Dustin: "The Custer Tragedy"

[fred]

Has anyone ever read this book?

Apparently, only a few were ever published/printed and I believe it came out in 1939. I have the Upton re-print of 2011, and I am about half-way through it.

Every bit of credit in the world should accrue to Dick Upton for re-publishing this thing; I have found it to be a remarkable book, and while Dustin did not-- obviously-- have access to all the latest "stuff," his grasp of the event is tremendous.

He has one of the more remarkable understandings of the various characters, and says it how it was with Custer, Reno, and a whole host of others. He pays due deference to the scouts, questions much of what Herendeen and Gerard had to say... and then supports his arguments admirably. The best set of character studies I have read... though he has not said boo-hiss yet about Benteen, so I wonder when that will happen.

Without finishing it, the book has already been vaulted into my top-three books: the Richard Fox book on archaeology; and Jim Willert's, LBH Diary, being the other two. At the risk of now being called a "shill" for Dick Upton, I would rush to buy this thing. An absolute classic and far better than Kuhlman's, Legend into History.

Best wishes,
Fred.

[zekesgirl]

I am working my way through it. I find the printing a pain to read. Makes it slow going.

[Carl]

Thanks to Fred (for starting the thread) and
Interlibrary Loan, I have until the 25th of May
one of the original 200 copies of the 1939 book.

A pertinent quote written by Dustin (page 95)

Opinions are of value when given by those competent
ONLY WHEN BASE ON ASCERTAINABLE FACTS, but
worse than worthless when base on prejudice, dislike
or bias, even though given by supposed experts.
There have been many such.

[fred]

May 6, 2012 15:13:28 GMT -6 Carl said:

Thanks to Fred (for starting the thread) and
Interlibrary Loan, I have until the 25th of May
one of the original 200 copies of the 1939 book.

A pertinent quote written by Dustin (page 95)

Opinions are of value when given by those competent
ONLY WHEN BASE ON ASCERTAINABLE FACTS, but
worse than worthless when base on prejudice, dislike
or bias, even though given by supposed experts.
There have been many such.

Carl,

I am delighted you are reading it... especially one of the originals!

While I disagree with a lot of Dustin's conclusions, I enjoyed the book immensely. Dustin had a decency we seldom ever see and certainly not in modern-day writing. There is always an agenda, whether it is Liddic or Donovan or someone else, and especially on the various message boards. Dustin's only agenda was decency and it makes the book a pleasure to read.

Glad you are enjoying it, Carl, and glad I could be the one to tell you about it.

Best wishes,
Fred.

[fred]

Carl,

By the way, in addition to that memorable quote you posted, here is one I put in my notes from the very beginning of Dustin's book:

“It is the fashion of unthinking people to be guided by their prejudices…. They worship the idols they have set up… they regard their popular heroes as gods, and at once decide offhand that all who differ with them are entirely and utterly wicked, hateful, and malicious. Persons of this type may be convinced against their wills of the wrongness of their opinions, but they will still go on and add new defenses, new excuses, new apologies, all equally untenable with their previous arguments, and we, naturally, come to the conclusion that time is wasted on such….”
 Fred Dustin, October 12, 1936, The Custer Tragedy, Forward, p. xvii, Upton & Sons edition, 2011.

Best wishes,
Fred.

[scottbono]

Apr 12, 2012 7:19:12 GMT -6 fred said:

Has anyone ever read this book?

Apparently, only a few were ever published/printed and I believe it came out in 1939. I have the Upton re-print of 2011, and I am about half-way through it.

Every bit of credit in the world should accrue to Dick Upton for re-publishing this thing; I have found it to be a remarkable book, and while Dustin did not-- obviously-- have access to all the latest "stuff," his grasp of the event is tremendous.

He has one of the more remarkable understandings of the various characters, and says it how it was with Custer, Reno, and a whole host of others. He pays due deference to the scouts, questions much of what Herendeen and Gerard had to say... and then supports his arguments admirably. The best set of character studies I have read... though he has not said boo-hiss yet about Benteen, so I wonder when that will happen.

Without finishing it, the book has already been vaulted into my top-three books: the Richard Fox book on archaeology; and Jim Willert's, LBH Diary, being the other two. At the risk of now being called a "shill" for Dick Upton, I would rush to buy this thing. An absolute classic and far better than Kuhlman's, Legend into History.

Best wishes,
Fred.

Fred, though late I wanted to reply. Dustin's book was the SECOND work I got after Stewart's "Custer's Luck". I cannot recall reading Willert but have been consumed with Fox's archeological work, Hardorff, Michno, Gray, Darling, etc. As a self-acclaimed novice here I become somewhat 'giddy' to discover books on my shelf receive their validation by folks here whose views, opinions and insights I have come to respect.

[fred]

Jan 2, 2014 14:56:00 GMT -6 scottbono said:

I cannot recall reading Willert....

Scott,

By all means, hook or crook, get the two Willert books, To the Edge of Darkness and then, Little Big Horn Diary. Read them in that order. Absolutely superb! If I had only two books to read about the entire campaign-- in general-- these would be the two. Check Dick Upton's Website and if they are not there, call him. He answers his phone. He published them, and while they may be expensive $100 or so, they are well worth every penny.

Happy New Year, my boy!

Best wishes,
Fred.

[Yan Taylor]

Or you could try Amazon;

link

Ian.