The Boy General - an American hero

[major bill]

I will be taking a trip to Monroe Michigan next week and will pass by the wonderful statue of George Armstrong Custer. The stouthearted General Custer is a local hero of near legendary status. Was General Custer's accomplishments worthy of this veneration? There are those who consider Custer little more than a self promoting swaggerer whose boasting exceeds his true deeds. Should I stop and pay homage to Michigan's brave son as I pass through Monroe?

 

[War Horse]

I will be taking a trip to Monroe Michigan next week and will pass by the wonderful statue of George Armstrong Custer. The stouthearted General Custer is a local hero of near legendary status. Was General Custer's accomplishments worthy of this veneration? There are those who consider Custer little more than a self promoting swaggerer whose boasting exceeds his true deeds. Should I stop and pay homage to Michigan's brave son as I pass through Monroe?

Sure why not. Custer's finest moments were during the ACW. That's where he survived his "First Last Stand"

 

[DR_Hanna]

I will be taking a trip to Monroe Michigan next week and will pass by the wonderful statue of George Armstrong Custer. The stouthearted General Custer is a local hero of near legendary status. Was General Custer's accomplishments worthy of this veneration? There are those who consider Custer little more than a self promoting swaggerer whose boasting exceeds his true deeds. Should I stop and pay homage to Michigan's brave son as I pass through Monroe?

Forget the swagger and self promotion, didn't Custer make a living murdering innocent, defenseless Native Americans - men, women and children alike? I can't imagine how those few Native Americans who still live in Michigan feel about that statue, but it probably isn't a guy they remember too fondly. How can a genocidal murder be considered a local hero?

 

[major bill]

After the Civil War made his living being a soldier in the United States Army. Custer kill zero Michigan Indians. Most Michigan Indians were the mortal enemies of the Sioux and after pushing the Sioux out of Michigan they fought against the Sioux in Wisconsin. Once when the French official asked a Chippewa leader to stop making war on the Sioux he stated that the only thing the Sioux was good for was for eating and if he did not make war on the Sioux his tribe would go hungry over the winter. I doubt that many Michigan Indians care much for the Sioux. They probably do not dislike the statue except that it might symbolize someone who served in the United States Army during the Indian Wars. The statue of Custer is one of him in his Civil War years. You do realize that Michigan Indians served on the Union side during the Civil War right?

Custer is indeed an honored hero here in Michigan. I work as a docent in the Michigan Historical Museum and the photograph of Custer and one of his flags is the major attraction in our Civil War/Slavery room. Children and adults who visit the museum may not know anyone else in the photographs in the Civil War/Slavery room, but everyone recognizes Custer and Lincoln. I recently vested the Michigan Civil War flags in our flag storage room and the ey took requests to let the group look over any flag they wanted unwrapped. The requests were to see two Custer flags, one Iron Brigade flag and on of the 4th Michigan. Showed me who the people on the tour were interested in.

 

[Dave Wilma]

Custer, like all people, was neither all one thing nor another. His veneration as a hero in Michigan is understandable and even justified. He was from Michigan and he successfully led Michigan troops in the ACW. He was successful when other commanders were not. The Michigan men thought enough of him to present him with a watch. That Custer was so young made him celebrity material and he was happy to indulge reporters, politicians, and other admirers. I'd say the attention went to his head much to the chagrin of brother officers.

In my now-stale review of his ACW combat record I am not impressed with his record as a commander. He seemed to rely on the headlong charge and "Custer's Luck" as the solution to a tactical situation. He has the dead troopers to show for it. This continued in his service on the plaines. One afternoon his luck ran out.

That Custer had a remarkable career is without question. "Ride You Wolverines!"

 

[major bill]

Also because most Michigan tribes were not shipped to the IT, Michigan has a fair number of Native Americans living here. I am guessing Michigan has one of the highest percentages, 1.2%, of Native Americans in its population among the states east of the Mississippi River. I am guessing Georgia has 1/2 of one percent Native Americans in its population. But not being an expert on this subject, perhaps I am wrong.

 

[kel1985]

IMHO...
Custer did very well in the ACW, earning his rank. He was a master of self promotion, but the record in the ACW speaks for itself.
What he did during the "Indian Wars" was reprehensible, and he got a little "big for his britches" which led to the massacre at Little Big Horn. Again, the record speaks for itself.
But all things being equal, he was a man of his times. I hate to sit back with modern sensibilities and morals and judge the actions and decisions of those who lived 150 years ago. It was a different time with different things being considered acceptable than they are now.

 

[Dave Wilma]

After the Civil War made his living being a soldier in the United States Army.

Custer made money—the exact amount is unknown—writing articles and books which were quite popular.

 

[marinegrunt]

Custer hung in there with generals with twice the amount of experience; that's a win in my book. And as far as self promotion and rampant egoism, that's a trait to be found in many a cavalry commander, Union or Confederate.

 

[dlofting]

If you have a basic understanding of the Battle of the Little Bighorn then "The Strategy of Defeat at the Little Big Horn: A Military and Timing Analysis of the Battle" by Frederic C. Wagner III is an excellent book to read.

Wagner goes through the movements and actions of the 7th Cavalry from the time they left the Yellowstone until the end of the battle. He constructs meticulous timelines for the significant events and walks the reader through them. The latter timelines that deal with the five troops that went with Custer are based on Wagner's theory of what happened.

Most importantly, Wagner analyzes the decisions that were made and provides the reader with his perspective. Like Gordon Rhea and Eric Wittenberg, Wagner does not make a "blanket" judgment of any of the key players involved, but shows the errors that were made and gives his opinion as to why. Overall a good read.

 

[Dave Wilma]

If you have a basic understanding of the Battle of the Little Bighorn then "The Strategy of Defeat at the Little Big Horn: A Military and Timing Analysis of the Battle" by Frederic C. Wagner III is an excellent book to read.

Wagner goes through the movements and actions of the 7th Cavalry from the time they left the Yellowstone until the end of the battle. He constructs meticulous timelines for the significant events and walks the reader through them. The latter timelines that deal with the five troops that went with Custer are based on Wagner's theory of what happened.

Most importantly, Wagner analyzes the decisions that were made and provides the reader with his perspective. Like Gordon Rhea and Eric Wittenberg, Wagner does not make a "blanket" judgment of any of the key players involved, but shows the errors that were made and gives his opinion as to why. Overall a good read.

Also, Custer's performance on 25 June 1876 should be view in the context of prior actions. What worked before for him was expected to work again. I will check out Wagner.

 

[major bill]

How many times was Custer decisively beaten during the Civil War? All officers have good performances and poor performances. Custer was usually fairly effective. It seems many of his men had confidence in his leadership.

 

[Terence MacManus]

Custer certainly was an American hero for his decorated service during the ACW. He benefited from more than his share of good fortune, and was not shy about self-promotion, but he was a good calvary officer/general with many successes to boast of.

The fact that he was young and "dashing" also helped his national reputation. If not for his famous Last Stand, he would be less well remembered, that much is for sure.

All in all, he deserves a statue much more than other ACW soldiers on both sides who have their own.

 

[MaryDee]

As a westerner (I grew up in Wyoming), I never thought much of Custer. My opinion from reading about Little Big Horn was that Custer was an idiot. Now that I have read more about his Civil War career, I still have the same opinion--his "motto" seemed to be charge first, ask questions later. I don't know if he took his original commander, "Kill-Cavalry," as a model, but the tactics and the amount of intellect (if any) for either seems to have been miniscule. Strictly my personal opinion--Your Mileage May Vary.

IMHO, it's up to you whether you want to go see the memorial. It might be worth visiting even if you're not a Custer fan. I chose to skip Little Big Horn while I was in that general area, but that was mostly because I was chasing Lewis and Clark (that was during their bicentennial). By the time I got to mid-Montana, I was behind schedule and didn't really have the time for the half-day side trip.

 

[Dave Wilma]

IMHO, it's up to you whether you want to go see the memorial. It might be worth visiting even if you're not a Custer fan. I chose to skip Little Big Horn while I was in that general area, but that was mostly because I was chasing Lewis and Clark (that was during their bicentennial). By the time I got to mid-Montana, I was behind schedule and didn't really have the time for the half-day side trip.

The LBH Battlefield is a must-see IMHO since it is one of the few battlefields in the world where the locations of soldier deaths (mostly) are marked. It is a moving experience. In the last few years monuments to Sioux and Cheyenne defenders have been placed, a good response.

Can you imagine such a placement of markers at Gettysburg or Antietam?

 

[PatW]

Custer was an effective cavalry commander in the Civil War. His being 1) young, or a boy general, and 2) extremely colorful surely greatly boosted his fame.

Custer had problems in the peace time army. I think he needed more stimulation and challenge than the somnulant peace time army allowed.

The are a number of good recent treatments of the Little Big Horn that reexamine the decisions made there. Terrible Glory by Donovan is a good treatment. Custer made some good decisions and he took some chances that did not pan out. Custer in some ways was dealt a bad hand. The Indian agents greatly under reported the number of people who were off the reservation. Also, the Dakotas fought with a determination that greatly exceeded their previous efforts. Had either of those conditions had held true, Custer's column probably would have made it.

Today Custer is viewed as being terrible with native Americans. In this, I think he takes the rap for the bad treatment of Native Americans by the society at large. However, during the campaign he utilized his Crow scouts well and showed a knowledge and sensitivity to their beliefs.

As far as should Custer be remembered, that is a judgment call. In Mixhigan. He was a favorite son. He was famous and controversial.

 

[major bill]

I was thinking of visiting the River Raisin National Battlefield Park, who can not want to see cannons on sleds? I also might see the Battle of Brownstown as well, Hard to believe those pesky Wyandotte Indians attacked the American Army in a high school parking lot. I might stop at the Battle of Maguaga site as well, I am shocked that the Indians would start a fight in a grade school parking lot.

 

[Stony]

Also because most Michigan tribes were not shipped to the IT, Michigan has a fair number of Native Americans living here. I am guessing Michigan has one of the highest percentages, 1.2%, of Native Americans in its population among the states east of the Mississippi River. I am guessing Georgia has 1/2 of one percent Native Americans in its population. But not being an expert on this subject, perhaps I am wrong.

Here you go.
http://www.indexmundi.com/facts/uni...-and-alaskan-native-population-percentage#map

 

[hanna260]

There's a thread on Custer- if some people want some more information.

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/what-is-the-deal-with-george-armstrong-custer.110763/

 

[Booner]

If I were travelling through Monroe MI and had the time, I would stop. And I don't ever care for Custer!