Custer Victorious: The Civil War Battles of General George Armstrong Custer

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Summary: Custer finally gets his due!
Review: Being from Michigan, I knew George Custer was a Civil War hero. After reading this book I realized just how important that man was to the Union cause. Although young, Custer was mature beyond his years, his prowess as a calvaryman is second to none. He was loved by his troops and respected by his enemies, some who he bested many times during the Civil War. He was a true leader in every sense of the word. Fearless and steady, always leading his troops into a charge. Ever concerned for the well being of his men. This book is a wonderful piece on a great man who was lost in history by speculation and heresay. Had he his Michigan Calvary Brigade, his beloved "Wolverines" or men like them at Little Big Horn and not 17 and 18 yr old troops as recently discovered, even though being outgunned I am sure there would have been different results for historians to ponder. Rest in Peace Major General Custer, your name is forever cleared.

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Summary: Interesting review of Custer's Civil War career
Review: The Civil War has been much romanticized. The life of George Armstrong Custer has entered the realm of near mythology. The most successful period in Custer's short life was his civil war career. Urwin here presents a record of the successes of Custer's civil war career. There is a tendency in this book to Custerophilia. While none of us in this time period can really know the man, study of the masses of literature from the period suggest that the "boy General" was somewhat unique. More than most of his contemporaries, Custer was able to motivate his Civil War commands to significant achievments. His personal audacity caused extremely high casualties among the men he commanded. Despite this he never seems to have engendered the kind of disdain that Judson "Killcavalry" Kilpatrick, a contemporary, gained from his troops. It seems that members of his Michigan cavalry Brigades greatly esteemed their general despite their losses. Whether he was in fact a tactician or just daring and lucky; his civil war record is quite remarkable. This book is a worthwhile read for students of the civil war and of cavalry and Custer's part of that history.

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Summary: Finally, a fair and factual account
Review: This is a fine work of scholarship on General Custer. It is incorrect to assume with this book that Urwin has a tendency to Custerphilia. If that be so, then may we accuse other historians of Robert E. Leephilia, or Martin Luther Kingphilia, or John F. Kennedyphilia? It is only the truly biased that will attach such a title to an author who is presenting Custer in a just light, rather than anyone else. We don't have to be a contemporary of an historical figure to know the facts and contributions of his life, and Urwin's excellently researched book brings out all the facts surrounding Custer's outstanding leadership as a Civil War soldier and officer, and most importantly, Urwin has finally given Custer his just due as a great American patriot who was so instrumental in preserving what we so easily refer to today as our USA. It was General Phil Sheridan, who stated in an enclosed note to Mrs. Custer when presenting her with Lee's table upon which the surrender was signed, "that there is scarcely an individual in our service who has contributed more to bring about this desirable result than your gallant husband." Urwin brings out all the facts that substantiate this statement; not denigrate or fictionalize it. If you know nothing about Custer, read this book and its preface first, then for an account of The Little Bighorn, read "To Hell With Honor" by Larry Sklenar. As Urwin states, "Custer's critics have been legion, but only the most vehement and biased has ever dared to suggest that his performance in that bloodiest of America's wars was anything less than brilliant."

Rating:
Summary: Finally, a fair and factual account
Review: This is a fine work of scholarship on General Custer. It is incorrect to assume with this book that Urwin has a tendency to Custerphilia. If that be so, then may we accuse other historians of Robert E. Leephilia, or Martin Luther Kingphilia, or John F. Kennedyphilia? It is only the truly biased that will attach such a title to an author who is presenting Custer in a just light, rather than anyone else. We don't have to be a contemporary of an historical figure to know the facts and contributions of his life, and Urwin's excellently researched book brings out all the facts surrounding Custer's outstanding leadership as a Civil War soldier and officer, and most importantly, Urwin has finally given Custer his just due as a great American patriot who was so instrumental in preserving what we so easily refer to today as our USA. It was General Phil Sheridan, who stated in an enclosed note to Mrs. Custer when presenting her with Lee's table upon which the surrender was signed, "that there is scarcely an individual in our service who has contributed more to bring about this desirable result than your gallant husband." Urwin brings out all the facts that substantiate this statement; not denigrate or fictionalize it. If you know nothing about Custer, read this book and its preface first, then for an account of The Little Bighorn, read "To Hell With Honor" by Larry Sklenar. As Urwin states, "Custer's critics have been legion, but only the most vehement and biased has ever dared to suggest that his performance in that bloodiest of America's wars was anything less than brilliant."

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Summary: The Rest of the Story...
Review: This is a good read and will open up a new opinion of Custer for most people. It was only in the 20th century that the name of George Armstrong Custer became associated with the ultimate bad decision and failure. In the last half of the 19th century, he was still remembered for his daring and SUCCESSFUL civil war exploits. It is nice to see his Civil War record documented in one spot so that future generations can see that there was more to this warrior than the Battle of the Little Big Horn. He employed the same tactics but with much more confidence and obviously greater success.