G.A. Custer to the Little Big Horn

by Steve Alexander

This book by renowned historian Mr. Steve Alexander, traces the life and deeds of George Armstrong Custer from his beginnings to his famous Last Stand and death on June 25th, 1876 near the Little Big Horn River in southeastern Montana Territory. Mr. Alexander’s “G.A. Custer to the Little Big Horn” is an in-depth approach to the always controversial figure and a reflection on the man, his time and the myth through exhaustive research and understanding gained from a whole life of study and dedication.

Brilliant text and more than 200 period photographs and full color pictures - many of them designed specifically for this book - are interwoven here to render a distinctive work which stands out among the myriad of books already published on the famous encounter between Custer’s 7th Cavalry and the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne, led by Sitting Bull. The book also includes a prologue by Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow, last War Chief of the Crow tribe, and an impressive color fold-out map with clear details of the famous battle.

Proclaimed the “Foremost Custer Living Historian” by the United States Congress, Steve Alexander has been acknowledged by both the Michigan and Ohio Senates for his lifetime work and portrayal of America’s most controversial military leader.

Steve has appeared in over three dozen docudramas as the General, most recent being the Discovery Only in America. His work for the History Channel includes “Command Decisions”, “Trail with General Custer” and the “Little Big Horn - The Untold Story.” Both television documentaries and the television portrayals “Biography of Custer” and Bill Kurtis’ “Betrayal at Little Big Horn” in the “New Explorers” series cast Steve Alexander as General Custer again and received awards for the top historical presentations in 1998 & 1999.

He and his wife Sandy now reside in the Bacon-Custer home in Monroe, Michigan, the General’s adopted hometown, which they are in the process of restoring. Well-known to the people of Nebraska, Kansas, and South Dakota, Steve is also responsible for the text of the new historical marker in Hunterstown, PA and annually represents General Custer at Gettysburg, Appomattox and other Civil War events. He was honored to represent the state of North Dakota during the 2005 Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington D. C.

Instrumental in reestablishing the Annual Custer’s Last Stand Reenactment in Hardin, Montana, he now participates in the Real Bird Reenactment of the Little Big Horn on the Original Battlefield each year, during the battle's anniversary weekend. Steve has been the recipient of the Custer Battlefield Historical and Museum Association’s Editor’s Choice Award and duly honored by Joe Medicine Crow, Tribal Historian bestowing the Crow Indian name Ika’ Dieux’ Daka’, “Son of the Morning Star” a name previously held by only one George Armstrong Custer.

176 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2011

Reviews

[Cordell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very brief account of George A Custer. But there were some surprisingly good illustrations in it and a lot of great photos from Custer that I had not seen before. And I learned a lot of things from this that I didn’t know before, even though I have studied Custer and the battle a little Bighorn at length.

For example, the primary reason he wore a white buckskin jacket, according to himself was so that he could easily be seen on the battlefield. Having served in that complex environment, I can see where it would be very helpful in the Calvary to be able to see your commander quickly, especially in the age prior to moderate communications.

There were many many things about this book that surprised me. For such a small book I was very pleased and would recommend it for anyone primarily for the illustrations and photos.