A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn - the Last Great Battle of the American West |...

A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn - the Last Great Battle of the American West | James Donovan | Outstanding piece of narrative history

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A Terrible Glory: ...

	A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn - the Last Great Battle of the American West James Donovan Little, Brown and Company, 2008 - 544 pages average customer review:based on 53 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A Terrible Glory, A Remarkable Achievement

I hate to sound like a hackneyed reviewer, but I've just finished James Donovan's book, and that's the (inadequate) phrase that springs to mind.

The research is stunning and the comparative analysis truly important. The narrative is handled deftly, with great confidence, and more than a little elegance. Donovan is a helluva writer.

This is a topic I knew little about beyond the myths we all grew up with and a handful of books read over the years. But this book draws one in quickly and refuses to let go. The characters come alive, the events unfold with a cinematic sweep, and beneath it all, the deep research reassures that the only agenda at work here is to tell a fascinating story with balance and a strict adherence to the knowable truth.

And the last line is a killer.

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Outstanding piece of narrative history

I can add little to what others have said, other than to contribute one more five-star ranking. It may be hard to believe that anyone at this late date could offer anything new about the Battle of the Little Bighorn, but Donovan does and he does it well--covering both sides, which is in itself unique in this overcharged area of writing.

George Armstrong Custer

Did you know that Custer was at Gettysburgh? I didn't. Did you know he was one of the top calvary generals of the civil war? I didn't either, but I learned these and many other facts about his life leading up to the battle of Little Big Horn. This is a very well told, very read-able tale of Custer's life. This is a very interesting history book, I learned a lot and enjoyed reading it very much.

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Custer Makes His "Last Stand" Again

This ably written popular history of the U. S. Army's 1876 campaign against the Sioux and Cheyanne clearly targets the general reader more than readers familiar with the wars against the Plains Indians. This is shown by the author's provision of considerable background material designed to familiarize the reader with the situation facing the combatants in 1876. This includes summaries of the careers of the main personalities on both sides, the history of the unceasing pressure on the Sioux and other tribes from the 1860's on, the Indian way of life and method of fighting (and the US military's contemptuous lack of understanding of the same), the lack of training and experience among US soldiers, the frequently poor quality of the soldiers themselves, the often bitter dislikes and rivalries among the Army's officers and the high degree of racism and greed that fueled the Plains wars. Much of this can only be sketched because a single volume of 401 pages of text prevents detailed exposition of this general background (interested readers can find more detailed information on these subjects relatively easily). All of this material and more will be familiar to readers knowledgeable about the destruction of the Plains tribes.

The book is a narrative of the facts much more than an analysis of the events, although Donovan does comment on some factors such as Reno's failures both in the valley and on the hill and Custer's repeated splitting of his 660 man force in the face of greatly superior numbers. Donovan does a good job of evaluating the often conflicting factual evidence. In the end, he cannot fully solve the mystery of why Custer did what he did for the simple reason that neither Custer nor any of the key officers who accompanied him on his last foray were around to explain their actions. Donovan does occasionally make some educated guesses on the "whys" that are reasonably insightful and he is good at providing information and letting the reader draw his own conclusions. For example he discusses the success that US foces had enjoyed against Plains tribes although often fighting greatly superior numbers, notes the Army's lack of understanding of how the Indians fought (particularly their reluctance to "stand and fight" to the end with the heavy losses entailed thereby, a tactic that demographics made impossible for the tribes but that the soldiers often mistook for cowardice) and explains the elementary tactics that had so often brought the Army success.

Donovan is particularly good in discussing Reno's conduct during his badly handled attack in the valley and later in the makeshift position on the hill. He carefully weighs the evidence but, aside from showing that Reno was probably drinking heavily throughout the engagements, pretty much lets the reader evaluate the facts for himself. These fights had plenty of survivors, many of whom had strong opinions (mostly hostile to Reno and laudatory of Benteen). Most were willing to share them with fiends and Army cronies but were not willing to speak frankly for official purposes. Some were concerned about their own conduct, some feared making professional enemies and all were concerned about the image of the regiment and the Army generally. The Army brass also wanted to look good. All concerned were only too willing to participate in a whitewash at the Reno Court of Inquiry, although they continued to blister Reno privately for many years after. The Army set up the dead Custer as the scapegoat, calling him rash, overly aggressive, a glory hunter and accusing him of failing to follow orders. Custer certainly made mistakes (plenty) but so did many others, including his superiors. None of the senior campaign leaders (Crook, Gibbon and Terry) performed particularly well in the campaign and much could arguably be laid at their respective doors. In context, Custer's blunders are understandable if, in the end, perhaps not forgiveable.

The book then traces the aftermath in summary form to and including the 7th Cav's Wounded Knee attack on surrendering Indians and the events surrounding it. This part of the book again covers a lot of ground, including Libbie Custer,s efforts to remedy what she saw as the injustices to her dead husband and the subsequent careers of some of the main survivors. Again this is done briefly, probably again for reasons of space.

In short, James Donovan tries to provide the general reader with all he needs to know about the 1876 campaign, its culminating disaster and its aftermath. Overall he does a good job. He has pursued the evidence and evaluated it well with no unfair axes to grind. He is especially good at using the evidence of lower ranking officers, common soldiers and Indian witnesses (including those serving with the US Army). His writing is clear and readable. This is an excellent overview for anyone wanting basic facts and knowledge and it provides an excellent start for those interested enough to want to pursue the issues themselves.

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