Teachers and Homeschoolers, the whole series are excellent material. Styled more like your grade-school texts of the 60's and 70's, but written to be read and the photos are more personal, unlike most material aimed at 3rd-5th graders. For homeschoolers, these are perfect; each one is a chapter in history; a minimum of 3 weeks for each, the glossary is slim but there are plenty of words throughout to make up your own. Use the internet and the library to supplement.

The cover photograph of the markers of where Custer and his troopers fell on "Last Stand Hill" at the Little Bighorn Battlefield is a great choice because what makes the battlefield unique are all those white markers, scattered across several acres. Unlike other national parks established at battlefields, such as Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, at the Little Bighorn you get a visual sense for the battle. The largest group of markers is on Last Stand Hill, just below the monument on top of the mass grave of the troopers of the 7th Calvary.

Beyond the cover photograph the strength of R. Conrad Stein's juvenile history of "The Battle of the Little Bighorn" is how the battle is put in historical perspective. Stein's perspective is that the battle represents the only time the Indians successfully defended their homeland against white settlement. Stein relates how the search for gold in the Black Hills put the prospectors and miners on a collision course with the Lakota tribes, making war on the Great Plains inevitable. The campaign of 1876 and the Battle at Rosebud Creek set the stage for what happened to Custer at the Little Bighorn. The battle itself is sketched out in terms of the major elements and my only reservations about this book are that Stein pretty much takes it easy on Custer. It was his standard tactic to attack a village and start killing the women and children to make the braves surrender; this was what he was trying to do that day only he had grossly underestimated the size of the village he was attacking. Stein relates how Custer was considered a hero and does nothing to seriously challenge that idea in this volume.

The aftermath of the battle is covered in only a couple of paragraphs and Stein ends with the observation that whatever the two sides might think about the battle, they both agree the battlefield is a sacred site because of all those who lost their lives. This book is illustrated with not only contemporary color photographs of the battlefield, but historic photos and illustrations of the participants and the battle. Like all of the volumes in the Cornerstones of Freedom series this is an excellent place for teachers and students alike to find out more details about key events in American History that go well beyond what little can be found in your standard textbook. You should also check out "It Is A Good Die to Die: Indian Eyewitnesses Tell the Story of the Battle of the Little Bighorn."

I loved reading this book. It was so imformative and inturesting. It made me want to learn more about the battle of little big horn, and I hope to read more of R.Conrad Stien's work in the future

This book is used by most serious LBH writers and researchers as a very valuable reference. Just check the bibliographies of the most respected and thorough histories of the battle, and you will find Walter Camp's notes there. Reason enough that this book be on your shelf if you're a Custer/LBH buff. There is a wealth of information in these pages, especially the footnotes (which are often lengthy). Too bad Walter Camp died before he had a chance to put all his research together in his planned book. There are interviews with officers, enlisted men, white and Indian Army scouts and the Sioux/Cheyenne themselves. There are so many it becomes hard to keep them separate in one's mind, but that's a good thing.

His summation at the end tends to place him in the "Custer crowd" in that he did not feel Custer disobeyed Terry's orders, and that Custer acted appropriately with the information available to him at the time, although he does feel Custer fragmented his forces too much before the battle. One has to give his opinion great weight because he talked firsthand to more of the survivors of the LBH than anyone else.

Walter Camp had the great fortune and drive to visit the critical sites of the old west and seek out and interview actual participants and witnesses. Unfortunately, Camp did not survive to put his great efforts into a book but Hammer does the next best thing possible by organizing Camp's would be book and providing editorial commentary to fill in the gaps. Hammer collects Camp's material on the Little Bighorn and every page is full of interesting information. My favorite parts of the book are references to participants other than the main characters such as Peter Thompson and other members of Custer's separate battalion that survived because their horses broke down prior to the descent into Medicine trail Coulee. Hammer does an excellent job of providing clarification of the participants or writings of Camp in the footnotes so that you almost have all your questions answered by Hammer. A delightful book without harsh judgment offered by Camp and a great collection of readable material. It must have been frustrating to have first person interviews with participants when their stories clashed, were foggy or perhaps grandiose such as Thompson's alleged view of the valley as Custer descended to the river. Camp not only interviewed troopers but also Custer's scouts and Sioux and Cheyenne participants. Camp did a lot not to just record history but to locate historical sites in the remote West like Slim Buttes that without his timely intervention may have otherwise been lost to history. The only unfortunate aspect of the book is that there isn't more material and that Camp's health failed before he could draw his own conclusions. He also had the greatest vacation hobby, exploring and researching the old west before it was very old.

I read Mr. Camp's classic account of the Little Big Horn several years ago. It remains on my shelf as one of the very best books on the battle. It was well written, detailed and colorful enough for any follower of the Custer's trail. I highly recommend this book, which I read just prior to visiting the Custer battlefield on the 106th anniversary. Not to be overlooked or missed.

I read this book with a basic knowledge of what happened on the last days in the life of George Custer. There was a great deal of research into all of the happenings of The Battle of the Little Bighorn. This book covers a great deal of information that will be useful for other researchers or anyone interested in history. The conclusions drawn by the author are insightful and educated. It is definitely a keeper.

Snelson offers a direct and comprehensive study in this compact book that focuses on the battle and its aftermath in just 165 very readable pages. If Graham (The Custer Myth) had access to the more current research and archeological studies he may have written a book like this because Snelson tries to write a very objective account. Snelson utilizes the research of others with few primary sources to examine what occurred at the LBH, which, in one sense allows the book to flow quickly. The jist is that Snelson offers and mitigates what the bare facts are and what can be proven and argues against conspiracy theories, which are very popular. A typical example concerns Reno, was he right stopping his charge and forming a skirmish line? Well, who would want to charge into an 8,000-person village before the rest of the regiment was up? You may not like Reno or Benteen for that matter but Snelson argues pretty good points on whether or not they could have made a difference. He uses several of Hardoff's Indian accounts of the battle to establish what Custer did after he came to Medicine Ford Coulee. He obviously spilt his 5-company battalion into two parts but the mystery today still is did he leave half his command to go further north to attack at a better positioned ford to stop the exodus from the village or was he performing a feint to pull the Indians away from Reno? Who knows for sure but the end result is that Custer with E and F (and maybe part of C) move away from Keogh (L and I and all or part of C) and both now isolated cannot support the other when the Indians envelope and shock the troops into a loss of cohesion. He does make sense as does Fox that Custer had to be confidently on the offensive when the abrupt collapse occurs because he is still moving north instead of south towards the rest of the regiment. Keogh may have been split off as a lynchpin to Benteen who was expected to come up and also deal with Indians that were harassing the rear of the column. At the end Snelson attacks the various theories of why the defeat occurs from all the various angles. One of which is that this is a most unique Indian fight in that they fight in unusually large numbers with an almost unified aggressiveness that was only shown at the Rosebud just a week earlier. This unique nature unlike typical Indian fighting totally overwhelms Custer's and any commander's expectations (such as Crook). It's easy to fault Reno and Benteen because of their personalities and their variation of the facts (did not hear shooting down stream) but Snelson challenges you to look at what was happening at the time without the benefit of hindsight. In fact, they all made errors including Custer but it was based on two primary things, that the Indians would run and that Custer could take care of himself and may have if he had not made the final separation of his 5 company battalion on unsuitable ground. I learned a lot from my two day tour of the battlefield earlier this week one of which is the fact that Benteen did not follow Custer's trail at the morass and take the shorter route, he followed Reno's trail to the creek and thus took the indirect route that probably cost a half hour plus the pack train took the same course. Would that have made a difference? Maybe not if Reno still had time to block Benteen and ask for help. This is compounded by Boston Custer who told his brother that Benteen was coming up to support him as ordered which may have set Custer up to split his battalion, one to safeguard Benteen's connection and leave the other for offensive maneuvering. Unless you have been there, you cannot say enough about the effect of the terrain. The huge rising bluffs blocked Custer's command from having a total view of the village until they were committed and when suddenly put on the defensive, the bluffs offered little protection for Calvary unlike the valley floor that they were best able to operate on. A good book because you can debate the author's views with your own or with a colleague, but it is a challenge to argue his presentation that which makes the book fun to read because all Custer historians enjoy the argument. This is the anti "what if" book, the author concentrates on "what happened and what they knew then".

First things first. You must know I've have read a lot of books about the Battle of Little Big Horn/Greassy Grass (actually it was a minor "battle" and more of an skirmish wich turned into a massacre...).
The present one does a SHORT/HARD/BELIEVABLE/FAIR/WELL EXPOSED/REASONED account of all relevant facts (and logical presumptions) without pesting the reader with a lot of trivia and pedantic "what ifs", as it is, I think I will probable put it on my top three accounts of the Battle, it's a pity the maps are'nt in color (the positive thing is THERE ARE MAPS of detail for the largely supposed movements of the 5 companies of Custer Command), many a good book about it suffers from the fact of poor graphic info. Here it's to the point but the same could be said for the text (only one word "plain" has to be "plane" in a sentence but you will deduct that yourself) a model of clarity and concision. WELL DONE.
Recommended to all, from the hardest aficionado up to the newest come to a theme wich has fascinated many generations since 1876.
For a NOVEL try "A ROAD WE DO NOT KNOW", the narrative wich will complement this one perfectly. For a colored version get OSPREY CAMPAIGN Nº39 by Peter Panzeri (with whom I will enjoy a wargame by the way...).

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.

Albert Barnitz was a Captain in the Seventh Cavalry. He was wounded and not a member of the unit by the time of its' famous defeat at the Little Big Horn. Barnitz through his letters to his wife describes life on the Plains with the Seventh Cavalry and it's Lieutenant Colonel Custer. His first hand description of events he experienced and personalities he knew gives life to persons and events from Western history. This book will interest those desiring a first person report of life in the Seventh Cavalry on the Great Plains.

This book is composed of Barnitz' personal diary and letters written to his wife, which she conviently kept over the years. Additional information is detailed and follows the letters and diary entries in chronological order. Barnitz enjoyed writing, wrote his wife often and made regular entries in his diary. The book is full of interesting phographs, many which I have never seen before, even though I have been a Little BIg Horn buff for quite a while. An excellent biographical glosssary is included that includes the histories and significant events of many important Indian War personalities. A must for any serious Custer library.

The edited letters and journals of Capt. Barnitz and his wife provide a gripping picture of the experiences of an officer in the early years of the Indian Wars. The book also provides wonderful insight into how Custer ran the 7th cavalry and what his officers thought of his leadership. A truly enjoyable book!

I agree with one of the reviewers that the book did not say much about the author himself. I was not able to find anything about the author on the web except that he's the author of the book. Since the author made references to God and prayers throughout the book, I am curious to find out more about the religious background of the author. The back cover of the book introduced the author as the 'leader of the Science of Mind movement' but did not elaborate on it.

I'm actually reading a translated copy (Chinese) right now. This book is extremely well written (or, atleast very well translated :-). I'm going to track down the original English print and check it out. Will update again.

Mind power - that's the subject of the book and it covers it in layman's term. Everyone can userstand, and applied slowly it can change your life. I'm working on it, one day at a time.

I wanted to find out more about the author Dan Custer, but there isn't much info about him on the net. I haven't see any reference of biography or autobiography. And this appears to have been the only book he has written.

This book has the power to make you a different person,or the person you have always wanted to be.I have found a way to be happy for the first time in my life. I now have the good things in my life that I never thought I could have. And its there for you to. Put your mind to it and it is yours..

This is a reference book. It is not amusing or entertaining. I was looking forward to learning more about my new home, and I did learn a few things. However, the consumer should be warned: this is a dry, factual scholarly work, not a piece of light reading.

This is a wonderful collection of ancedotes and historical tidbits about Philadelphia's streets. The street names are listed alphabetically, with a few paragraphs about how each street got its name. Some listings have more content than others. There's also an interesting section on house-numbering, which didn't start until the late 1700s. Another section lists when specific roads operated as toll roads between 1711 and 1918.

In the book's introduction, which I also found interesting, the author explains some of the obstacles in doing this project--particularly the 'lack of cohesive record-keeping by the city' and the misinformation and erroneous data in the 'seemingly authoritative newspaper clippings.'

I would've liked to have seen longer descriptions and some street maps included for reference. Overall though, it's an excellent book for anyone interested in Philadelphia. In addition to teachers, I think it would also benefit anyone putting together local tours or a 'historical neighborhood' association.

If you have ever wondered how a street got its name, this is the book you! Robert I. Alotta did an impressive amount of research and has compiled a fascinating little resource on Philadelphia street names. While most Philadelphians can easily figure out who Ben Franklin Parkway or John F. Kennedy Boulevard is named after, how about some of the more obscure names? Even the streets that aren't named after people have interesting historical facts. Presented in alphabetical encyclopedic style order, this book makes a better reference than an interesting read. However, I found it to be good fun to look up familiar street names and discover the meanings behind them. For the interested, this book is well worth the investment.

Althought the opinions of Custer and life with the calvary are viewed through (very) rosy glasses, Mrs. G.A. Custer is a witty and prolific writer. She also gives little-known insight into everyday happenings in life on the prairie and how women survived the journey. Particularly interesting are the dynamics of relationships between women when living literally in the middle of nowhere, surviving the harshest of climates, with few friends, the same friends, for extended times. Also interesting is the relationship between people of color and the white soldiers. Custer is an enigma, and readers should read this book but also others ("Son of the Morning Star" is the best thus far) to get a glimpse at the man. Libby Custer falls into poetic verse at times, but this can be refreshing - there are not many writings of women in these times available.

This is really a question insteadof a review. I have a copy of Boots and Saddles written by Elizabeth B. Custer. The copyright is 1885, by Harper & Brothers. The first page has a note wrote on it "To my friend Richard Dec 25th 1890 then a signature of the giver M L Malis ? Would you know anything about this particular book?

There are so few well written and personally lived books about the people of the northern great plains, but this is one of them. Mrs. Custer gives intimate details of life in the cavalry and the Dakotas of a time now gone.
She tells of blizzards, heat, insects, dangers and people in a most readable way that draws the reader in. This is a special book that speaks to the plainsman's heart.

From the Foreword: "This assembling of their intimate letters was prepared at Mrs. Custer's request. ...[T]here are personal things one cannot say or suffer to be said during one's lifetime, but which ought to be said. For some decades, ending in 1933 at her death, I was [Mrs. Custer's] nearest friend."

Originally published in 1950, this reprint of Ms. Merrington's work interleaves selections from the personal letters of the Custers between a sympathetic narrative of their personal lives, providing an intimate view of his controversial career and their happy marriage. We see him as he leaves his family homestead in New Rumley, Ohio, for a military education at West Point; spy long glimpses of him during his rise to prominence in the Union Cavalry to early fame as the acclaimed Boy General; saunter alongside as he courts Judge Bacon's daughter Libby in Monroe, Michigan; march behind him during his daring campaign on the Washita; sit in silent shock during his unwarranted court martial; and watch with growing trepidation as he delivers his forthright testimony before Congress about the mismanagement by the War Department immediately prior to his return to Fort Lincoln and his final campaign in the Dakota Territory. We see Custer through his own eyes, and through the eyes of his devoted wife, and what we view is a portrait of a strong, courageous leader whose skill, gallantry, and wit account for his remarkably successful military career. It is customary in these later years to deny the underlying truth of this view and paint the man in colors few of his contemporaries would recognize. But there are enough artists of history to paint horns where none may have existed; we may suffer the Custers to sketch a faded halo above his engaging visage, and let it serve to counter the later brushstrokes of politically corrected historians and politicians.

In studying history and people in history we usually base our opinions on second and third hand descriptions of people. In the case of George Custer, a voluminous writer; we have his book, articles and these edited letters to his wife. While these letters are edited, they do give us insights into the character and personality of this man from which to form our own opinions. Readers will likely react differently to the same passages based on their response to the words expressed. Taken in the context of the society of the time, we can each draw conclusions relative to his intelligence, wit and character. History is considerably more real and more alive when we have such an advantage to get to know its' participants.

I grew up like most people being fed the lies of Hollywood and those with an ax to grind about American history and blamed George Custer.
I have read 3 books now on the Custers, My Life on the Plains, Boots and Saddles by his wonderful wife Libby and now this one of their personal letters.
In all of these books, the reader will find a husband and wife emerge who were deeply in love with each other, solid in their Christian faith, of good morals, temperate, loved and respected by all....who enjoyed life to it's fullest.
General Custer even emerges as thee soldier who did not want the Indian Wars, and, for an extra history eye opener, you will find he went to great lengths to rescue the Cheyenne from military confrontation....a people who would later massacre him and his command at Little Big Horn.
I can not say enough positive about this book. It is the truth and is a wonderful read with insights to America from the view of people who actually were part of our history.
Where else are you going to read that Vice President Andrew Johnson was drunk at Lincoln's Inaugural from the eye witness Libby Custer.
This is real...this is true. You will find a General who was always careful in his planning....never reckless as his late critics spout in so many lies.
George and Libby Custer's words should be REQUIRED reading by all the "experts" before they are allowed to publish their thoughts on people they never knew.
This is a cheap book...and worth 10 times the cost.

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