The military historian's frustration
Chances are, you've already read today's vignette. If not, go look at it so you'll understand what I'm talking about.
Right now I'm feeling frustrated and sick at heart for Ranald MacKenzie. Yes, it's 134 years after the fact, and he's long dead. But MacKenzie was one of the good guys, and what he had to do at the Powder River Cheyenne village galled him. He knew the Cheyennes had legitimate grievances, and that the US government had repeatedly ignored treaty obligations. MacKenzie himself had written to his Commanding General and directly to the War Department in Washington about the deplorable state of things on the frontier. Like his contemporaries Grierson and Hatch, he had a low opinion of Phillip Sheridan due to Sheridan's blatant prejudices with respect to the Indians. But Sheridan was in command, and Sheridan's policies had to be carried out. MacKenzie was perfectly aware that even if he were to resign his commission, it would only mean that some other cavalry officer would be given his 4th Cavalry to do Sheridan's bidding.
Right now I'm feeling frustrated and sick at heart for Ranald MacKenzie. Yes, it's 134 years after the fact, and he's long dead. But MacKenzie was one of the good guys, and what he had to do at the Powder River Cheyenne village galled him. He knew the Cheyennes had legitimate grievances, and that the US government had repeatedly ignored treaty obligations. MacKenzie himself had written to his Commanding General and directly to the War Department in Washington about the deplorable state of things on the frontier. Like his contemporaries Grierson and Hatch, he had a low opinion of Phillip Sheridan due to Sheridan's blatant prejudices with respect to the Indians. But Sheridan was in command, and Sheridan's policies had to be carried out. MacKenzie was perfectly aware that even if he were to resign his commission, it would only mean that some other cavalry officer would be given his 4th Cavalry to do Sheridan's bidding.