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None Wounded, None Missing, All Dead: The Story Of Elizabeth Bacon Custer
On May 17, 1876, Elizabeth Bacon Custer kissed her husband George goodbye and wished him good fortune in his efforts to fulfill the Army’s orders to drive in the Native Americans who would not willingly relocate to a reservation. Adorned in a black taffeta dress and a velvet riding cap with a red peacock feather that matched George’s red scarf, she watched the proud regiment ride off. It was a splendid picture.
This new biography of Elizabeth Bacon Custer relates the story of the famous and dashing couple's romance, reveals their life of adventure throughout the west during the days of the Indian Wars, and recounts the tragic end of the 7th cavalry and the aftermath for the wives. Libbie Custer was an unusual woman who followed her itinerant army husband's career to its end--but she was also an amazing master of propaganda who tried to recreate George Armstrong Custer's image after Little Bighorn. The author of many books about her own life (some of which are still in print) she was one of the most famous women of her time and remains a fascinating character in American history.
This new biography of Elizabeth Bacon Custer relates the story of the famous and dashing couple's romance, reveals their life of adventure throughout the west during the days of the Indian Wars, and recounts the tragic end of the 7th cavalry and the aftermath for the wives. Libbie Custer was an unusual woman who followed her itinerant army husband's career to its end--but she was also an amazing master of propaganda who tried to recreate George Armstrong Custer's image after Little Bighorn. The author of many books about her own life (some of which are still in print) she was one of the most famous women of her time and remains a fascinating character in American history.
220 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2011
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468 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 12, 2017
This wasn't an overly bad read and I did learn a few things from it. It just seemed that the authors cared more about portraying Elizabeth and George in a more negative way. I think to learn about her the books she wrote would be just as good since many of the information is taken from her own writings.
October 27, 2011
About 1/3 the length of this book is actually citations and a bibliography. Which would be fine, if the material itself was intersting and written in a way to make it wasy to understand.
Each chapter began with almost a flash forward of Elizabeth and George's life, to only then go back in time and explain how they got there. Which, I would understand better if the transitions were marked and the details were told in chronological order. I think at a few points details were told out of order. It made it difficult to follow.
In addition, there were polar opinions being offered. One was of grand decency and heroism as told by the Custers and their friends, the other the complete opposite by Benteen. These polarizing views, while I appreciate having the opposite opinion represented, made it difficult to sort out the truth of the matter. Ultimately, I decided that there was truth to both accounts which ultimately made George an unsympathetic character and Elizabeth a woman whose only life was her husband's.
I did not come away from this book with a better understanding of the woman, the man, or the couple. And for a biography, I think that is a necessity. Otherwise it's just boring.
Each chapter began with almost a flash forward of Elizabeth and George's life, to only then go back in time and explain how they got there. Which, I would understand better if the transitions were marked and the details were told in chronological order. I think at a few points details were told out of order. It made it difficult to follow.
In addition, there were polar opinions being offered. One was of grand decency and heroism as told by the Custers and their friends, the other the complete opposite by Benteen. These polarizing views, while I appreciate having the opposite opinion represented, made it difficult to sort out the truth of the matter. Ultimately, I decided that there was truth to both accounts which ultimately made George an unsympathetic character and Elizabeth a woman whose only life was her husband's.
I did not come away from this book with a better understanding of the woman, the man, or the couple. And for a biography, I think that is a necessity. Otherwise it's just boring.
September 17, 2011
I was really in the mood for a good biography and Custer's life seems like it would've been interesting. Unfortunately, I was just disappointed in the writing and their story. More than half the book was pretty much - Custer moved to (insert location here) and his wife, Elizabeth, either went with him or was left behind. What was so disappointing was the author seemed to portray George and Elizabeth as some great love story, but it was obvious that he had numerous affairs throughout their marriage. I'm not sure if any of that could be proven, but the author certainly alluded to it many different times. I don't know what I was expecting George Custer's life to be like, but he was without a doubt a very committed military man who seemed to show some compassion for the plight of the Native Americans (but at other times he could be so brutal towards them). I guess I was just left still feeling confused about what type of man he was - maybe I should've read a biography on Custer and not his wife!! ;-)
December 13, 2018
An excellent, though simplistic, rendering of a very complicated marriage and life.
A great place to start if you intend (LIKE ME) to become absolutely obsessed with George Armstrong Custer and his brilliant wife, Libbie.
A great place to start if you intend (LIKE ME) to become absolutely obsessed with George Armstrong Custer and his brilliant wife, Libbie.
May 31, 2018
Interesting read. A view on Custer that I hadn't seen before. Clearly loved by his wife. Clearly an imperfect person.
September 3, 2017
I have always felt that George Custer was an overly arrogant historical figure. That impression has not changed at all through the reading of this book.
However, I never really thought about his wife, who she was, and what her life was like. For that information, this book seems to fill in some of the holes in my knowledge of Elizabeth Bacon Custer. I do not believe that Elizabeth was blind to her husband's faults, but she did take her vow to honor him seriously, even after his death. That to me is really important and speaks more to who she was as a person than to who George was as a person.
I did wonder about the title and why the authors chose those 6 simple words. They are the words that changed Elizabeth Custer's life forever. None Wounded, None Missing, All Dead has found it's way onto my keeper bookshelf.
However, I never really thought about his wife, who she was, and what her life was like. For that information, this book seems to fill in some of the holes in my knowledge of Elizabeth Bacon Custer. I do not believe that Elizabeth was blind to her husband's faults, but she did take her vow to honor him seriously, even after his death. That to me is really important and speaks more to who she was as a person than to who George was as a person.
I did wonder about the title and why the authors chose those 6 simple words. They are the words that changed Elizabeth Custer's life forever. None Wounded, None Missing, All Dead has found it's way onto my keeper bookshelf.
May 6, 2017
I received this book in a GoodReads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. I struggled through this one. Although there were things that I didn't know about Custer (both of them) before reading this, I felt the book was a little dry and hard for me to follow. I did feel that the author did a ton of research and I enjoyed having those sources listed.
January 17, 2013
This book had a lot of information, but every now and then I felt like I missed something as it tended to jump back and forth in time. I learned a lot more about general Custer and his life that I hasn't know before. Overall it was informative but a little hard to follow sometimes
June 13, 2011
A little dry but still interesting.
January 24, 2022
I have read books on Custer and thought this would be a new side of the story, her twist on events.
Most of the information in the book, I have read elsewhere. As a former military wife, I didn't mind the tales of moving often, it was something I could relate to. I also understood the agony she felt waiting on his return. I am amazed at some of the little tidbits that I read for the first time, 80 dogs for instance. Her devotion to her husband, who was something less perfect, is amazing. I also think she remained so devoted and never remarried after his death because she did like the attention being Mrs. Custer afforded her.
I even read the footnotes and credits in back of the book and there were pages of them. I hope to find something else worth reading in there. This is a thought-provoking story behind one of the greatest military missteps in American history. I have been to the Little Bighorn and walked the grounds, it is hard to a imagine the confusion and horror of the day.
This is a good read,
Most of the information in the book, I have read elsewhere. As a former military wife, I didn't mind the tales of moving often, it was something I could relate to. I also understood the agony she felt waiting on his return. I am amazed at some of the little tidbits that I read for the first time, 80 dogs for instance. Her devotion to her husband, who was something less perfect, is amazing. I also think she remained so devoted and never remarried after his death because she did like the attention being Mrs. Custer afforded her.
I even read the footnotes and credits in back of the book and there were pages of them. I hope to find something else worth reading in there. This is a thought-provoking story behind one of the greatest military missteps in American history. I have been to the Little Bighorn and walked the grounds, it is hard to a imagine the confusion and horror of the day.
This is a good read,
July 3, 2018
This book was not the type of biography I would normally read, but I’m glad that I did. I bought it at a used book store in a small town on vacation and I was oddly drawn to it just based on the description of the book and the location I was staying in which was a small town in the trees in Northern California. It was a great story of this real love story and adventure between Elizabeth and George. It captured some great perspective on what marriage is and how broken people can honorable live and serve each other. All this happening while the real historical events of this time period unfold.
July 21, 2023
Chick-lit at its worst.
Proof that people from the entertainment industry, no matter how accomplished, should not be allowed to write history. Kazanjian should be ashamed to have his name on this.
The book is to be avoided.
Proof that people from the entertainment industry, no matter how accomplished, should not be allowed to write history. Kazanjian should be ashamed to have his name on this.
The book is to be avoided.
June 1, 2025
We owe our collective perception of Custer to this remarkable woman. I am convinced that she alludes to their quest for an heir via surrogacy. There are some other questions about Gerorge and his cadre of officers that may be quite uncomfortable for some.
August 19, 2020
I enjoyed this book and really liked the photos that were included. I love history!
March 10, 2017
A fascinating story
Read
October 29, 2016So . . . how did this end up on my "read" shelf ? We were in Dodge City, Kansas recently and saw this on the shelf at "Boot Hill Museum". Not a single connection to Boot Hill, that I can determine - but what-the-heck --- There it was on my library's EBook shelf, too. Started reading aloud to Winston, in the car, over the rest of that trip, and now, here in southern Ohio have finished it.
Who ever thought about Mrs. Custer ? Who knew there WAS a Mrs. Custer ?? Yet, she is an unusual and fascinating woman and the story of their romance, marriage and their life throughout his military career offers unexpected insights. Of course, it raises many other musings about their history. And, who knew all the successes of Custer in the Civil War? This, as so many, other books - begs and begets other reading to learn more about our countries fascinating heroes. Both of them wrote several volumes and many other authors have offered their perspectives as well. (Just noticed the 2016 Pulitzer in History is "Custer's Trials" by T J Stiles) This volume is definitely told from Elizabeth (Libbie) Bacon Custer's viewpoint and perspective. Well done and enjoyable reading.
Who ever thought about Mrs. Custer ? Who knew there WAS a Mrs. Custer ?? Yet, she is an unusual and fascinating woman and the story of their romance, marriage and their life throughout his military career offers unexpected insights. Of course, it raises many other musings about their history. And, who knew all the successes of Custer in the Civil War? This, as so many, other books - begs and begets other reading to learn more about our countries fascinating heroes. Both of them wrote several volumes and many other authors have offered their perspectives as well. (Just noticed the 2016 Pulitzer in History is "Custer's Trials" by T J Stiles) This volume is definitely told from Elizabeth (Libbie) Bacon Custer's viewpoint and perspective. Well done and enjoyable reading.
January 26, 2014
This is a short biography but one that was very interesting as I didn't know much about the life of Libbie Custer. She really was a pioneer of sorts insisting on traveling with her husband on his military assignments over most of the west, serving in Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky and the Dakotas. A loyal and loving wife she remained a widow for over 55 years, ever vigilant to keeping her husband in the news and thus the hearts and minds of the US citizens. I know George had one brother who died with him at Little Big Horn but didn't know he also had a second brother and nephew there as well.
August 20, 2012
None Wounded, None Missing, All Dead was a brief biography of the relationship between George Custer and his wife Elizabeth. While it doesn't give the kind of detail a true biography of General Custer would, it was a compelling tale of the strength of their relationship through the rigors of fighting in the Civil War and the Indian campaigns as well as Custer's other vices of gambling and women. Through it all, Elizabeth defended her husband to the very end. It's a quick read and worth checking out if interested in U.S. History of the late 1800's.
June 18, 2016
Need more info
I enjoyed this book. It was well written and I will assume the repeat of sentences and paragraphs was not the fault of the author.
I need to read more accounts of the Custer's. At this point I'm not sure if author is playing favorites too much.
Recent investigations into the Battle of Little Big Horn using modern forensics I would like to see again.
Next on the list is by Elizabeth Custer
I enjoyed this book. It was well written and I will assume the repeat of sentences and paragraphs was not the fault of the author.
I need to read more accounts of the Custer's. At this point I'm not sure if author is playing favorites too much.
Recent investigations into the Battle of Little Big Horn using modern forensics I would like to see again.
Next on the list is by Elizabeth Custer
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews