Exploring with Custer

Promo ad for the Black Hills featuring Custer

I want to bring your attention to something special. Paul Horsted and Ernest Graffe have just announced a new edition to their wildly popular book, EXPLORING WITH CUSTER. 

In 1874, Custer led the U.S. 7th Cavalry on an expedition into the Black Hills of present day South Dakota. The existence of gold in the region was verified and the race was on. Since that time Custer's name and presence is all over the Black Hills. There's Custer county, the city of Custer, and of course, the crown jewel of the State park system - Custer State Park.

EXPLORING WITH CUSTER examines the expedition in detail. Newspapermen were along for the trip and their reports are contained within the text along with journal and diary entries from the participants. Lots of maps and charts allow you to travel along from the comfort of your easy chair. There are also GPS coordinates for trail spots that are located on public lands so you can go see for yourself what the 7th Cavalry saw. 

The real highlight of the book are the photos. In 1874, Custer brought along a photographer to document the trip and he took the first images of the Black Hills. The photographer, W.H. Illingworth, was able to capture some spectacular images of the scenery in the area. Those photos are laid out side-by-side with modern day depictions of the sites. In some cases, a lot of change is seen. In others, it is shocking how much has stayed the same over the last almost 150 years. 

Author Paul Horsted says this about the new edition: "This new, larger edition has been completely revised. We added 36 pages of photos, discoveries, Expedition landmarks, and new sources. Every photo site is updated, and historic photos have amazing clarity thanks to new scans of the original glass negatives. More than 260 photos and 135 maps are now included in the 336-page book."

You will not be disappointed with this book. I have literally spent hours staring at the eye-popping photos and scouring the maps. Order directly from Paul and you can get a signed copy of your very own. Be sure to order the new REVISED 4TH EDITION by clicking the link below.

PaulHorsted.com

Click here to read the newspaper announcement
that set off the Black Hills gold rush.

I Fought with Custer - Charles Windolph

“I am now an old man living in the deep shadows.  Next to my family I love my old regiment more than anything else in the world.  And I shall die believing that Colonel Benteen was one of the noblest soldiers who ever lived.  I worship his memory almost as much as I do the Stars and Stripes.  He was a true friend.  He made me a sergeant on the field of battle on June 26, 1876.  He recommended me for the Medal of Honor that I was given.  In 1880 he made me First Sergeant of ‘H’."  [Charles Windolph; I FOUGHT WITH CUSTER; page 114]

I FOUGHT WITH CUSTER is a rare opportunity to ride along with Custer and the rest of the 7th Cavalry with the help of someone who was actually there - Charles Windolph. Windolph was the last surviving member of the Little Big Horn battle veterans, living until March 11, 1950. He won a Medal of Honor for his efforts as a sharpshooter protecting the water party at the battle. He was wounded and was also awarded the Purple Heart for his actions.

The publisher of I FOUGHT WITH CUSTER, University of Nebraska Press under the Bison Books imprint, has the following to say about the book:

"Sergeant Charles Windolph was the last white survivor of the Battle of the Little Big Horn when he described it nearly seventy years later. A six-year veteran of the Seventh Cavalry, Windolph fought in Benteen’s troop on that fatal Sunday and recalls in vivid detail the battle that wiped out Custer’s command. Equally vivid is the evidence marshaled by Frazier and Robert Hunt on events leading up to the battle and on the investigation that followed."

I've read this book cover to cover around three or four times. My paperback copy is a shambles. I've done all the things librarians and teachers told you NOT to do to a book - dog-eared pages, highlights, underlines, and notes in the margins. There's a coffee stain on page 91 that bled through to page 95. It's a well worn and well used book.

I decided back in 2009 to try and find a first edition hardcover copy. I looked at all the book sites online and I couldn't seem to come up with a decent condition copy with a dust jacket. 2009 was a year for one of our Montana Mayhem trips so I had high hopes of finding a copy at the Little Bighorn Associates conference in Billings. And I certainly did find one. A dealer had a copy that was actually signed by Windolph! It was amazing. But as I had a son in college, I couldn't in good conscience pull the trigger on the purchase. The search continued.

Then in 2016 I was on another Mayhem trip and was at the CBHMA (Custer Battlefield Historical & Museum Association) used book sale in Hardin. Sandy Barnard from Indian Wars Books had a nice looking copy. But like every copy I've ever seen, the dust jacket left something to be desired. Talking to Sandy, he mentioned that for some reason it is difficult to find a Fine copy with a Fine dust jacket. Well, this copy of Sandy's looked decent enough so I popped for the purchase.

So now I have a first edition hardcover on the shelf for posterity and a battered paperback for reading. I have recently had to add a rubber band to my reading copy to keep the pages intact.

Being able to read a book from a participant of the battle is something special. Primary source material from enlisted men who were at the battle gives a unique perspective into what happened. Now I should mention that Charles Windolph is an unapologetic Benteen man. Benteen was Windolph's captain and he loved him. But that doesn't take away from the fact that this book is full of information and you can't get much closer than Windolph as a source. The book is still in print and there's a reason for that.

By the way, if you are ever in the Black Hills and are looking for a place to stay, you can crash at Windolph's old house. It is now listed on Air B&B...

Check here for information and reservations

Charles Windolph page

Recommended Reading Part II

Back in April I recommended some of my favorite books dealing with Custer, the 1874 Black Hills Expedition, the Little Big Horn, and pretty much all things Custer. I put a list together of my top ten favorite books on Custer and I've been thinking about another list of related books.

These books are related in nature but are not Custer or Little Big Horn specific. I have found all these especially enjoyable reading and can highly recommend them. So here we go in no particular order...

THE BLOODY BOZEMAN tells the stories of the hearty settlers who came looking for gold and adventure. It sets the scene for all that was to happen on the western plains. From the gold fever that drove prospectors and fortune hunters through the dangerous country to the military establishments that cropped up in response to the Indian attacks, this is one great read. It gives you a whole new respect for what people endured to try and get their share of the American dream. It includes great information on Fort Phil Kearny, Red Cloud's War, the Fetterman Fight, and more. This one is a must read.


PIONEER DAYS IN THE BLACK HILLS by John McClintock is a really fun and informative book if you have an interest in Black Hills History. Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, the Homestake Mine, stage robberies, murder, and more are all in here. McClintock had a knack for being in the right place at the right time. He witnessed much of the early history of Deadwood and the Black Hills.

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF INDIAN WARS by Greg Michno is exactly what it sounds like. It's a listing of every significant battle and skirmish with Indians from 1850 through 1890. The Battle of the Little Big Horn was NOT the only fight in the history of of western expansion. There were many fights that no one has heard of and that barely warrant a roadside marker. Hundreds of listings make this a thorough book to own and one to carry with you in the car when you're out exploring.

GOLD IN THE BLACK HILLS by Watson Parker covers the early history of gold seekers to the Black Hills. Not only is the big strike in the northern Hills at Lead and Deadwood covered but also the smaller strikes all over the area. There are many interesting stories and anecdotes about the cast of characters that etched their names in the history of the Black Hills country.

AMERICAN CARNAGE: WOUNDED KNEE, 1890 by Jerome Greene is the definitive work on this sad period in our history. There are many wonderful photos and maps to help you understand what happened along Wounded Knee Creek. The footnotes and bibliography alone are worth the price of the book. This book will put you in history. This one cannot be recommended enough.

In December of 1866, soldiers from Fort Phil Kearny were sent to protect a wood supply party from Indian attack. Captain William Judd Fetterman led eighty men into an ambush. Forts had been established along the Bozeman Trail to protect wagon trains on their journey to the gold fields of Montana. The defeat of Fetterman by Red Cloud and his warriors was the beginning of the end for the forts along the Bozeman. Shortly after the soldiers left the fort in 1868, the Indians burned the "Hated Post of the Little Piney" to the ground. This one of the best books on the topic.

This is one of the most interesting and enjoyable books I have ever read. Short biographies (most around 3-4 pages) tell the stories of the cast of characters who were associated with Fort Phil Kearny. Not only are Carrington, Red Cloud, Fetterman, and the "superstars" included but so are several others such as George Templeton, James Beckwourth, Pierre "French Pete" Gazeau, and Adolph Metzger. Each little biography will pull you in and introduce you to another fascinating aspect of Bozeman Trail/Fort Phil Kearny history.

Ever wonder what life was like as a trooper in the 19th century frontier army? If so, this is the book for you. This book includes a chronology of some of the major Indian battles and an incredible amount of detail in the lives of the soldiers. The lives and stories of officers are somewhat well documented. The lives of the enlisted "grunts" on the other hand, are more of a mystery. This book brings to light the life of the everyday army trooper. This is one of those books you can just pick up, open it to any page, and start reading.

BATTLES AND SKIRMISHES OF THE GREAT SIOUX WAR 1876-1877: THE MILITARY VIEW by Jerome Greene outlines not only the better known Battle of the Little Big Horn and Battle of the Rosebud but several smaller scraps between the army and Indians. This book contains a great account of the Sibley Scout, an exciting confrontation between a small group of scouts and soldiers and a large party of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. Believe it or not, Custer's Last Stand was not the only Indian fight during the 1876-1877 time period.

SIOUX WAR DISPATCHES: REPORTS FROM THE FIELD, 1876-1877 by Marc Abrams is a collection of first-hand accounts from newspaper correspondents. You will see the Sioux War through the eyes of the newspaper reports of the day. Follow along with the action as the reporters, both civilian and military, relate the  happenings from the campaign trail. Fascinating reading and a wonderful vault of primary source material.




There you go. That's the top ten list of Custer related books. Some are more directly associated than others but all are enjoyable reads and you will definitely come away with a better understanding of the time period. As with any list, I couldn't include everything. I'm sure some will disagree with my choices. That's fine. Make up your own list. And once you've one that, share it with me. I'd love to see it and hear your comments.

Happy time traveling!

Recommended Custer Reading

You can literally buy a ‘Custer’ related book every day. Whether or not you can actually afford to do this is another matter entirely. But there are definitely enough books, articles, periodicals, etc. on the subject to keep a person busy doing little else.

I started buying books and reading about Custer on a serious basis back around 1997. I wasn’t that discerning with my purchases back then so I ended up acquiring a lot of, well for lack of a better word, shit. As you get into studying this whole George Armstrong Custer thing you will find out that for every decent book there are dozens of worthless volumes that aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on. I should know. My bookshelves are full of them. I’ve become a lot more particular in my book buying for a few reasons. First, books are expensive. Why waste money on crap when there are so many good ones out there? Second, unless you buy your books on a Kindle or a like device you are going to start to run out of space. And you’re going to run out quickly. Why have your shelves full of less than top notch choices? Last, and certainly not least, there is only so much time to read all these books. Unless you’re buying books to just have a collection of Custer books, you will be doing a lot of reading. Life is too short to read crap.

With all that being said, I have put together a list of my top ten favorite "Custer books." I have not included any biographies of Custer in my list, although there are plenty. My list deals with Custer, the 7th Cavalry, and their experiences - mainly the Battle of the Little Big Horn and the Campaign of 1876. If you're looking for a full blown biography of Custer, I suggest you look no further than the Pulitzer Prize winning CUSTER'S TRIALS by T.J. Stiles.

This is my list and I’m sure there will be disagreement about what books made my list and which ones were left off. But it’s my list dammit. You can make your own. So here is my top ten list of Custer books in no particular order.

STRATEGY OF DEFEAT AT THE LITTLE BIG HORN. Full disclosure - Fred Wagner is a dear friend of mine. He and I are ‘Montana Mayhem’ buddies. We’ve walked the battlefield together and I am very proud of him and the work he’s done with his Little Big Horn research. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that STRATEGY is a book that will clear up many of the details and questions you will have swimming around in your head after reading other books on the subject. I must warn you though that this isn’t a beginner book. Read some of the others on this list before tackling this one. But you will definitely want/need this one on your shelf. Make sure you have several bookmarks.

PARTICIPANTS IN THE BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIG HORN. Another Fred Wagner book. This isn’t really a book you sit in an armchair and read. This is more of a book that is crammed with sticky notes, bookmarks, and highlights. This is one of the most used books that I own. Everyone who was at Little Big Horn is listed here along with short bios for each. It’s also full of other useful items of interest to the Little Big Horn scholar. Think of it as an almanac of the 7th Cavalry and the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

A TERRIBLE GLORY. I mentioned above that STRATEGY OF DEFEAT AT THE LITTLE BIG HORN by Fred Wagner is not a book for beginners. A TERRIBLE GLORY by James Donovan is a wonderful starting point for your study. It gives you an overview of the events leading up to the 1876 campaign, the battle, and its aftermath. The chapter on the Reno Court of Inquiry is worth the price all by itself. It’s an interesting book that reads like a novel. There’s a reason it was a national bestseller.

SON OF THE MORNING STAR. This is the book that was the kick-start to my Custer/Little Big Horn obsession. It's a wonderful read that covers all aspects of the battle with little tidbits thrown in. Here's one passage that has always stuck in my mind: "It is said that at the beginning of the twentieth century one buffalo wandered across the prairie not far from a small town in Wyoming.  The townspeople hitched up their wagons and rode out to have a look. They drove around the creature and stopped, the wagons forming a circle with the buffalo inside.  For a long time they stared at this legendary animal.  Then, because they could not imagine what else to do, somebody shot it." There are no footnotes or endnotes however. If you want to know what specific source Connell used, you're out of luck.

WHERE THE RIVERS RAN RED. This is one of the latest entries into Custer literature. It was written by Michael Donahue, a seasonal park ranger at the Little Big Horn Battlefield. It covers the Indian fights of General Custer including the Washita, the fights on the Yellowstone, and of course the Battle of the Little Big Horn. It has wonderful maps that help you understand what was happening and where. What SON OF THE MORNING STAR was lacking in footnotes and endnotes, this one more than makes up for it. The endnotes are just as much fun to read as the text, with little jewels of information scattered throughout. The limited edition hardcover sold out in record time. 

EXPLORING WITH CUSTER. This book is the only one on the list that doesn't deal with Custer's last battle. This book focuses on the 1874 Black Hills Expedition which discovered gold in what is now South Dakota. The book contains the diary entries of 7th Cavalry soldiers who were on the expedition. You can almost smell the campfires and taste the frying bacon. But the highlight of this book is the before/after photographs. Custer took a photographer along and Paul Horsted does a remarkable job of recreating his photos. You will see that a lot has changed. At the same time, many of the locations look relatively the same. This book is gorgeous. It is printed on heavy duty paper that shows off the high quality photographs. Well worth the price.

WHERE CUSTER FELL. This is the before/after photograph book for the Little Big Horn. Old photos and the stories behind them alongside the same view today. It is amazing what can be learned by examining the old photos that people took of the battlefield. You can literally see the battlefield change throughout the years to become what it is today.  The book contains some stunning photos of Deep Ravine which show that the sides at one time were much steeper than they appear today. There is also information about how Last Stand Hill has changed over the years with the temporary burial of the dead from the Fetterman Massacre and the building of the battlefield road. Good stuff.

LITTLE BIG HORN DIARY: CHRONICLE OF THE 1876 INDIAN WAR. This one is a real gem. Written by James Willert, it is volume 6 of the Custer Trail Series from Upton and Sons Publishers. This book is more expensive than the others found on this list. It's also more difficult to find. As of right now it is out of print but used copies are available from booksellers and occasionally it can be found on Ebay. It is a wonderful book that outlines the entire campaign day-by-day. There are lots of photos and marvelous drawings. This is a book you will turn to again and again.

ARCHAEOLOGY, HISTORY, AND CUSTER'S LAST BATTLE: THE LITTLE BIG HORN REEXAMINED.  This is the definitive book on the archaeological digs that were done at the Little Big Horn Battlefield after a fire raged across it in 1983. Dr. Richard Fox explains the evidence, found in and on the ground. Fascinating details about firing pin signatures and the ability to put guns that were found on the battlefield in participant's hands as they fought. Like THE STRATEGY OF DEFEAT, this is not a beginner's book. Once you have a basic understanding of the battle, "dig" into this one. There are several books dealing with the archaeological examinations at the battlefield but this one is the granddaddy of them all.

CUSTER IN '76: WALTER CAMP'S NOTES ON THE CUSTER FIGHT. Walter Camp was a researcher extraordinaire. He doggedly pursued the truth of the Battle of the Little Big Horn. He interviewed, and became friends with, actual battle participants. His notes are primary source material and cannot be valued high enough. There are several books that have been published that are based on his research. This is the first of those such books that I came across. This is as close as you can come to having the Little Big Horn battle participants telling you the story themselves. If you find a book based on the research of Walter Camp, snatch it up.


Well that's my list.

"What, no Jerome Greene?!" "What about the great books by Richard Hardorff?" "How can you have a list like that and leave off Utley?" "You're an idiot! Custer's Luck is the best Custer book of all time."

All valid questions and comments but it's my list. Make your own and send it to me. I'd love to see it. The hard part is narrowing it down to ten. The list also needs to be fluid. Each Custer book you read has the potential of disrupting your list.

Happy reading!