A Companion to Custer and the Little Bighorn Campaign

A COMPANION TO CUSTER AND THE LITTLE BIGHORN CAMPAIGNBrad Lookingbill has done a first-rate job of assembling an impressive variety of essays that reflect the richness and continuing vitality of scholarship on the Little Bighorn. Robert Wooster, Texas A&M University-Corpus ChristiThis is a most welcome volume for all serious students of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. It combines up-to-date scholarship from an impressive array of young scholars with the work of seasoned professionals. The essays cover important topics in military history, Native American studies, and popular culture. This book effectively bridges the gap between academic and popular history, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the 19th century American West. Tim Lehman, Rocky Mountain CollegeThe Battle of the Little Bighorn is the most iconic conflict in the history of the American West. It ranks as the worst military defeat of the U.S. Army during the Indian wars, yet it simultaneously marks the apex of Native American resistance on the Great Plains. A Companion to Custer and the Little Bighorn Campaign offers an authoritative and accessible overview of the scholarship that has shaped our understanding of this seminal battle. The Companion is strategically divided into five thematic sections: The first section outlines the history of the Lakota and the Northern Cheyenne people, the second details the Army's presence in the Western territories leading up to the Little Bighorn Campaign, and the third examines how General Custer became an American military figurehead. The fourth section provides detailed analyses of the battle maneuverings at Little Bighorn, paying special attention to Indian testimonyfrom the battlefield, while the fifth and final section demonstrates how, from the moment the public earned of the U.S. Army's defeat, the Battle of the Little Bighorn has permeated America's cultural consciousness.Combining contributions from an array of respected scholars and historians, A Companion to Custer and the Little Bighorn Campaign will be an essential guide for anyone interested in better understanding this pivotal moment in American history.