
So, I may purchase a grouping of fours to have a set.
 
Yes the hats in the 1870's were terrible. They did not keep their form at all.
Mark
 
The US Soldier in the west was a low budget affair, with a penny pinching Federal government,
and then the less than formal training for new recruits allowed for a more than usual amount of outward appearance individuality.
as well as Officers who didn't care, or weren't diligent about uniform regulations.

the US Campaign hat in 1872 was one of the worst items of headwear issued to US troops ever.
the Model 1876 campaign hat was better, but was slow in arriving.

Depending on the commanding officer, many soldiers would appear to be more of a cowboy or outdoorsman than a soldier.
using private purchase hats, shirts, gloves. I've seen photo's of sombreros, sarape's, civilian holsters,
of course the very popular fireman's shirts. and neckerchief/bandannas that were any and all colors and patterns.

Hats could be whatever the soldier wanted unless the officer mandated something. Custer was known for making his troops follow regulations, and his men were usually fairly uniform in appearance. His officers could get pretty dandy. Straw hats in the summer, tailored uniform articles, Buckskin outfits.

There was also a great deal of variation in what could be issued to a trooper, as old Civil war equipment was still being issued to use it up, and as a new item was created, it was slow to replace the old. AND, A few experimental jackets, leather belt set ups and even carbines would show up for trial and some would be used until finished by wear or damage.

The only typical uniform items were the things the soldiers relied on the 1873 Colt revolver and the Springfield Carbine.
they were the standard. (aside from the experimental carbines tried here and there, and the adoption for a while of the Smith & Wesson Schofield break top revolver) These were solid,reliable and heavy hitting. The early leather belts used to carry the copper casing ammunition was an issue for a while, as the bullet casing would grow verdigris on itself and the leather belt loops, causing the green messy material to dirty up the ammunition and when placed in the carbine, it could jam in the chamber. requiring a pocket knife or ramrod to force it out. A bad situation in combat. by 1876, troopers were ordered to clean and maintain their ammo to avoid this, but some were less diligent.
 
The US Soldier in the west was a low budget affair, with a penny pinching Federal government,
and then the less than formal training for new recruits allowed for a more than usual amount of outward appearance individuality.
as well as Officers who didn't care, or weren't diligent about uniform regulations.
The only typical uniform items were the things the soldiers relied on the 1873 Colt revolver and the Springfield Carbine.
they were the standard. (aside from the experimental carbines tried here and there, and the adoption for a while of the Smith & Wesson Schofield break top revolver) These were solid,reliable and heavy hitting. The early leather belts used to carry the copper casing ammunition was an issue for a while, as the bullet casing would grow verdigris on itself and the leather belt loops, causing the green messy material to dirty up the ammunition and when placed in the carbine, it could jam in the chamber. requiring a pocket knife or ramrod to force it out. A bad situation in combat. by 1876, troopers were ordered to clean and maintain their ammo to avoid this, but some were less diligent.

Many thanks for the informative comments in your recent posts. :salute::
These new figs are of interest to me having visited the Rosebud Battlefield, Ft Phil Kearny and the Fetterman massacre site a few yrs ago. Unfortunately I'm not starting a new line of collecting at this point.
I would add that officers often purchased sporting rifles for their personal use, mention is made of these at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Chris
 
Absolutely. The officers very often brought their own weapons into the field.

Custer had two English short barreled Webley "Bulldog" type revolvers he had when he died.
and he had a Remington 50 caliber rolling block sporting rifle as well.

Officers could carry any weapon they wanted, and the Military arsenal at Springfield even made a special
Springfield 1873 carbine called the "Officer's Model 1873".
it had custom engraving, a small semi pistol grip, vernier sights, a fine finish, and a ramrod under the barrel.
Officers could purchase this directly from the Arsenal. Many did.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top