Customer Reviews

Elizabeth Bacon Custer and the Making of a Myth

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This is a beautifully written book, and very readable. Having read a lot about the history of the period I already knew how fiercely the widow Custer guarded her husband's reputation and how much she did to enhance it. Unlike many female authors might do, however, Leckie does not judge Libby by modern standards, but puts her in the context of her time. She also touches on the possibility that remaining Autie's widow may have been far more liberating for her, in her times, than it would have been to become Mrs. Someone else. During her husband's lifetime she lived in his shadow, but after his death she was able to use that connection to become an author and lecturer in her own right. She also left an estate valued at over $300,000, after her husband had managed only to put them into debt. Having read her memoirs like Boots and Saddles and Tenting on the Plains, it was clear that Mrs.Custer never gave much insite into her true feelings. Nothing seemed to upset her except a criticism of her husband. Inspite of this, though, Leckie does manage to make her into a real person. I found her epilogue truly moving, and I came away with an understanding of an historical character, whom up to this point, I hadn't much cared for.

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You probably have heard about General Custer, but have you heard about Elizabeth Bacon Custer--his wife? This biography of the wife of Custer is a very worthwhile read, both from the historical perspective and also from the sociological. This woman had an unusual marriage to a man who was not always "so heroic" at home as he was on the battlefield. The author gives great background into the lives of women in the mid-19th century, but specically into this one. After reading this book, you will want to read a biography about Custer himself. I suggest Stephen Ambroise's Crazy Horse and Custer.

Sometimes, it's not how good you are, but how good your P.R. is that determines your reputation. And in the case of the (in)famous U.S. cavalry commander George Armstrong Custer, the P.R. was definitely good. Immediately after Custer's death (along with 200+ of his troops in what was, and arguably still is, the worst battle loss ever suffered by U.S. forces), his widow, Libbie Bacon Custer, began a propaganda campaign designed to secure her beloved husband's place in history. Unfortunately for history, she succeeded far too well. This book, a biography of Custer's widow, gives real insight into how she manipulated the media available to her in order to glorify her husband--or to be more accurate, to glorify her idealized portrait of her husband. Had Libbie not done her work so well, Custer would have been only a footnote in American History. In addition to providing a valuable supplement to the historical record concerning Custer, Ms. Leckie's book paints a masterly portrait of an exceptional woman, which is well worth the time of readers with little interest in Custer

This book is second rate at best. The author has bought into the fairly recent change in the way General Custer is portrayed. It always astounds me that serious writers of history do not know more about their subject. General McClellan considered Captain Custer to be one of the finest young officers in the Union Army. General Sheridan states that Custer was one of his best generals and always delivered results in battle as compared to other General officers. General Wesley Merritt also a young cavalry officer, largely forgotten now, who served until the 1900's stated Custer was such a fine fighting soldier and leader that he had no peers as a cavalry officer. Custer fought in just about all the Army of the Potomac Battles, Custer held the Union right at Gettysburg, led the charge that killed Jeb Stuart at Yellow Tavern and was a key leader in ending General Lee's retreat that culminated in Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Custer fought in over 40 engagements during the Civil War and was considered one of the best soldiers in the Union Army.

Eleven years later he was killed in a battle on the Little Big Horn. Compared to the other battles Custer fought with thousands of soldiers this was a minor affair. In fact a Sioux Indian warrior said the fight did not last longer than it takes a hungry man to eat his meal.

All the books through the years up until the 1960's portrayed Custer as a great leader and soldier. Then all that changed and Custer was portrayed as a poor leader of men, an inept soldier and an Indian hater. None of it true. I spent considerable time trying to figure out how the reputation of General Custer went from renowned soldier and hero to what is printed about him today. It took awhile for me to understand that there were two reasons for the change in General Custer's reputation. One being the Vietnam War understanding that many books are written by college educators who were very anti war at that time and attacked American military hero's. A big factor in their thinking also was the rise of the American Indian Movement and their support of that movement. Conclusion: When you hear someone disparage General Custer you will know why they think that way even though they do not know why they think that way. Kurt Seraphine