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Battle of the Little Bighorn - 1876

Best Books on Little Bighorn

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[quote][i]Originally posted by James N.[/i]
[br]I only recently completed what I think is the best over-all treatment of the Indian Wars/Little Bighorn combination: James Donovan's [i]A Terrible Glory[/i].  It covers a LOT of ground, much like [i]Son of the Morning Star[/i], but in a more traditional historical and less novelistic telling.  I'm not aware of any salient fact that's been overlooked.  I aggree with Rich that the more analytic the author, the less likely to engage in sensationalism or Custer-bashing.  Donovan is generally most critical of both Benteen and Reno, but also has pointed criticism of Gibbon and Crook for their intelligence failures earlier in the campaign.  He convincingly demonstrates that everyone who survived the debacle had a personal axe to grind or reputation to protect; and his post-battle chapters showing how what might be termed collective memory unfolded over time, in the words of a chapter title, "For the Honor of the Regiment".

Another interesting book that Rich didn't mention that I found worthwhile is Wayne Michael Sarf's [i]The Little Bighorn Campaign[/i], one of the series [i]Great Campaigns[/i].  This is a straightforward retelling of the basics of the entire 1876 campaign from a purely military history viewpoint.
[/quote]

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T O P I C R E V I E W
richfed	Posted - November 03 2003 : 06:37:16 AM There are many, many works on this subject - more on this battle than any other, I would guess, except for maybe Gettysburg. Some are terrible, others are excellent. One general observation I'd like to make: It seems the more scholarly the work is, the less anti-Custer it is; the more the blame is spread around. Anyway, here are my very favorites, what I consider the best of the best [there are many more good ones!]: Custer's Luck by Edgar I. Stewart [University of Oklahoma Press, 1955] - A bit dated, especially in the analysis of the actual battle phase of things, but still the best narrative of the campaign written. Excellent work to read if you are just getting your feet wet on the subject. Custer's Last Campaign by John S. Gray [University of Nebraska Press, 1991] - This book changed our understanding of the battle. A true landmark edition. Using a detailed time/motion analysis, Gray reconstructs - very carefully - the flow of events - what was possible; what was impossible. Stunning work! Archaeology, History, and Custer's Last Battle by Richard Allan Fox, Jr. [University of Oklahoma Press, 1993] - In 1983, I believe it was, fire swept over the battlefield. A golden opportunity was presented, and led by Fox and Douglas D. Scott, extensive archaeological studies were performed on the field before the foliage reclaimed the landscape. This is the definitive analysis of that work - combined with Indian testimony, of which there is a wealth, and the historical record, Fox makes sense of it all and makes the best case - to date - of what actually occurred on the field that day. Combined with Gray's work [above] you've got information here available no where else! The Custer Battle Casualties by Richard G. Hardoff [Upton & Sons, 1989] - Not of the same scope as those books I've mentioned, but highly informative, nonetheless. All first person accounts of finding the dead on the field, the identification of bodies, the wounds, burials, and reinterments are all here in one place. Not for the feint of heart! Read 'em!! Maybe you'll catch the bug!! Honorary Mention: Son of the Morning Star by Evan S. Connell [Harper & Row, 1984] - Not without its faults, but a wonderfully woven tapestry of Custer's life and the battle. It's written by a writer rather than a historian. Newbies ought to find it highly readable. Great introductory work!
2 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
James N.	Posted - January 24 2010 : 8:03:39 PM I only recently completed what I think is the best over-all treatment of the Indian Wars/Little Bighorn combination: James Donovan's A Terrible Glory. It covers a LOT of ground, much like Son of the Morning Star, but in a more traditional historical and less novelistic telling. I'm not aware of any salient fact that's been overlooked. I aggree with Rich that the more analytic the author, the less likely to engage in sensationalism or Custer-bashing. Donovan is generally most critical of both Benteen and Reno, but also has pointed criticism of Gibbon and Crook for their intelligence failures earlier in the campaign. He convincingly demonstrates that everyone who survived the debacle had a personal axe to grind or reputation to protect; and his post-battle chapters showing how what might be termed collective memory unfolded over time, in the words of a chapter title, "For the Honor of the Regiment". Another interesting book that Rich didn't mention that I found worthwhile is Wayne Michael Sarf's The Little Bighorn Campaign, one of the series Great Campaigns. This is a straightforward retelling of the basics of the entire 1876 campaign from a purely military history viewpoint.
joseph wiggs	Posted - January 13 2005 : 7:55:31 PM I agree with your list completely. I would make one addition, "The Custer Myth" by Cpl. W. A. Graham. It is a wonderful source book for the novice who is just beginning his journey into Custer lore.

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