Custer and Little Big Horn
This site page contains synopses of two books I read about Gen. George Armstrong Custer and the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Gen. Custer was possibly a military genius and certainly one of the best cavalry leaders of his day. His death and the destruction of the squadron of 7th Cavalry with him at the time of the battle still produces controversy and is the subject of strongly held views. The first book I will present was so controversial it went unpublished for fifty years. My apologies in advance if the opinion of the author offends any current or former members of 7th Cavalry or any Custerphiles who read this.
The validity of this author's theory must be determined by someone more capable
than I.
Keep the Last Bullet for Yourself-- The True Story of Custer's Last Stand by Thomas B Marquis.
Dr. Marquis examines the causes of Custer's annihilation at the Little Big Horn. After reviewing the issues of alcohol, the refusal of offered Gatlings and extra men, the soldiers personal weapons and the culpability of command, the author concludes these were not significant factors. Rather, the disaster was due to the general inexperience of the soldiers, thier fear of capture and subsequent torture, and a resulting panic and breakdown of discipline in the ranks on contact with a numerically superior adversary. Based on the observations of veteran warriors who were there and the examination of the site two days later by the U.S. Army, author concludes that the fear of torture was so great the men committed suicide or shot each other.
My Life on the Plains by Gen. George Armstrong Custer
I found this book hard to read. It's not that the general's prose isn't eloquent or his writing riveting. No, the book is well written and the author's point quite clear. In style it follows the conventions of its day and is on a par with writings of the time. What made the story almost impossible to read was the obvious lack of understanding Custer has for his principal subject-- the Indians (Native Americans if you prefer). For instance, in writing about a peace conference with the Indians, he deems the dwindling numbers of buffalo to be irrelevant. Then he expresses outrage at he Indians sneaking away from the conference when they see how it's going to turn out. Aside from this obvious one-sidedness in his reporting, the book is an insightful and exciting story of the American West while it was still a wilderness. This book is in some ways the antidote for the shock and horor induced by Dr. Marquis. But in reading between the lines, one may find support for Dr. Marquis arguments.