Custer says, “It didn’t happen that way.”

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What can I tell you? Secret papers supposedly written by George Custer have been found. They contend there was a “conspiracy” to kill him at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, and somehow he thwarted that “conspiracy”. I know it sounds unbelievable, but you can read his story for yourself by following this link to Amazon. Continue reading

July 4, 1876

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When Americans awoke on July 4, 1876, to celebrate the Centennial of the country’s birth, the first accounts of Custer’s massacre hit the newspapers.

The headline:

Massacre Of Our Troops. General Custer and Five Companies Killed by Indians.

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June 28, 1876 – Three Days Later

Cemetery Ridge, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
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Three days after Custer’s troops were killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, surviving officers and soldiers of Reno and Benteen’s commands began the gruesome task of burying their fallen comrades. Was Custer’s body among them? Continue reading

On June 25, 1876, George Custer was killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Or was he?

Tombstone of George Custer's brother
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** Image above is tombstone of Custer’s brother, Tom.

One hundred forty years ago, on June 25th, 1876 , Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and 210 troopers under his command were wiped out fighting the Lakota Sioux and Northern Cheyenne at the Little Bighorn valley in southeastern Montana. To this day, the Battle of the Little Bighorn remains one of the most studied, publicized and controversial battles in American history.

Two years ago, on the anniversary of the battle, I stood on that hallowed ground. Continue reading

It don’t get done just standin’ there lookin’ at it – Part 2

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This is the second installment of my (read: your/our) journey to pen the great American novel (or even the great American memoir/short story/how-to/self help, et al). The first step in that journey is to realize: IT DON’T GET DONE JUST STANDIN’ THERE LOOKIN’ AT IT.

But that’s just the first step. It’s like realizing that you’re not going to lose weight until you start eating right and exercising. Continue reading