Custer's 7th: Thomas French & His Sad End

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Captain Thomas "Tucker" French and members of his M Company did not get a chance to testify at the Reno Court of Inquiry, and therefore French's acts of bravery were not put down in the public record like other events from the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
But his bravery on June 25, 1876 was extraordinary.
French lost many of his closest friends at the battle, was court martialed for "conduct unbecoming an officer," and met with a tragic end. But the soldiers who testified on his behalf during his court martial proved that he was undoubtedly a courageous man, and the little known letters he wrote to his best friend's mother give insight into what happened during Major Marcus Reno's controversial valley fight...
For more on Captain Thomas French, please read Barry Johnson's most excellent English Westerner's booklet "A Captain of Chivalric Courage."
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(Apologies for the glitchy video clip at the end-- I downloaded it more than once in an attempt to get it right, and it filmed perfectly, but the Adobe "Ru" program can't render it smoothly, ugh.)
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If you too have a passion for the 7th Cavalry, please consider joining:
Little Bigorn Associates
www.thelbha.com/
www.thelbha.com
Custer Battlefield Historical & Museum Association
custerbattlefield.org
Custer Association of Great Britain
www.english-westerners-society.org.uk
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For more about my current work-in-progress or my published books (The Confusion of Languages and You Know When the Men Are Gone, both with Putnam/Penguin), please see my author website:
www.siobhanfallon.com
Or follow me on Instagram and Facebook: siobhanfallonwriter

Опубликовано:

3 ноя 2023

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Комментарии : 134

@georgeeverette3912

In my own military career I saw alcohol ruin many a man and their career. I myself followed Stone Wall Jackson's example and am glad for it. My many disappointments and my own family's history of alcoholism would have surely done me in if I had ever resorted to this vice.

@nthenwhat8912

Thanks for filling in detail on French ... so much unsung bravery as the command structure fractured into overconfidence and hesitance.

@patricktracey7424

americans still trying to justify custers utter failure due to his personal glory hunting, he was brave personally but to the point of stupidity, this was fine during the civil war when you just charged ahead unthinking mindless of his casualties , but strategy and tactics were never his strong points. the big horn skirmish not battle was the american equivalent of Britain's isandhlwana,

@jasonbutler7054

Thank you for this history of Captain French. What a great officer and I am sure if he had been in command of Reno's three companies history would of been very different. Holding the timber to allow the other two companies to retreat and being the last man out of the timber as well was a mark of a true leader of men. I think the problem with alcohol was probably due to post traumatic stress and also the guilt of not being able to do more during the battle. He was self medicating with alcohol. Such a shame that he died at 39. Captain Wier was also another I believe that suffered the same fate. Both men appear to of been very good soldiers and officers. This was very damning for Reno and I cant help but feel the court martial of Captain French being set on the day of the inquiry and the death of Wier before it was very favorable to Reno's cause. Again thank you.

@hunternowicki8123

@Siobhan Fallon French and Weir are the two of the most tragic cases of the 7th's officers post-LBH.I wonder how their testimony would've impacted the Reno Court of Inquiry.

@TERMICOBRA

1st Lt. Charles DeRudio , the one who reported French being drunk , was an "interesting" character. He was one of 4 people arrested for trying to assassinate Napoleon III (Orsini affair) in 1858. They threw bombs at Napoleon and killed 8 people and injured 150. They were caught and DeRudio along with 3 others were sentenced to be executed on the guillotine. Two of them were beheaded but somehow DeRudio had his sentence changed from execution to life on Devil's Island. Devil's Island, a tiny island off the coast of South America, was open for 100 years and killed 75% of the prisoners. Not many people escaped. DeRudio somehow managed to and eventually found himself in the U.S. army. He fought in the timbers with Reno and hid from the natives there after the rest of the men retreated across the river.

@mikehunt-fx7sf

That battle would have turned me into a drunk too. Thanks for another great video!

@joedyer5486

I think poor captain French died of melencoly from survivor's remorse. This is an ongoing issue with the wars from Iraq and Afghanistan.

@zekesgirl100

My distant cousin by marriage.

@richardcutt727

Dear Siobhan, once again a great video. Very good characterization of Captain French. Learned a lot. After the battle it seems that the remaining officers were plagued by 'survival guilt'.

@stevengamble2956

Another really interesting delve into LBH. I was unaware of Captain French, a seemingly very brave soldier/leader of men. Brilliant.

@davidlord7364

An amazing and tragic life, Mrs Fallon presents all the material in a concise, professional and entertaining manner. God rest Capt French and all of the 7th.Thank you Mrs Fallon

@davec4224

Wow, this was so interesting … thanks for unconcealing this hero! Your research is amazing .

@joesphmurphy4013

Siobhan: I have watched several of your videos regarding the Little Big Horn battle and it's participants. Your research is excellent and presenting the other "guys" involved is unique; I am a history buff and never really got to know the other guys other than Custer, Benteen and Reno. History is boring to most people but I have to admit you make it so interesting, could listen for hours. Keep them coming, Thanks.😀

@paul2280

My first visit to your site. Wonderful commentary!. I look forward to more.

@Bocajef134

Your attention to detail is amazing; and, only exceeded by your enthusiasm. Thank you for another great video presentation.

@stanleypelcak1806

Thank u again for the interesting history of captain French i doubt we would have known about it otherwise our history has a adebtness for omitting such facts..I truly enjoy all of ur informative unbiased dissertations keep them coming .

@talkietoaster4626

Excellent video as always! I always felt that French preformed well at the Battle and nobody ever spoke about him. He was a person I really wanted you to speak about. Thank you so much!