Custer's Fall « Thread Started on Sept 30, 2007, 9:17am »
CUSTER'S FALL
by David Humphreys Miller
This is a book that I put off reading for years because of the mixed reports that I had heard as to the reliability of Miller's sources. Having now read it, I would certainly recommend it, with reservations, to others.
Subtitled "The Native American Side of the Story", the story it tells is of course that of the Little Big Horn battle. The book is supposedly based upon Miller's interviews with, and other information gathered by him from, the Indian participants in the battle. These accounts come from both the Cheyennes, Lakotas and Arapahoes, as well as those Indians who fought with the troops, primarily the Arikaras and the Crows.
The main aspect of the book with which I take issue is the lack of notes to show the source of each particular account. Although Miller provides a list of "informants" (a somewhat unfortunate term that makes them sound like the associates of criminals), at the end of the book, there is a slight feel that literary license has been exercised from time to time.
On top of this, there are a few obvious errors, such as describing Crazy Horse as a chief, and instances of what appear to be clearly made up dialogue. I suspect some will also object to his analysis of the battle, particularly the controversial description of Custer being killed or incapacitated in his first brush with the Cheyennes and Lakotas at the ford at the end of Medicine Tail Coulee.
Despite these reservations, this is a book that I feel able to recommend. It is fast paced and entertaining. On top of this, you certainly feel that, if you exercise care when reading it, you are getting some genuine first hand Indian accounts of the battle.
The book was first published in 1957 and it has a certain nostalgic feel to it that enhanced the reading experience for me at least.
Re: Custer's Fall « Reply #1 on Sept 30, 2007, 6:07pm »
I'll definitely have to add this book to my purchase list. Right now I'm in the midst of digging up data on Army purchases, modifications and service history on their Gatling Guns during the frontier era. I just wished I had more time to read everything I want!
Your review helped me make the decision to get this book. Thank you!
Re: Custer's Fall « Reply #2 on Sept 30, 2007, 9:55pm »
All:
This was one of the first books I ever had on the subject. It is now rather dated, but nevertheless a good addition to any LBH library. Miller was a most interesting and talented individual, and there is more information on him on other threads, which you might find by using the search function at the bottom of the page.
Brad:
I'm assuming that the Laurie part of the equation is not the one interested in Army ordnance. I have an interesting little pamphlet titled Army Revolvers and Gatling Guns, from the National Armory, Springfield Mass., 1875 [a modern printing], which includes standing orders for the inspection of Colt's, Smith and Wesson and Gatling Guns; price lists, proofing, weights, drawings of parts etc. etc. and blah blah blah.
This is of only passing interest to me, and I think I purchased it as part of a lot of books last year. Who knows? In any event, if you do not have a copy and would like to have this one, just PM me your mailing address and I'll send it along gratis. It's only gathering dust and taking up space here. Someone who might use it might as well have it.
Gordie, the moon may be high, but I can't see a thing in the sky..................................................
« Last Edit: Sept 30, 2007, 10:12pm by harpskiddie »
Re: Custer's Fall « Reply #3 on Oct 1, 2007, 9:41am »
Hi Gordie,
I agree that the book is a bit dated ("a certain nostalgic feel to it"). Personally, it was an aspect of the book that I quite liked.
I have looked at the other thread that has information on DHM. Unfortunately, the link to davidhumpfreysmiller.com no longer seems to work. I was hoping to track down some of his original notes. Do you, or anyone else who may be reading this, know if those notes are accessible?
Re: Custer's Fall « Reply #4 on Oct 1, 2007, 10:16am »
gary:
I, for one, don't know where his papers might be deposited, although I would have to think that they are somewhere. I've never seen any of his notes. I've never been interested enough to do any real digging.
Contact the Center For Western Studies at Augustana College [google them] and they might have some answers. Or leads.
Gordie, I did have a job in a meat-packing plant, but I really butchered that one....................
« Last Edit: Oct 1, 2007, 10:26am by harpskiddie »
Re: Custer's Fall « Reply #6 on Oct 2, 2007, 6:42am »
I was able to access Miller's site a while back but apparently it is now not working.
Great stuff on it with photos of him interviewing elderly Indians, bio on him, and his excellent art work. Miller was quite interested in the Indians and went to their reservations when he was quite young, learned their language and how to sign and was given an "Indian" name.
Apparently many of the Indians trusted him enough to open up to him.
Re: Custer's Fall « Reply #7 on Oct 2, 2007, 7:21am »
Y'all need the Wayback Machine!
Go to http://www.archive.org/web/web.php and enter www.davidhumphreysmiller.com. It will bring up various versions it has archived. I tried the last one from October 2006, and the pages are there. The pages may take a bit longer to load because I suspect they have them severely compacted on their servers, but the few pages I tried were complete.
Earlier this year, I posted a news article that told where Miller's collection was donated. Sorry, but I can't find that thread now. It's somewhere on these boards . . . .
Re: Custer's Fall « Reply #8 on Oct 2, 2007, 10:58am »
I found it.....It says that the papers might be going to the Montana Historical Society. Gary, you should be able to find the Society on line, at least for address information.
Gordie, I was lost teaching Geography, and the principal said my work in Arithmetic just didn't add up,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Joined: Aug 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 743 Location: English Channel Islands
Re: Custer's Fall « Reply #9 on Oct 2, 2007, 2:31pm »
Gordie, the CBHMA 3rd Annual Symposium booklet I mentioned in another thread also happens to have the text of a talk given by D. H. Miller, including the question and answer session that followed the talk.
Joined: Aug 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 743 Location: English Channel Islands
Re: Custer's Fall « Reply #14 on Oct 4, 2007, 6:05pm »
In his book 'The Little Big Horn Campaign' Wayne M. Sarf calls Miller's book 'absurd' and Miller himself 'mendacious' for giving credence to the idea that Custer had ambitions to be President. Any thoughts on Sarf's book which seems to me to have a number of errors?
![[Home]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/menu/home.gif "[Home]")
![[New Topics]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/menu/topics.png "[New Topics]")
![[Help]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/menu/help.gif "[Help]")
![[Search]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/menu/search.gif "[Search]")
![[Calendar]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/menu/calendar.gif "[Calendar]")
![[Login]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/menu/login.gif "[Login]")
![[Register]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/menu/register.gif "[Register]")
![[Search This Thread]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/search2.gif "[Search This Thread]")
![[Send Topic To Friend]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/buttons/sendtopic.gif "[Send Topic To Friend]")
![[Print]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/buttons/print.gif "[Print]")
Author
Logged![[msn]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/msn.gif "[msn]")
![[homepage]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/buttons/www_sm.gif "[homepage]")
![[avatar]](http://www.filmsite.org/posters/wildone.jpg "[avatar]")
![[avatar]](http://www.littlebighorn.info/images/homecoming.jpg "[avatar]")
![[avatar]](http://www.littlebighorn.info/messageboards/gord006.jpg "[avatar]")