James Willert writes with the perspective of a historian....no opinions and no drama. His writing respects the intelligence of the reader. His bibliography is an excellent resource for both historians of the Indian Wars and family tree researchers who suspect ancestral involvement in the Indian Wars

Don Horn's book finally portrays General George Armstrong Custer accurately as one of the great heroes in US military history. Instead of learning history from modern-day revisionists, Mr. Horn's research and factual accounts taken from peers of Custer capture the feelings of the day of Custer. Portrait of a General takes you back one hundred years and allows you to hear first-hand what the people who really knew Custer thought of him. Their comments indicate Custer was truly an American hero.

Someone should do a movie version of this book. With all the excellent Native American actors and actresses we have today, I'm sure that America would enjoy the Native American version of this saga. Greasy Grass better known as The Battle of Little Big Horn in this version excels in bitter truth and, in triumphant victory for the Native Americans. Everyone would walk away with much food for thought.

Letellier recounts numerous experiences (funny, but sometimes poignant) about the life of a wife on a ranch in northern Wyoming. She's a really gifted writer, and the book's impossible to lay down till you're finished. (And then you start all over again!)

This book is compiled from the found writings of a sergeant of the Seventh Cavalry who survived the Battle of the Little Big Horn. The first hand accounts of men like Sergeant Windolph and Theodore Goldin are very valuable and interesting reading. They were not men defending their performance as were the officers like Benteen, Reno, and Godfrey. They had their biases but didn't have to grind axes. This account is worthwhile reading for students of the Seventh Cavalry and the Little Big Horn campaign.

As a Custer buff, this book has been on my shelf for a long time. A great book to read, one that fleshes out a lot of the daily life in the Seventh as well as the battle along Greasy Grass. Right up there with "Son of Morning Star" and Walter Camp's book on the subject. Check 'em out, you won't be disappointed.

I am a big fan of thomas bergers book "little Big Man" and loved the film. After reading this book I now know where Mr. Berger probably gleaned his inspiration for his classic novel. Reading this old soldiers memorable account made me thirst only for more. It is a real gem, and every Custer fan should have a copy in the home library.

A psychiatrist's view of Custer is quite interesting as the author brigs full focus on Custer's up bringing and environment and how it effected up. Also covers the unique relationship that Custer had with his wife, an inseperable dependent relationship.
The author gives a brief history of the campaign that is a little naive based on more recent reserach. The author defines Cuser's need for rash behavior but I think the jury is still out on what Custer was attempting to do at the LBH. If he he stopped short of the LBH to attempt to regroup wit all his battalions that would be a logical action after he became aware that Reno evacuated from the valley unfortunately in a rout. The failure was capitolized by a very late attempt to follow Custer's trail by two malcontent subordinates. A fascinating book nevertheless but I think taking a more detailed look at Custer's action at the LBH takes more thought which could have given the book a boost. One has to remember that the Indians were suppose to run and the Colonel that failed to sustain an attack for Crook that March was almost court martialed.

I rated this book a 5-star for the simple reason of its
uniqueness. What a great approach by the author. Let's face
facts about Custer & the Little Bighorn. There are only so
many angles you can take on telling and retelling of what
historians and others think happened.
Charles Hofling takes another approach in that he analyzes
Custer's personality. He looks at how different periods of his
life and career were affected by events that happened to him.
I especially like Chapter 10 of this book in which he goes into
some detail on these events.
This book greatly adds another view and perspective to the
vast amount of Custer literature.

This is possibly the most complete work on the actual Battle of the Little Big Horn. Mr. Kuhlman presents his evidence very convincingly. More like reading a text book, it is sometimes hard to stay focused, but is a must read for anyone with more than a basic knowledge of the battle.

This is a great book by one of the classic researchers on Custer. Interesting to note that Kuhlman was a historian by profession whose deafness caused him to retire eventualy living near Billings a short hour drive from the Little Bighorn. Kuhlman probably spent more hours on the field than any other Custer writer which is quite a contrast to one of the greatest Custer writers of the early to mid 1900s , Colonel Graham who never visited the field. Kuhlman lacks the more recent knowledge of the archeological evidence and the story behind the accidental placement of the extra 40 grave markers but his reasoning of what and why events unfolded is fascinating. Bold opinions supported by facts in most cases make the book a pleasure, Kuhlman acknowledges that Benteen never had a good word for anyone and that he exagerated for his own benefit but states honestly that Custer respected him as a soldier and expected him to close up and support him. As Pohanka writes, Kuhlman conflicts with modern contemporaries in reasoning that Custer sent three companies south to Calhoun Hill to create a bridgehead to Benteen only after sighting him at Weir Point (as opposed to having stopped their much earlier while Custer and E & F moved forward). However, the thought that Custer slowed and stayed on the eastern side of the River after Reno's collapse makes good sense particularly if a reunification was expected. Kuhlman describes the Indian way of fighting extremely well and like another contemporary, suggests that the main attack ocurred near Custer Hill to it's west versus nearer Calhoun Hill as others state. Strong defense that Custer did not disobey his orders and he proves that General Terry's protective staff officer and relative exagerated the length of forced marches that Custer took and he demonstrates how Custer not sending a Scout to Terry made littl difference in the broad perspective of the events. More detail maps would have helped Kuhlman's finite description of the field as he provides minute details that a map would have conveyed much clearaer.

This is a very readable book with interviews and stories by many of the participants of the 76 campaign. As Brian Pohanka (foreword) adeptly informs the reader, Brninstool did tremendous research and interviewed and corresponded with a number of the survivors of the LBH. However, as Pohanka hits the nail on the head, Brininstool lacks objectivity when it comes to Reno and Benteen. He supports their versions 100%. In Benteen's statements, he repeatedly denies that Custer had any plan. And in his testimony and letters he constantly states that he was to just ride to infinity to the left, which is totally absurd. In Gray's time motion studies and in Darlings "Benteen's Scout to the Left", Benteen only went one mile further than Custer by the time their trails intersect. Brininstool constant reminds the reader that Custer through his adjutant stated that Reno "would be supported by the whole regiment". If that statement was true then obviously he meant for Benteen to join the attack. If you tour the site of the first separation, it made logical sense for Custer to have flankers on the left where the ground rose and could have hid attacking Indians on his flank. In addition, Brininstool supports Reno and his "charge" that was actually a rout. Later in the excellent recounting of the Lt. Kidder massacre in 1867 about the young Lieutenant and his platoon that ran into a Sioux war party the author states "Running away from Indians was, in the opinion of experienced Indian fighters, poor policy." Well, he seems to forget this when applauding Reno for his abrupt run from the cottonwoods leaving 21 men behind who didn't get the word and somehow survived but Reno still lost 1/3 of his command in his run. The survivors particularly Lt. Hare continuously state that they would have not lived other wise. Brininstool also over estimates the number of Indians. Brininstool also has a section on Theodore Goldin and the famous water detail, which is very interesting except that Goldin has historically been proven to fabricate the truth including his own service period.

The best parts of the book are the story of Lt. DeRudio and Sgt. O'Neil's exciting two
days surrounded by Indians while abandoned and hiding in the cottonwoods after Reno suddenly bugged, the retelling of the 1867 Lt. Kidder massacre and the exciting story of Lt. Sibley's escape from a large Sioux war party while scouting for Crook. After being surrounded, Sibley led by famous scouts Grouard and Baptise Pourier abandon their horses at night and travel days in broken country to return to Crooks base camp. The book also includes a mini-bio on Lonesome Charlie Reynolds, one of the greatest scouts of the west who died turning Reno's bug out. Although not mentioned by the author, another great Scout Herendeen testified that he and Reynolds discussed that the worst thing that one could do is try to outrun Indians which was supposedly said not long before Reno abruptly hauled freight.

Lots of great testimony in spite of Benteen's self serving interview which is valuable to read since his extreme defensiveness is obvious along with his distaste for Custer, his argument is so absurd that it is irrational to believe. Besides Brininstool's lack of objectivity, I was disappointed that he didn't have more interviews with the surviving
Troopers such as Peter Thompson who was with Custer until just before Medicine Trail Coulee where his horse broke down with a few other troopers who walked back to join Reno. Those interviews with these only technical survivors would have been fascinating.

This is actually a good book to add to your collection. In contrast, I like Walter Camp's book "Custer in 76" edited by Ken Hammer better. It appears more objective with lots of nuggets of information such as references to Peter Thompson. Brininstool like Camp met a lot of the participants, reading both is a pleasure.

Being a relative of E.A. Brininstool, I know first hand what length of detail and accurateness went into this product. Earl spent many months/years on interviews, pictures, and fact finding on this compilation. I would recommend this to anyone looking for accurate information on the Custer Battle.

Little Big Horn 1876: Custer's Last Stand by Peter F. Panzeri is a good overview of the Little Big Horn Campaign. It is written in the traditional Osprey style and in addition has excellent maps showing the troop movements.

The theme of the book appears to be the multiple mistakes made by Custer and his men, espically Major Reno, that led to the destruction of his cammand. The chief among these was over confidence. In this vien, the book is very good. This is a worthwhile read for one who wants to know the basics of an American battle where it is often times difficult to seperate fact from folklore.

Peter Panzieri is the author of this book of the Osprey Military Series, Classic Battles. Like all the books in the series, it boasts abundant photographs and illustrations, but best of all, wonderfully detailed maps showing troop movements. The book relies heavily on Richard Allen Fox's archeological study of the battle and suffers from having been published before Gregory Michno's ground-breaking "Lakota Noon", an analysis of Indian testimony that calls into question some of Mr. Fox's theories. Despite that, it is an excellent book and belongs in every Custer library.

This Book Gives all readers on Custer a good insight on the battle. Has very good maps to show the battle

I've recently read two books on rez life: Ian Frasier's "On the Rez," and this -- better -- book by Larry Colton. "Counting Coup" is ostensibly about senior Sharon LaForge and the Hardin Lady Bulldogs basketball team. But it's real strength is in Colton's depiction of the lives lived off the playing floor on the Crow Reservation. Some parts, I believe, have to be fabricated. His description of Sharon's "Mother from Hell" Karna Fallsdown knocking down shots in a bar while her daughter is playing in the state championships might be accurate, but the author couldn't have been there. But "facts" are somewhat fluid in Indian Country, and Colton's pretty much on target. He sure nailed Hardin, Montana, for what it is. Reading the book, you get to know the characters and you get to care about them. My personal favorite was Stacey "Spacey" Greenwalt, whose quick wit provides much-needed sparks of humor in what is mostly a depressing tale. There's drama, certainly, in the sports reporting of the games. I just wanted the highs of the wins on the basketball court to be accompanied by some highs in the post-game parts of the book. But the rez life highs your read about are drug-induced. That's depressing, but for the most part true. I had hoped Colton would have a SuAnne Big Crow-like story to report, as is told in "On the Rez." (She was also a high school basketball player, a hero and a legend on the Pine Ridge reservation.) But real heroes are hard to find. I'm sure Frasier and Colton take flak from Indians for being middle-aged white guys trying to relate life in Indian country. Some Indians don't even grab the concept of the freedom of the press. They believe "permission" should be granted before a story is told. Clara Nomee, the (former) Crow Tribe chairman, certainly doesn't think the First Amendment applies in her part of America, and Coulton has to go undercover at one point to attend a Crow council meeting. We need more good Indian writers to put these white guys in their place, writers with the guts to tell truthfully and objectively the stories about contemporary reservation life. I'll buy those books. For the record, I spent a year in Hardin in the early 1990s as editor of the weekly newspaper there, and later worked as journalist covering the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota for Indian Country Today newspaper. I'm a middle-aged white guy.

The story takes place on an Indian Reservation in Montana. It's a true story about a talented young woman who plays basketball very well. The odds are against her in every way. Her mother's a drunk, she's an Indian (most Indians don't go to college) and she's not real motivated. The author Larry Colton, describes everything very well, from the troubles of the team, to the struggles of the girls personal lives. He lived there for a year and wrote about the young woman, Sharon. The book made me laugh, it made me cry, but most of all it touched my heart. Counting Coup showed me a new culture and way of living. I never knew so much about Indians until I read this book. It dealt with the struggles of youth, boyfriends, friends, parents, and getting into college. Most people I believe can relate to this story and I highly recommend this book.

This is an exciting, on-the-edge-of-your-seat book that takes you into two worlds that few Americans know much about, American Indian reservation culture and girls' high school basketball. These two worlds become intertwined as author Larry Colton tracks the life of a Crow Indian high school senior, Sharon LaForge, as she and her Hardin, Montana teammates struggle as individuals and as a team to reach the state championship. This true story is excellent because it documents the problems that face reservation Indians in their struggle to survive prejudice, poverty and vice while maintaining dignity in a white-dominated and highly prejudiced world. But it also takes you into the heart of the phenomenon of girls' high school basketball-- the drive for excellence, the ever changing relationships among girls and between girls and coach, the rivalries, the mood swings and the pressures from families and boyfriends. The book is told as a story which takes place over a season. The author explores each character in detail so you feel like you really get to know each one of them. There are also photos of the basketball team and Sharon LaForge. In addition to being an exciting story, the author tells the story with quite a bit of humor. And his perspectives on the meaning of events and people's lives are insightful and sensitive. I am a high school girls' basketball coach. I also coach young girls in basketball. Larry Colton has captured the experience and takes you into a world of sport, Indian and rural America that most of us are unaware of. The book is highly recommended.