Read the Book, too

I have read many many books on Custer and this movie follows what we term as the "true" story of Custer's Last Stand. It is difficult to find movies made that follow a book but this story line had many nuances that were included such as the "one shot" rifles the soldiers had due to a malfuntion to eject spent shells. The movie showed this small point.

The movie shows the great passion Custer and Libby shared, the animosity between Custer and Benteen. I don't know tactics but the movie explored well, IMO, the mayhem of the last battle of Custer's. If you read the book, you will find controversies that the movie cannot show. The PBS Documentary told that Terry knew Custer would not follow Terry's orders because he knew Custer's personality. I suppose he felt any action on Custer's part would close in the "hostiles".

One, which I think is probably true, Custer was shot, yes, but the bullet in his temple was self inflicted or by a fellow soldier seeing the wounding of Custer. I believe the book told Custer's younger brother was found near Custer.

Don't just watch this fine production, read the book because the written page leaves you with some two sided questions that will never find an answer.

I saw Comanche, a horse that survived the battle, at KU when I was a student. This horse was honored and I believe lived to 29 as royalty at Ft. Riley, Kansas. Ft. Riley, in my day and before, was a Cavalry Fort. In the late 50's the horses were moved and Riley was made (I think) a Tank training Fort.