George Armstrong Custer – Dying at the Little Bighorn
George Armstrong Custer, a name synonymous with both military glory and tragic defeat, remains one of the most controversial figures in American history. A United States Army officer and cavalry commander, Custer distinguished himself during the Civil War and later played a prominent role in the Indian Wars of the American West. While his early career was marked by rapid advancement and battlefield successes, it is his demise at the Battle of the Little Bighorn that has indelibly shaped his legacy.
Born in New Rumley, Ohio, on December 5, 1839, George Armstrong Custer, affectionately nicknamed "Autie" by his family, displayed a restless spirit from a young age. His academic performance was unremarkable, characterized by a wandering attention span. Despite his lack of scholarly inclination, Custer obtained a teaching certificate from a Normal School in 1856. However, the life of a grammar school instructor proved unfulfilling, leading him to pursue a military career.
In the fall of 1857, Custer entered the prestigious West Point Military Academy. His time at the academy was not without its challenges, and he ultimately graduated last in his class of 34 in June 1861. Despite his academic standing, the outbreak of the Civil War presented Custer with an opportunity to demonstrate his leadership potential. He chose the Cavalry as his branch of service and was initially assigned to staff duty with the Army of the Potomac. His eagerness to volunteer and reliability quickly set him apart.
The early years of the Civil War saw Custer rise through the ranks, earning promotions to Brigadier General of Volunteers by November 1862. This rapid ascent was a testament to his bravery and tactical acumen. Around this time, Custer met Elizabeth "Libbie" Bacon, the daughter of a prominent judge. Despite her father’s initial disapproval of Custer’s social standing, the two fell in love and maintained a fervent correspondence. The social barriers lessened as Custer’s star rose, and they married in February 1864 in Monroe.
Throughout the remainder of the Civil War, George Armstrong Custer continued to excel, eventually commanding an entire Cavalry Division with the rank of Major General by 1865. Unlike many generals who directed their troops from the rear, Custer led from the front, often being the first to engage the enemy. His courage and charisma inspired his men to follow him into battle, resulting in numerous victories against Confederate forces. His reputation for "Custer Luck" grew as he survived numerous close calls, including having eleven horses shot out from under him.
Following the end of the Civil War in April 1865, the vast Volunteer Army was disbanded, and Custer reverted to his regular army rank of Captain. In 1866, when the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment was formed at Fort Riley, Kansas, Custer was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. While Colonel Andrew Smith (1866-1869) and Colonel Samuel Sturgis (1869-1886) were the regiment’s official commanders, their frequent detached service often placed George Armstrong Custer in command, a position he held until his death.
Custer’s initial experience in the West came in 1867, serving under Major General Winfield Hancock. The campaign’s stated purpose was to negotiate peace with the Southern Cheyenne and Kiowa tribes along the Arkansas River. While the campaign yielded little actual combat, it provided Custer with valuable insights into the nuances of Indian warfare. However, the campaign ended with Custer court-martialed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for being AWOL after abandoning his post to see his wife. He was also charged with conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline and for ordering deserters shot without trial and refusing them medical attention. The court-martial found him guilty of all charges, and he was sentenced to one year of suspension from rank without pay.
Despite this setback, Major General Philip H. Sheridan, recognizing Custer’s military capabilities, requested his reinstatement in 1868 for a winter campaign against the Cheyenne. This campaign culminated in the controversial Battle of the Washita in Oklahoma on November 27, 1868. Custer’s 7th Cavalry attacked an unsuspecting village of Southern Cheyenne led by Chief Black Kettle. The attack resulted in the deaths of warriors, women, and children, leading some to characterize it as a massacre. Black Kettle and his wife were among the dead.
In 1873, the 7th Cavalry was tasked with protecting the Northern Pacific Railroad Survey along the Yellowstone River. The Lakota Sioux and other tribes opposed the railroad construction, leading to frequent attacks on survey sites. This marked the first encounters between George Armstrong Custer and prominent Lakota leaders such as Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Chief Gall.
The following summer, in 1874, Custer led a 1,200-person expedition into the Black Hills of South Dakota, a territory guaranteed to the Lakota by treaty just six years prior. Rumors of gold in the Black Hills had been circulating for decades, and the expedition included two professional miners. Their discovery of gold confirmed the rumors, sparking a new gold rush and further escalating tensions with the Lakota.
In the spring of 1876, the U.S. Army launched a major campaign to clear the Lakota and Cheyenne from the area and force them onto the Great Sioux Reservation. Custer’s 7th Cavalry was part of the largest column, commanded by General Alfred Terry, departing from Fort Abraham Lincoln, North Dakota. On June 22, 1876, Terry ordered Custer’s regiment to advance ahead of the main column, hoping they would engage a large group of Lakota warriors.
The initial plan involved three forces, under Generals George Crook, John Gibbon, and Custer, trapping the Lakota and Cheyenne between them. However, Custer’s rapid advance outpaced Gibbon’s infantry brigades, and General Crook’s forces had been repelled by Crazy Horse at Rosebud Creek. Believing the Lakota and Cheyenne were about to flee, George Armstrong Custer ordered his 7th Cavalry to attack on the morning of June 25, 1876.
The ensuing Battle of the Little Bighorn resulted in the deaths of 263 soldiers, including Custer himself, and approximately 80 Lakota and Cheyenne warriors. Custer and his entire immediate command were wiped out in what became known as "Custer’s Last Stand." The news of the disaster reached the nation on July 4, 1876, the centennial of the United States, shocking and grieving Americans.
Libbie, Custer’s widow, dedicated the remaining 57 years of her life to preserving her husband’s reputation. She tirelessly promoted a heroic image of Custer through books, articles, and public appearances. Thanks in large part to her efforts, George Armstrong Custer became a figure of enduring fame, immortalized in dime novels, art, music, and film. While his military tactics have been questioned and his role in the Indian Wars remains controversial, Custer’s name continues to evoke images of bravery, adventure, and tragedy.
George Armstrong Custer’s legacy is complex and multifaceted, encompassing both military successes and a devastating defeat. His life and death continue to fascinate and provoke debate, solidifying his place in American history and legend. He achieved an infamy in death, a legacy that would last for generations.