Winner of the John Carroll Award and the G. Joseph Sills Jr. Book Award. A deeply researched work on the infamous 1876 battle, filled with new discoveries. This remarkable book synthesizes a lifetime of in-depth research into one of America’s most storied disasters, the defeat of Custer’s 7th Cavalry at the hands of the Sioux and Cheyenne, as well as the complete annihilation of that part of … complete annihilation of that part of the cavalry led by Custer himself.
The author, Gordon Harper, spent countless hours on the battlefield itself, as well as researching every iota of evidence of the fight from both sides, white and Indian. He was thus able to recreate every step of the battle as authoritatively as anyone could, dispelling myths and falsehoods along the way. When he passed away in 2009, he left nearly two million words of original research and writing, and in this book, his work has been condensed for the general public to observe his key findings and the crux of his narrative on the exact course of the battle.
One of his first observations is that the fight took place along the Little Horn River–its junction with the Big Horn was several miles away–so the term for the battle, “Little Big Horn” has always been a misnomer. He precisely traces the mysterious activities of Benteen’s battalion on that fateful day, and why it couldn’t come to Custer’s reinforcement. He describes Reno’s desperate fight in unprecedented depth, as well as how that unnerved officer benefited from the unexpected heroism of many of his men.
Indian accounts, ever-present throughout this book, come to the fore especially during Custer’s part of the fight, because no white soldier survived it. However, analysis of the forensic evidence–like tracking cartridges and bullets discovered on the battlefield, plus the locations of bodies–assist in drawing an accurate scenario of how the final scene unfolded. It may indeed be clearer now than it was to the doomed 7th Cavalrymen at the time, who, through the dust and smoke and Indians seeming to rise by hundreds from the ground, only gradually realized the extent of the disaster.
Of additional interest is the narrative of the battlefield after the fight, when successive burial teams had to be dispatched for the gruesome task because prior ones invariably did a poor job. Though the author is no longer with us, his daughter Tori Harper, along with historians Gordon Richard and Monte Akers, have done yeoman’s work in preserving his valuable research for the public.
“Having read and studied several previous books on the Custer Battle, I was hoping that something new would emerge and I was not disappointed . . . certainly a book that one cannot put down.” –Norman Franks, author of Ton-Up Lancs and Under the Guns of the Red Baron
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This book is a different approach to the battle of the little big horn. Sometimes that approach can be confusing. The author lays out a theory about part of the battle then goes back and critiques the theory. This can get confusing. The author has done an exhaustive study of the facts and accounts that have been written about this subject. Be careful to recognize when he is making assumptions and when he is stating facts. A fun book for historians.
I did not know much about the battle on the Little Big Horn before I read this book, but I think I learned so much from it – not only from the cavalry point of view, but also the technological (who knew the indigenous warriors were so much better equipped than the US soldiers), sociological (warriors clans – I was totally ignorant of the Cheyenne warrior clans), historical (coming from the Shenandoah Valley, I was raised being told that Custer was the devil – now I understand that he was much more complex), even meteorological. I intend to go and research as much as I can about this complex, fascinating, and ultimately tragic (for all the participants) battle.
This book is very hard to follow.
Interesting pro-Custer view of he battle
Too much detail
If you are drawn to the person George Armstrong Custer and the battle at the Little Big Horn is a fascinating subject to you, then you will enjoy this book. Custer’s last stand, as it is known, has always been a subject that kept me busy all my life reading anything that was written about it. Maybe because my grandfather was in the 7th Cavalry in the Spanish American War and he had me whistling the Gary Owen from the time I was 6 years old. The book has a lot of details about the days leading up to the battle and the interplay of the characters involved. Read and enjoy.
Much too technical for me. May appeal to an avid student of this battle.
Was not a great book, but pretty good.
Telling what is known, in real time as the battle unfolded, was very informative.
Very well researched history of Custer’s last battle. Somewhat controversial, in light of more established books on the subject.
The book as a whole was very informative. Things one didn’t know about the battle. The wrap ups were tedeaous.
I am a big history buff but this story while very informative drags out some places and becomes boring.
The book is well-researched and very well put together. It carefully follows the events very well as they unfolded.
I thought I knew a lot about the battle but this taught me more. Liked this book and recommend it for those interested in the way Indians were treated and thought about in the early days of settlers who were mostly bullies. We owe the first people who lived here many apologies and given back a lot of their land we drove them off. The earth would no be in the condition it is in if we had the love of the earth they have. I am ashamed of the way we treated these people back then and now.
This book is the most factual, detailed record of the decisions made in real time. I recommend it for all students of the the battle.
Read the other side of the story and learn!
Very good book on the battle with well reasoned logic and based on very detailed information. Gray’s book is a little better but not by much.
Extremely researched, obviously a labor of lifetime work, study and love. My only quibble is my desire for more maps——the maps that ARE there are good but……
More is better!
For the serious history buff, or the curious, this well-researched book is the last word on the Custer saga.
A down to earth account of an historic event!