Custer was not a scumbag--he was an idiot. He was a handsome, charming, lucky, brave idiot who wanted to be President. Had he lived, he might have been elected--and probably would have done a worse job than Grant. Grant was bent at him as the probable author of an article called "Belknap's Anaconda" which accused Grant's brother of being involved with corruption and graft in the BIA, and almost wouldn't let him join the expedition to the Little Bighorn--based on experience, he should have commanded it.

The statement "Here goes for a brevet or a coffin!" was made by Major Joel Elliot at the Washita, when he disobeyed orders and took off down the river on his own. He and his 18 men got the coffin. He was a good buddy of Benteen, who thought Custer should have taken the regiment after Elliot in an effort to save him (bad idea! way too many Indians downriver!), and Benteen hated him ever afterwards. That was in 1868. Eight years later, Custer sent Benteen off in a bizarre direction with the pack train, possibly just to be nasty and keep him out of the battle. If Benteen hadn't gone back, Reno would have ended up like Custer.

It's obvious that Custer wasn't thinking too clearly that day, for whatever reason--maybe his desire to be President had totally crowded out common sense. He was warned by his scouts that there were many more Lakota and Cheyenne than the 7th could deal with ahead, and he called them old women. When they pointed it out, he couldn't see the gigantic pony herd, even though he was renowned for his eyesight. My guess is that he probably didn't have time to say "Oh, shit!" before he caught a bullet--very early in the fight, according to some Indian accounts.

My favorite book on the subject has long been "Custer's Fall" by David Humphries Miller. I recently read a newer book which described that one as "laughable". I'm not sure why and I don't know what to think--is Miller considered an idiot, or what? Does anybody know--Kim C, you seem to have done a lot of research. I would really appreciate any info or informed opinions.

Custer wasn't just carrying out orders--he was a professional soldier. The military was his lifelong passion, and he loved his job. He was also an honest man who was grossly offended by the dishonesty in the BIA. That sort of thing is very complex, and I have never figured out how otherwise decent people (Robert E. Lee, for example) could make their living by killing people