Customer Reviews

Stricken Field: The Little Bighorn since 1876

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"I think the government can do no less than to give these remains decent burial, by putting them in coffins, and remove them to some suitable place....It is hard for me to understand how the remains of the officers could be in condition for removal....while those of privates and non-commissioned officers had become food for wolves....I want to secure the body of my son."

Samuel E. Staples' letter to Congressman William W. Rice (Rep-Mass.)

November 9, 1877

The pain and suffering from Mr. Staple's words leap out at you and hit you directly in the face. His son was Corporal Samuel F. Staples who died with Company I along battle ridge. These words from a father who lost his son at the Battle of the Little Bighorn would have a direct effect on the establishment of the Custer Battlefield as a national cemetery. One man can make a difference.

The story of Staple's father is just one of many new finds discussed in Jerome Greene's Stricken Field: The Little Bighorn Since 1876. The history of Custer Battlefield can be more fascinating than the battle itself:

* What to do with the remains of Custer, his officers, and his soldiers

* Should the grounds be designated a national cemetery

* Should the grounds be groomed or left to nature to maintain

* Should the extra soldier markers be removed

* Should the Indian warriors be memorialized

* How should the National Park Service (NPS) interpret the battle

* Custer buffs and their battles against the NPS created fireworks over the many decades; what were their outcomes

* Should there be an Indian Memorial

These are some of the questions answered. Every student fascinated with this place must understand its past to better understand it today, and to help protect it forever. Jerome Greene masters all of this in his magnum opus.

Stricken Field evolved from Mr. Greene's official 2005 report to the NPS at the request of former Superintendent Neil Mangum, current Superintendent Darrell Cook, and Chief Historian John Doerner. A study such as this was desperately needed. The only other history was written by past Chief Historian Don Rickey, Jr but it covered only the first 80 years. It was time to make it current.

Mr. Greene opens with an overview of the Custer Battle. The purpose of this book is not to rehash the battle in detail and Greene sticks to that purpose; his narrative on what happened to Custer and the 7th Cavalry is short and to the point. There is too much ground to cover after June 25-26, 1876, and Mr. Greene accomplishes that with depth and clarity.

Mr. Greene takes a complex subject (just keeping track of all the name changes at Custer Battlefield is difficult enough in itself) and helps us to more easily understand those complexities. Here you will discover the different government agencies that were responsible for the battlefield, how they saw their role in managing the place, the actions they implemented to accomplish their mission, and the people involved.

The different monuments and burials are covered: what happened to the Custer dead and the difficulties that followed in administering the national cemetery; how and why the remains from Ft. Phil Kearny were reinterred on Last Stand Hill and what happened to them afterwards; the placement of the 7th Cavalry Monument; the repositioning of the Ft. C.F. Smith monument and the Reno Monument; and the soldier and warrior markers. What about the visitor center and the Stone House as well as the other structures on the battlefield? The answers are shared in vast detail by Mr. Greene.

For me, one of the most fascinating segments of Stricken Field is the chapter regarding interpretation. During the War Department's administration, its primary focus was the many reinterments from the various western forts and maintaining the national cemetery. Interpretation was not their mission. That was furnished by Crow tribal members who accompanied visitors. Interpretation did not really begin until management of the battlefield was transferred from the War Department to the NPS in 1940. Reading how research and interpretation flourished at the battlefield is inspiring. All of us can be thankful for the vision that the first NPS superintendent Edward Luce and second NPS park historian Don Rickey, Jr. dreamed up in this endeavor. Their work still has an impact on the battlefield with the placement of red granite markers for fallen warriors.

Mr. Greene does not shy away from the many contentious battles waged against the NPS by the Custer Battlefield Historical and Museum Association (CBHMA), and Little Big Horn Associates (LBHA) respectively. Few battles benefited the battlefield as in the case against the partnership between NPS and North Shield Ventures; however, once we see all these clashes laid out before us, we realize even more so how most of them were fought more for personal needs rather than enhancement of the battlefield. Many of the younger generation interested in this battle are not even aware that the CBHMA was once a cooperating association with the NPS and managed the visitor center bookstore. Mr. Greene clearly covers the many successes the CBHMA achieved when cooperating with the NPS, as well as its tragic downfall from it becoming extremely adversarial.

What is completely absorbing is another discovery by Mr. Greene in a letter written by Walter Camp to General Godfrey on November 6, 1920. In this very lengthy, never-before-published letter, Camp offers in-depth complaints about incorrect placement of soldier markers and the reinterment of the Ft. Phil Kearny dead on Last Stand Hill. These very same arguments can be heard at the battlefield or made against the NPS today.

Mr. Greene concludes the book with a chapter about the Indian Memorial and the battles fought by American Indian groups and individuals to honor their fallen warriors. Because of Mr. Greene's extensive research, we wholly comprehend the failures of the War Department and NPS in not listening to the needs of these Americans. But we also appreciate the achievements of the Indian Memorial and warrior markers that eventually took place because the NPS finally listened. Those successes began from bold initiatives set by the first American Indian superintendents, Barbara Booher and Gerard Baker. Their efforts began the building blocks of trust between the NPS and the Indian community. Immediately afterwards and during Superintendent Neil Mangum's administration, he harbored that trust and did not take it lightly; the consequence was dramatic change to the face of the battlefield for the better and forever. Mr. Greene documents Mr. Mangum's fight to finally have the Indian Memorial constructed. It is during the Indian Memorial dedication at the battlefield on June 25, 2003 that Mr. Greene ends this story.

Stricken Field leaves one breathless for its complete annals of the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument and its transformation from a small national cemetery without an official name to a magnificent Monument where all Americans now feel welcomed. What changes will we witness at Little Bighorn over the next 50 years? Who can say, but I envy the next generation that will experience that change.

Please visit the Friends of the Little Bighorn Battlefield website to see some of the photos from Stricken Field and read an extensive interview with Jerome Greene where he discusses his new book, his career as a historian, and the Little Bighorn Battlefield today. Select "Site Map" at the bottom of every page to easily find these specific pages.

Stricken Field: The Little Bighorn Since 1876 by Jerome Greene is, for aficionados of the battle, a must own, must read. As a student of the battle, Gen. G. A. Custer and other major characters of the era, and the Native Americans they fought, the addition of the history and background of the battlefield and subsequent national monument is information one must have. I will admit the some of the minutia included became tedious after a while, but most of what is included is important.

The politics behind the formation of the national cemetery in partnership with the battlefield is also interesting to read. I also found quite interesting the point of view of the Crow residents of the area in thwarting the expansion of the battlefield proper; an aspect I never thought about before.

Greene spends little time with the battle itself. Almost anyone who would be interested in Stricken Field knows more about the battle than Greene included. What is of paramount value is the detail provided dealing with the history of the area including the geological information. I also found interesting the information provided about each of the superintendents and thought the inclusion of their photographs in the appendix was a nice touch. Certainly the information included about Edward S. Luce who headed up the facility between 1941 and 1956 was interesting. I never knew, for example, that Luce served in the 7th Cavalry in the early part of the twentieth century. That explains much about his commitment to the area. As a reader of the Notes section, the information provided there is most interesting and in some cases more interesting than the information in the chapter they relate to. Example, Notes for Chapter 2, #15, pp 267-268, and #21, pp 268-269. If these won't grab you, nothing will.

Jerome Greene is even handed and extremely fair in discussing the major groups that have an interest in the battlefield. I thought his treatment of the installation of the Indian Memorial to be both informative and evenhanded. Chapter Ten, in some ways, is the most important in the book.

Stricken Field is not a book that will be read by the masses. But for anyone who has been bitten by the events surrounding June 25, 1876, Stricken Field will provide a treasure trove of information that is interesting and important.

Peace always

The Custer National Battlefield still holds a special aura in the history of the American lexicon. Even after 132 years since the battle, the tragedy that unfolded there on June 25, 1876 captures our imagination, and it begs more questions than answers. Perhaps that's as it should be. Stricken Field is a history of the Custer National Battlefield, and the efforts of so many people over the years to make this piece of ground a sacred, historical, and beautiful spot in our country. The book is very well detailed, thoughtfully and intelligently written to make the history of all the efforts required to make and keep the battlefield a pleasant spot to visit, reflect, and admire. I strongly urge any person interested in western history to read this book, as well as the book A Terrible Glory by James Donovan.

For someone who has yet to browse this book, think of it as a biography of a battlefield. But not just any battlefield, THE battlefield, which for those of us who are entranced with the study of the events of June 25-26, 1876, can only mean one place--the Little Bighorn. As with all of his Indian Wars books, Jerry Greene does a first-rate job in marshaling sources to give us a highly detailed and readable history of the battlefield. The level of detail extends right down to a discussion of even the flora and fauna found there. In only that regard, the book may suffer at times from the inclusion of details that may not be that terribly interesting but it is necessary for them to be provided so that we can have a complete a picture of the place as possible.

Just as his book on the Washita battle supplanted Stan Hoig's "best of the bunch" book on that battle, so too this book supercedes the late Don Rickey's 1960s era history of the Custer battlefield as the book to turn to for a recounting of all that has happened at that southeast Montana field of engagement. This statement in no way denigrates Don Rickey whose book preceded much of the change that has visited the battlefield in recent years. Mr. Greene builds on the excellent foundation Mr. Rickey placed. In recounting the events of the 1980s(battlefield archaeology), the 1990s (the name change from Custer battlefield to Little Bighorn, the placement of the first markers for the places where Indian warriors fell) and this decade (the 2003 dedication of the Indian Memorial on Last Stand Hill), Greene helps us realize that this and, to a lesser degree, all battlefields are "living" places that evolve over time and reflect our nation in each of those decades, just as the battle itself tells us much about America in 1876.

In addition to gaining much insight into the past of the Little Bighorn, there are a number of areas of this book that are highly entertaining. I especially enjoyed reading about an old soldier named White who superintended the battlefield cemetery in the early 20th century. Imagine having him show you around, for he had first visited Little Bighorn as a young trooper with the Second Cavalry, serving under Alfred Terry, just a few days after the battle itself, and thus saw this stricken field as none of us ever can and conveyed his impressions to visitors.

Jerome Greene provides a detailed account of the Little Bighorn Battlefield (LBH) from its original primitive burials to its current national Park status that continues to promote expanded preservation while finally providing recognition to the Native Americans that fought on that site. The most fascinating detail is the repeated attempts to protect the burials by numerous attempts, spread over many years, to appropriately rebury scattered remains that were never buried deep enough (particularly the enlisted) or covered well, and attempts at improved marking. Even in 1890, Captain Sweet's mission of placing permanent head stones was challenging as he had more markers than actual fatalities on the Custer site creating spurious markers that were later fairly well identified. Also fascinating is the creation of a fraudulent marker for Lt. Sturgis whose body was never found yet a grave was created in a failed attempt to appease his family. Also, Greene covers the protection and development of the Reno-Benteen fields as well as preservation and appropriate markings of the fallen such as Dr. DeWolf's remote death site. What is most disappointing to historians and particularly archeologists is the well intended yet destructive face of the battlefield such as the placing of a cemetery for Fort Keough staff on top of Custer Hill (Battle Ridge) right up through the mid 1930s after which, the graves were relocated. Other changes to the primitive landscape was the addition of the National Cemetery on a small hill slightly below and north of Custer Hill where it is thought that one of Custer's companies manned during the latter part of the battle, the building of Park Headquarters, Quarters for the Supt. and perhaps, ironically, was the building of the Monument to the 7th Calvary dead that required flattening the top of the final stand hill top and required shifting the grave markers slightly downhill. During a group tour that I was on, a notable historian barked "What the Hell difference does it make?" when we were surprised to learn that Custer fell not where the current marker is located but behind us on the top of the hill just south of the monument. Well, I think it is good to know, particularly if you made the trip and Greene makes it clear without too much criticism.

The rest of the book covers in detail the various superintendents, listing them in order in the back of the book complete with pictures and speaks of their contribution and controversies. Mot notable is Captain Luce who, during his long tenure, found evidence of cavalry movements on neighboring ridges, helping tracking Custer's movements. Other notable regimes was Jim Court who welcomed archeological digs after a major fire that determined numerous artifacts, native American Superintendents Barbra Booher and Gerad Baker to the excellent historian Neil Magnum and Daniel Cook who welcomed the new monument to Native Americans. Also, captured by Greene is the battle between private preservation groups and the fight for obtaining more land essential to the battlefield that lies outside the park boundaries. Also discussed, is the relatively recent renaming of the battlefield to from its former "Custer Battlefield" to its current "Little Bighorn Battlefield". In addition, Greene covers well the controversy over the delayed Native American recognition that includes protests and attention from AIM and leader Russell Means. How appropriate that Greene quotes Native American George Amiotte, an Oglala Lakota Healer, at the Native American Memorial who won four purple hearts and a bronze star in Vietnam who said "Today is a beautiful day to be alive in the great circle of life. Remember the beauty of their deaths. Make the warriors who laid down their lives proud of you".

A history of the Custer/ Little Big Horn Battlefield. Not for the casual reader. An in depth look at the battlefield from 1876 to the present and all the problems, personalities and upheavals over one of the most misunderstood events in American history. This is not a book on the battle. Of great interest to the die hard Custer/LBH fanatic and those interested in the inner workings of a national park. Somewhat tedious at times but still interesting.

Jerome Greene goes beyond the standard model of a park history here, giving park interpretation and political controversy a major role in the story. As such, he moves our understanding of the Little Bighorn Battlefield a significant step forward. However, he still stays too narrowly focused on the battlefield as opposed to the larger social context and meaning of this site. While including Native American voices, he does not go far enough in telling us about how Indian participants (on both sides) saw the battle and the battlefield. This is still a book written from the park archives, which means he sees most clearly what park administration saw.

For example, Chapters 2-4 tell the story of the site until 1940, during which is was managed by the War Department. Key concerns were burying the Euro-American dead, reburying them, maintaining a cemetery site in accordance with contemporary notions of how to treat war dead, and so forth. Gradually the focus shifted from maintaining a national cemetery toward running a battlefield national monument. Similar changes occurred at battlefields around the country, though Greene does not provide that context. Yet that context is essential for making sense of the transfer from the War Department to the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior.

In these early chapters, and very much like the War Department, Greene does not seem interested in the Indian dead or what happened to them. Indian veterans are almost invisible during their lifetimes, though they appear and disappear at major anniversaries of the battle. Nor does Greene stand back and ask about the site's relationship with the Crow Indian Reservation, in the middle of whose land the monument stands. He documents Indian participation in the 50th anniversary activities but does not examine Indian motives, concerns, or the meaning of this participation for them. Indian veterans do not receive the attention routinely given to both Confederate and Union veterans in the histories of Chickamauga and other Civil War battlefield parks.

Greene notes that changes in interpretation, the name change, and the Indian Memorial all reflected broader social changes - - but he is only interested in the social changes when they touch the National Monument. For example, he tells us how Russell Means and the American Indian Movement engaged in various political actions at the site to try to force a change in interpretation. That's a story worth telling, but I'd like to see Greene place that small story within a larger story about Indian activism. Changes in American tourism, such as paved roads and driving vacations, get more pages than the AIM (and could get more - - that's another context Greene underplays).

That larger story is essential for making sense of the name change and the Indian memorial. Colorado Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Northern Cheyenne) takes up this cause but he has support of Montana's (white) congressional delegation, who is following the lead of earlier positions taken by the governor and congressional delegation of North Dakota. Why are these Westerners interested in a more balanced story at Little Bighorn? Answering that question should be part of the history too.

Despite my complaints, this book represents a large step in the right direction in terms of telling the story of this park. The lingering passions aroused by this battlefield remind us that Native Americans who resisted the federal government still do not receive the kind of attention that Confederate veterans who resisted the federal government have long received.

If you are interested in the history of management for the site, then this one is for you. If you are expecting history of the battle itself, save yourself money and don't buy this.

Interesting review of the National Park Service's management of the Custer Battlefield. How to be politically correct in government. And, by my view, how to destroy a monument to the fallen soldier by making it an equal place to honor the indian victors of the battle. Ultimately, it demonstrates the National Park Service's inability to deal with historic sites and why they should be limited to managing their wildlife and nature preserves!

This is an excellent update to many other published books about the Lettle Big Horn Battle Field. The author spends a lot of time dicussing the many problems that friendly organizations. Many of these organizations have had their differences with management of the battle field but most I believe had the interest of the history in heart. It's amazing to me that after so many years the argument of who did what to whom continues. Now the park wants to do ever more harm to it's self with more expansion. The author discusses this in detail. This is a must have book for anyone who loves the history to this wonderful historical place.