Book Advice

[norseman]

Reading this site, it would seem that there are several good folks on here who have done extensive reading ands studying on the whole Custer topic. With that in mind, I would really appreciate the opinions of this group as to the book or books that do the best job of profiling the people both troopers and Indians that fought at the little big horn. I have always been interested in what made people tick ie their personalities etc. Which book does the best job of presenting that kind of information .

I ask this as I recently got the book Where Custer Fell and found it fairly interesting but was sure disappointed that most of the bood dealt with pictures of landscapes and very little on the people involved .

TIA for any and all advice.

[elisabeth]

Well ... other people have done far more reading than I have, and will have better recommendations than me; but myself, I'd say a good start would be 'Life in Custer's Cavalry', edited by Robert Utley. Apart from containing the very gossipy letters and diaries of Barnitz (great fun) it has a fabulous appendix giving biographical/character sketches of everyone Barnitz mentions -- many of whom went on to fight at LBH.

For a trooper's-eye view of the personalities, Sgt. John Ryan's memoirs, 'Ten Years in Custer's Cavalry', are very good. Edited by Sandy Barnard.

And, of course, the Benteen-Goldin Letters (ed. John Carroll). It goes without saying that Benteen's opinions of his brother officers are less than charitable, but it's a very lively picture he paints! A pinch of salt's required -- if not a whole bushel. Same goes for the other correspondence featured in the book, such as the Dustin-Goldin letters; Dustin's making his character-judgements from the perspective of the 1920s/30s, the Prohibition era, and it shows. Great reading, though.

[Diane Merkel]

Norseman, I found your comment about Where Custer Fell interesting. I have only thumbed through it so I can't comment on the text, but I expected it to be more visually appealing. I suppose I am spoiled by the beauty of Glen Swanson's book, which really isn't a fair comparison.

[elisabeth]

Just got mine today, so like you I've only thumbed through it so far -- but I had the same reaction. I think I'd expected the modern photographs to be in colour, which might have made the topography clearer as well as looking nicer. Presumably they went for b/w to keep the closest possible parallels with the earlier photographs.

Looks as if it's going to be a valuable resource, though.

[bhist]

There are two distinct interests in the study of Custer’s Last Stand – the personalities and/or the battle itself. “Where Custer Fell” is strictly a battle book and the first one like it in decades – and the best for that choice. It's also the best photographic historical perspective.

When I’m at the battlefield and visitors ask me for a book that covers only the battle the choices are few, believe it or not. But, if one is looking for a book on the important participants, there are many to pick.

So, Norseman, to answer your question there are not too many books that cover both the soldier and Indian personalities all in one. However, there is one book that does do this in some respects but it covers all of Custer’s life and the people involved with it along the way both personally and professionally – Thom Hatch’s “The Custer Companion: A Comprehensive Guide to the Life of George Armstrong Custer and the Plains Indian Wars” It’s an encyclopedic format and does not just focus on the Little Bighorn.

[Treasuredude]

elisabeth said:

Just got mine today, so like you I've only thumbed through it so far -- but I had the same reaction. I think I'd expected the modern photographs to be in colour, which might have made the topography clearer as well as looking nicer. Presumably they went for b/w to keep the closest possible parallels with the earlier photographs.

Looks as if it's going to be a valuable resource, though.

I have only glanced at my copy as well. I love the EXPLORING WITH CUSTER book about the 1874 Black Hills expedition. The old stereoviews contrasted with the modern color photos is outstanding. I guess I envisioned WHERE CUSTER FELL to be along the same lines. I was looking forward to the big color modern photos. You're probably right about trying to keep the "feel" of the originals with black and white modern shots.

[Diane Merkel]

treasuredude said:

I have only glanced at my copy as well. I love the EXPLORING WITH CUSTER book about the 1874 Black Hills expedition. The old stereoviews contrasted with the modern color photos is outstanding. I guess I envisioned WHERE CUSTER FELL to be along the same lines. I was looking forward to the big color modern photos. You're probably right about trying to keep the "feel" of the originals with black and white modern shots.

You are right, 'Dude, Exploring with Custer is a better comparison. Beautiful book!