books on the battle

[shatonska]

i have some basic books , fox gray michno 76 in english and all custer's books edited in italy could you please suggest some new well made books on the battle ? is still custer's mith by graham a book to have ? i have to order outside my country this books , in english

[Peter]

shatonska said:

i have some basic books , fox gray michno 76 in english and all custer's books edited in italy could you please suggest some new well made books on the battle ? is still custer's mith by graham a book to have ? i have to order outside my country this books , in english

The Univ. of Oklahoma Press has "Custer in '76", here's an overview:

Custer in ’76, Walter Camp’s Notes on the Custer Fight
by Walter Camp

This is a collection of exciting, intensely absorbing personal accounts from survivors of Custer’s Last Stand, including interviews with John Martin, trumpeter and orderly to Custer; Medal of Honor winner Stanislas Roy; Private Roman Rutten; Sergeant Daniel Knipe, and other Seventh Cavalry men and officers. There are also accounts from Custer’s Indian scouts: Goes Ahead, Hairy Moccasin, Little Sioux, Strike Two, and notably, Curley, the Crow scout who witnessed the attack on the Custer column. And, perhaps most important, here for the first time are memorable accounts from the other side - from Indians who actually fought against Custer: Turtle Rib, Black Bear, He Dog, White Bull, Sturdy Bear, and Foolish Elk, who fought with Crazy Horse on the day of the battle. The Indian interviews are an important source for scholars of Indian cultures as well as for students of Custer’s last stand.


"Custer in ’76 is a treasure trove of information, and stands as one of the few essential books in the vast Custer bibliography." - Paul A. Hutton, editor, New Mexico Historical Review


"This is solid, first-hand material bearing on the Custer fight, invaluable to anyone studying the Little Bighorn" - Robert Utley

[shatonska]

thanks , i have this one

[crzhrs]

There are a number of books some older, some newer, that are I recommended.

THE CUSTER MYTH: Very good first-hand info from primary sources, including many of the surviving soldiers and some of the Indians. Contains letters and observations from the participants.

CUSTER'S LUCK by Edgar Stewart . . . probably one of the best objective books on the campaign and tactics.

CENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN by John Gray is an excellent "newer" book. Great intro about the "cultures in clash", the secret government plan to instigate a war with the Sioux, and in-depth of analysts of who did what and why.

CUSTER'S LAST CAMPAIGN also by John Gray is highly recommended. Not for the Custer "newbie" but great stuff for those have a knowledge of the events.

There are many others . . . some try to prove or disprove many of the discrepancies or mysteries of the events. Read as many as possible . . . pro or anti-Custer, pro or anti-Indian.

It is also very important to get the Indians' side of the battle. Afterall, they won and lived to tell the fight, especially the Custer battle.

It's very difficult to form an opinion from only a few books.

[shatonska]

thanks i read all i can get ,
but it seems impossible to arrive at some conclusion ,, are we sure there was a ford D movement ? cheyennes presumed fighting at ford D are the same of the medicine ford B , only some cheyenne accounts seem to point to a division , sioux like he dog and other stand firmly on the assertion on all companies together until the splitting with the crazy horse charge

[Tricia]

shatonska said:

thanks i read all i can get ,
but it seems impossible to arrive at some conclusion ,, are we sure there was a ford D movement ? cheyennes presumed fighting at ford D are the same of the medicine ford B , only some cheyenne accounts seem to point to a division , sioux like he dog and other stand firmly on the assertion on all companies together until the splitting with the crazy horse charge

Shatonska--

Are you looking for currently written information on Ford D? I know of two books that mention the area and any actions around there: "Death Of A Myth" by Bob Snelson and "The ABC's Of Custer's Last Stand" by Art Unger. I've only read Snelson and it's cursory at best. The person who seems to "own" the Ford D theory is part-time NPS ranger Mike Donahue, and from what I understand, he is penning a book. Whether it is completed or in any publisher's loop is another thing.

You might also want to check with the CBHMA and see if any of their symposium books from 2003 and 2004 are still avaliable. Donahue has spoken at both.

Regards,
Leyton McLean

[crzhrs]

I read Sklenar's book (fairly new) "To Hell With Honor . . ." Some interesting opinions, but in the end he's another one that blames everyone but Custer for the disaster.

Haven't read the "ABC's . . ." yet . . . kinda pricey ($85!!!). But having dealt with the author on another board . . . his views again blame everyone but Custer.

I still like Gray's two books, very objective and intellectual. They are two of my favorites.

[Tricia]

Crzhrs--

Indeed, despite its pro-Custer bent, I enjoyed "To Hell With Honour." Adjectives can be so unnecessary ... and Skelnar overuses them, especially in regards to Benteen and Reno. But it was the first book I read about LBH and it made the battle come alive. As for "The ABC's," like you, I find its price (hey, it's Upton Books) a real difficulty, but the author's opine is unabashedly pro-Custer, to the detriment of any other party. I don't see the need for "Betrayal and Cowardice ..." but, hey, it sells books!

That said, my favourite book on the LBH continues to be "Lakota Noon." Well, that and anything by Utley.

Regards,
LMC

[Treasuredude]

Upton has the pre-order deal. I just preordered WHERE CUSTER FELL. It was $40.00. After it comes out it will probably be $85.00. I've preordered lots of books from Upton. $40.00 isn't bad for a large hardbound book.

At the LBHA convention, I picked up Michno's Lakota Noon in hardcover for $38.00. Perry Baker introduced me to Michno and I had it signed. That was a big thrill.

[crzhrs]

As for the "Betrayal and Cowardice" thing. I doubt seriously that Benteen would deliberately sacrifice Custer and his men by a betrayal due to his dislike for Custer. If nothing else, Benteen was a soldier and an experienced one. Like most of the survivors the last thing anyone expected was Custer to be defeated, let alone wiped out. In fact, many on the hill had thoughts of Custer abandoning them . . . a la Elliott at the Washita.

As for Reno's cowardice . . . there is a difference between panicing and being a coward, but to say he was a coward, no. He fought in the Civil War, had Indian duty along the Canadian border, and was sent on a scout prior the LBH fight. Like many of the men at his LBH fight, including several officers, he paniced.

Anyone who joins the military knows the risks. Cowards don't put themselves in harm's way.

[Jim]

For your information the Book, "Where Custer Fell", by Brust, Pohanka & Barnard can be PRE-Ordered from Amazon.com for $26.37, (Hard Cover), which includes FREE Shipping.