Yes this has often been said but it's a complete myth.lwhite wrote:It has often been stated that the Plains Indians were the best light cavalry in the world,and on June 25 1876 they proved how good they were.
The plains indian was a decent horseman but no better than hundreds of Asian tribes from Huns to Cossacks.
Indeed the plains indian can hardly be described as cavalry at all - they merely used their mounts for transport & were incapable of manoevre.
In short they acted like a mounted band rather than a military unit.
Pitch 100 indians with 100 Mongols and it's no contest...the Mongols shoot a couple of arrows and wave a few flags and go to plan 14f.
The indians have plan a (attack), plan b (run away).
Mongols slaughter the hapless indians.
It should also be mentioned that in their two biggest victories, the American indian fought mostly on foot (Little Big Horn and McPherson's Relief).