What was Custer's reputation?

Custer earned a reputation for both bravery and brashness. He also became known as a publicity hound, taking every opportunity to get himself in front of the cameras and newspapermen documenting the war.

What kind of person was Custer?

Described as aggressive, gallant, reckless, and foolhardy, Custer has become one of the most celebrated and controversial figures of the Civil War. Born in New Rumley, Ohio on December 5, 1839, son of Emanuel and Maria, Custer was nicknamed “Autie” because of his mispronunciation of his middle name as a small child.

What is Little Bighorn known for?

The Battle of the Little Bighorn, also called Custer's Last Stand, marked the most decisive Native American victory and the worst U.S. Army defeat in the long Plains Indian War. The demise of Custer and his men outraged many white Americans and confirmed their image of the Indians as wild and bloodthirsty.

Why is Custer so popular?

George Armstrong Custer (1839-1876) became famous for his starring role in the disastrous Battle of the Little Bighorn—falsely ennobled as "Custer's Last Stand"—but the military commander lived a colorful early life and rose to fame as a Union general in the American Civil War.

How did Custer feel about slavery?

George Armstrong Custer did not fight for the Union because he disagreed with states' rights. Nor did he fight because he wanted to abolish slavery (during the war he adopted one runaway slave as a servant).

Dumbest US General in History? Custer’s Last Stand

Was Custer scalped or mutilated?

It is known that General Custer's body, though stripped of clothing, was neither scalped nor mutilated. He had been struck twice by bullets, either one of which could have been fatal. The burials were made in shallow graves and properly marked wherever identification was possible.

What was Custer's reputation as a military leader?

Custer earned a reputation for both bravery and brashness. He also became known as a publicity hound, taking every opportunity to get himself in front of the cameras and newspapermen documenting the war.

Is Custer a villain or a hero?

Although George Armstrong Custer was considered a hero by many Americans after the Battle of the Little Bighorn, his image changed in the latter half of the 20th century from gallant Indian fighter to bloodthirsty Indian killer.

Why was Custer not scalped?

However, they did not scalp or mutilate Custer because he was not wearing his uniform. Instead the Indian women popped his eardrums so he would hear better in his afterlife. Custer had made a promise to the Indians which said that he couldn't attack the Cheyenne and the Cheyenne couldn't attack him.

Why was the Battle of Little Bighorn so significant?

The Battle of the Little Bighorn is significant because it proved to be the height of Native American power during the 19th century. It was also the worst U.S. Army defeat during the Plains Wars.

Why was the Battle of Little Bighorn a turning point in American history?

The battle was a momentary victory for the Lakota and Cheyenne. The death of Custer and his troops became a rallying point for the United States to increase their efforts to force native peoples onto reservation lands.

How many Indians were killed at Little Bighorn?

Answer and Explanation: The actual number of Indian casualties in the Battle of the Little Bighorn is debated. There are 31 documented deaths among the Indians who opposed the U.S. Army, and about six or seven Indian deaths among Crow and Arikara Indians who were on the side of the Army.

Was Custer a killer?

Here, he describes the 1868 Battle of Washita, in which Custer's 7th Cavalry set upon a Cheyenne camp in Oklahoma Territory: “In the chaos of the initial attack … troops shot down dozens” of Indian women and children, after which Custer “ordered the slaughter of the horse herd. One by one, 875 ponies were shot dead.”)

Did Custer slaughter Indians?

Within a few hours of the attack, Custer's men had destroyed the village and killed as many as 103 Cheyenne, including Black Kettle and his wife, Medicine Woman. Custer then ordered his men to destroy “everything of value to the Indians,” Warde wrote. That included slaughtering more than 800 horses and mules.

Was Custer a good soldier?

Often times in a charge he was the very first soldier to engage the enemy. In one instance, he extended so far ahead of his own men that the enemy cut him off from the rest of his command. Men found in Custer a gallant leader worthy of following into battle.

How painful is scalping?

Although extremely painful, being scalped alive was not always fatal. A full-scalping would often lead to serious medical complications. This included profuse bleeding, infection, and eventual death if the bone of the skull was left exposed.

Why did they call Custer yellow hair?

In the West, Custer wore a distinctive buckskin uniform, meant to catch the eye of reporters. And he caught the eye of his enemies as well, who began to call him "Yellow Hair."

Did any soldiers survive Little Bighorn?

While no US Army soldier survived the engagement, one horse was found alive on the battlefield. The horse, named Comanche, had belonged Capt. Myles Keough, and had suffered no less than seven bullet wounds during the battle.

Did Custer's horse survive?

When the remainder of the U.S. Army arrived on the battlefield several hours after the Indian attack wiped out Custer's troops, they found the 14 year old horse, badly wounded but still living and standing over the body of Captain Keogh.

Was George Custer sterile?

Custer, however, had apparently become sterile after contracting venereal disease at West Point, leading some historians to believe that the father was really his brother Thomas.

Why was Custer suspended for a year?

Custer was promptly arrested and “charged with absence without leave, conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, and the unmerciful treatment of deserters." During his court-martial in October of 1867, he was found guilty on all charges and sentenced with suspension of rank and pay for one year.

Was General Custer a good leader?

Custer was a very bold and courageous leader. He was always in front and gave his men the courage to fight as well. He was inspiring to those under him, and that made them such a powerful and effective fighting force. He was very persuasive as well and that brought him very far as well.

Why was the Battle of Bighorn controversial?

The Battle of the Little Bighorn—aka Custer's Last Stand—is steeped in controversy. To this day, many people question his actions that fateful day. He's often accused of arrogance for not following the original battle plan and leading his men to certain death.

Was George Custer really smart?

Custer brought the spunk and impotence he had while growing up to the Academy and in the process earned himself multiple demerits throughout his time there. While Custer was smart he hated studying outside of his classes and didn't get along very well with the rigid structure that was West Point.

Was Custer a hero?

Today, George Armstrong Custer is remembered for one day in his life—the day he died in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, which has invariably tarnished his entire career. In his time, however, he was a national hero and one of the most popular figures in the country due to his Civil War exploits.