Publisher's Synopsis
To understand historical outcomes, the whole range of viewpoints at play in historical encounters should be assessed impartially. Attempting to maintain that focus, this book begins by addressing George Custer's varying public image since 1876 to the present time: The Custer Dilemma. Then, it comparatively assesses contending perspectives leading to the now ostensible mythic confrontation in 1876 in Montana. Following that, based principally on participant accounts, it reconstructs the battle. In the process, it illustrates the battlefield terrain using full color maps and illustrated photographs as well as historic documents related to the battle through the several phases of that now epic encounter. It denotes locations, movements and actions by various participants throughout the battle utilizing an impartial Cross-cultural historical perspective. One of the important contributions it offers to the literature is a multi-disciplined approach that brings the topography of the battlefield into light as never before. Guided by common sense, using geographic and archaeological evidences in support of the numerous illustrations, the narrative unravels the apparent puzzle of battle participant reports weaving a descriptive tapestry of the movements and actions of Native American participants as well as members of that fated battalion. For the sake of erudition, chapters are divided into separate phases, though many were overlapping and in some cases concurrent with others in time. It also includes two important appendices. Both deal with a key witness to the battle, Crow Scout Curley. The first focuses on his creditability: "Curley's Quandary", while the second provides a composite narrative of his Little Bighorn Battle reports illustrating his movements during and after the battle.
