Seventh Cavalry
By James O'Grady released 2025-08-28
On Sunday 25th June 1876, George Armstrong Custer led the 7th Cavalry into battle against overwhelming odds... and died. Can YOU do better? Command the famous Seventh Cavalry in their campaign to force the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne back to their reservations by destroying their camps. You have seven days to do so before reinforcements arrive to steal your glory.
Features:- Improved graphics
- More detailed combat
- Realistic movement
- Ammunition levels
- Facing
- Advanced enemy AI that reacts to your actions
- Music (128K version only): 6 selectable tunes, 2 situational tunes.
Once the game loads, press a key when ready. This is to ensure randomisation. You are then asked if you want to start a new campaign or load a saved one.
Starting a new campaign asks you for your name.
The map then loads, showing you the 7th Cavalry.
UnitsYou command 12 companies of the Seventh Cavalry, A-M. Company J does not exist, because at the time, capital J looked too much like capital I. These are all on the parade ground one space north of Fort Lincoln. To the south of the fort you can find the packtrain which carries extra ammunition.
GameplayEach turn lasts 15 minutes. In each period, you can order a unit to move or to rest. You may also LOOK which lets you scout the map, see the STATUS of your troops or the overall POSITION of the game.
Movement is done by selecting the speed of movement. Walking is the slowest. Trotting is faster but more tiring. Galloping is faster still and charging is the fastest of all, and also gives a bonus in combat... but is the most tiring.
You then select the direction, based on compass directions. 1 is north, and we then proceed around the compass clockwise.
The pack train may only move at a walk or a trot.
At night, you may only walk, and walking is extra tiring at night.
You have the option of DISMOUNTING your cavalry troopers. The US Cavalry was more akin to mounted infantry and fights better on foot. Dismounted troopers can only WALK however, and WALKING is tiring.
CombatThe Native Americans outnumber you, so you need to use your superior firepower to your advantage. If an enemy unit is adjacent to you, combat occurs. If they are in FRONT of you, you fire off a volley first... if you have the ammunition.
Be aware of the terrain you are on.
Watch out for flank and rear attacks.
CampsEventually you will discover the 15 hostile encampments. Moving on to them will destroy them, but doing so is tiring and may cost the lives of some troopers. Do not linger in burning camps.
End gameIf you destroy 15 camps by the end of the seventh day, the game will end. Score is calculated. You lose points by losing troops, but also by killing enemies. Kill too many enemies and the press turn against you.
Can you do better than Custer?
