Mindset

[pax]

I've been reading through Elmer Keith's Sixguns by Keith and it is really quite fascinating. An excerpt which seems somehow appropriate to this forum:

Another very interesting old gentleman I met but briefly, and only had one evening to converse with, was Nelson Story. He was on a visit to Helena from his home in California and that evening he told me a great deal of his early life. He, with 30 Texas cow-punchers, brought the first trail herd of Texas longhorns to where Bozeman, Montana now stands. They came across Wyoming and were forbidden to go on by the commanding officer, Colonel Carrington of Fort Phil Kearney.

Nelson Story had some 30 cowboys on whome he could rely, each armed with a pair of cap and ball Colts and a Remington rolling block rifle, caliber .50-70, with plenty of ammunition. They disobeyed orders and came on over the Bozeman trail through the whole Sioux nation, fighting off Indians in daytime and moving the trail herd at night. They finally reached the site of Bozeman late in 1866. The Fetterman massacre occurred later, on the old trail, and the fort was finally abandoned in 1868, but Nelson Story, an old Confederate veteran, brought the first trail herd into Montana and outfoxed and outfought the whole Sioux nation.

Later that fall the Fettermasn massacre was to occur just out of Fort Phil Kearney, where Captain Fetterman led 81 men to their deaths against Red Cloud and his many braves. Though the Sioux claimed in later years to have killed most of the company with war clubs and arrows, the two frontier scouts who accompanied the little command certainly died fighting, for nearly 100 empty .44 rim fire cases were found by their bodies and there were blood clots on the snow. Around them were some 60 Sioux braves they had shot as well as many ponies. These two old frontiersmen, named Wheatly and Fisher, sold their lives as dearly as possible. The Sioux had planted 105 arrows in Wheatley's body when it was found. Both were armed with .44 Henry rifles. Had all the command been equally well armed, and had they fought as well, a different story would have resulted.

That's all. I just wanted to share the stories of a few forgotten fighters from a long time ago, appropos of nothing in particular but beautifully illustrating just what the word "mindset" really means.

pax

If fate means you to lose, give him a good fight anyhow. -- William McFee

 

[El Tejon]

So, "mindset" means you get in a fight and get killed? Great, just what I need. My doctor told me to cut back on arrows.

Mmmm, if their "mindset" was so great, why did they get in a fight while their fellows were so underarmed. Perfect example of failure of mindset if you ask me. Those that enter into combat have already lost.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

I think you missed the point.

If I get what is meant here correctly:

If, regardless of circumstances, you end up in a hopeless fight, you fight as hard as you can. This done, when you do meet your maker, you know you gave everything you had, and did everthing you could.

I for one like this bit of history, it shows what all of us should have inside somewhere if it's needed. True fighting spirit.

 

[El Tejon]

"Mindset" as taught by API was always alertness (the first principle of self-defense) and awareness first. If you are alert and aware you may be able to avoid the fight.

 

[BigG]

Mindset is a product of proper worldview in my mind.

The Fetterman Massacre IIRC was troops armed with muzzleloaders chasing a pack of Sioux down a draw and finding themselves in the middle of a whole lot of Indians. Fooled em good and proper.

 

[Smoke]

El T,

With all due respect, I suspect that these two fellows were very aware of their surroundings.

Liken it to you walking into a gang infested neighborhood, knowing full well everyone you encounter will be hostile. Somtimes you can't avoid the fight.

Guess they should have stayed home.

Smoke

 

[El Tejon]

And you go into this neighborhood because . . .

Perhaps the difference is between mindset of individual self-defence and militree duty?

IMHO, this story is an excellent example of the principles of aggressiveness and calmness, but not one of mindset.

 

[Paul Gomez]

Mindset isn't about whether you live or die, it's about how you deal with the problem presented. These guys fought well beyond the point that most would. The mindset to 'do what others would not do', to 'fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run', is always commendable and, all to often, lacking amongst those who would pontificate about their mindset.

Alertness, Decisiveness, Aggressiveness, Speed, Coolness, Ruthlessness and Surprise are the components of Mindset that Uncle Jeff lists in his "Principles of Personal Defense".

A really neat Celtic myth tells the tale of a warrior beheaded in battle who picks up his head, tucks it under his arm, and continues the battle. That is mindset. An old Japanese poem relates the nature of the samurai, in part it says "for the warrior, there is but one thing, to face death unflinchingly".

Awareness, Avoidance and Deescalation are all great and wonderful things, but 'in fight' is 'in fight' and your total awareness has to be present in the moment, regardless of potential outcomes.

 

[TallPine]

A really neat Celtic myth tells the tale of a warrior beheaded in battle who picks up his head, tucks it under his arm, and continues the battle.

The most important rule to remember in a battle is to not lose your head.

 

[pax]

Paul,

Thank you. That is exactly what I was about to try to say, only you said it first and better.

pax

We who are about to die, are going to take one hell of a lot of the bastards with us. -- Joel Rosenberg

 

[Ktulu]

Good post Pax. Thanks for sharing.

 

[strambo]

I would imagine avoiding this fight would have resulted in charges of desertion and a hanging...what they did with what they had is an inspiration.