America's most famously unfortunate soldier has been the subject of scores of books, but The Custer Reader is unique as a substantial source of classic writings about and by him. Here is George Armstrong Custer as seen by himself, his contemporaries, and leading scholars. Those steeped in Custeriana will discover new insights in these pieces, some published for the first time, some difficult of access, assembled for easy reference. Those led by Custer's legend to make a fuller acquaintance will find here a reliable and complete introduction to his controversial personality and career and their transmogrification into myth. Combining first-person narratives, scholarly articles, photographic essays--as well as original selections by Robert M. Utley, Brian Dippie, Gregory J.W. Urwin, and Eric von Schmidt--The Custer Reader contains four sections, each introduced by Paul Andrew Hutton. Jay Monaghan, Brian Dippie, Charles King, and Chief Joseph White Bull are among those who illuminate Custer's Civil War years; his role in the Indian wars, particularly the Battle of the Little Big Horn; and the evolution of the Custer myth.

Custer : the Civil War years /|r Gregory J.W. Urwin --|t From West Point to the battlefield /|r G.A. Custer --|t Custer's "last stand" : Trevilian Station, 1864 /|r Jay Monaghan --|t The Battle of Waynesboro /|r Harlan Page Lloyd --|t Photographic essay --|t Custer : the Indian fighter /|r Brian W. Dippie --|t The west breaks in General Custer /|r Minnie Dubbs Millbrook --|t Some reminiscences, including the Washita Battle, November 27, 1868 /|r Edward S. Godfrey --|t Expedition to the Yellowstone River in 1873 : letters of a young cavalry officer /|r Charles W. Larned --|t Battling with the Sioux on the Yellowstone /|r G.A. Custer --|t Photographic essay --|t The Little Big Horn /|r Robert M. Utley --|t Custer's last battle /|r Edward S. Godfrey --|t The cavalry campaign outfit at the Little Big Horn /|r James S. Hutchins. The Battle of the Little Bighorn /|r Chief Joseph White Bull, as told to Stanley Vestal --|t Custer's last battle /|r Charles King --|t She watched Custer's last battle /|r Kate Bighead, as told to Thomas B. Marquis --|t Photographic essay --|t The Custer Myth. From Little Bighorn to Little Big Man : the changing image of a western hero in popular culture /|r Paul Andrew Hutton --|t The pictorial record of the old west : Custer's last stand : John Mulvany, Cassilly Adams, and Otto Becker /|r Robert Taft --|t Sunday at the Little Big Horn with George /|r Eric von Schmidt --|t Jack Crabb and the sole survivors of Custer's last stand /|r Brian W. Dippie --|t "Correct in every detail" : General Custer in Hollywood /|r Paul Andrew Hutton --|t Custer : the legend of the martyred hero in America /|r Bruce A. Rosenberg --|t Photographic essay.