The Custer and Sitting Bull Debate, Shadows Over the Greasy Grass River

George Armstrong Custer rose to fame during the Civil War as one of the youngest generals in the Union Army. His military career advanced with remarkable speed amid the brutal fighting of the conflict. Fearless in combat, Custer developed a reputation for leading from the front, often personally directing charges and aggressively pursuing the enemy. He possessed a keen eye for battlefield opportunities and a talent for identifying and exploiting weaknesses in opposing forces.

Custer’s rapid rise generated jealousy among many older and more experienced officers, but his battlefield results consistently impressed his superiors. Generals William T. Sherman and Philip H. Sheridan came to value his aggressiveness, courage, and ability to achieve objectives under difficult circumstances. Time and again, the young “Boy General” delivered victories that enhanced both his reputation and theirs.

When the Civil War ended, much of the fame and glory associated with wartime command faded, but Custer remained a celebrated public figure. Wherever his duties took him, he found admirers eager to meet the colorful cavalry officer whose exploits had become legendary. His wartime troopers generally remembered him with affection and admiration, viewing him as a leader who shared their dangers and hardships.

The postwar army, however, presented a different environment. As lieutenant colonel of the 7th Cavalry, Custer commanded soldiers who had not served with him during the Civil War and who often viewed him differently. His demanding standards, relentless marches, strict discipline, and willingness to undertake the army’s most difficult assignments frequently made him unpopular among some of his men. Nevertheless, Custer remained the same aggressive and energetic commander who believed that success required speed, determination, and leading by example.

By 1876, George Armstrong Custer was one of the most famous officers in the United States Army—a celebrated Civil War hero whose reputation for boldness and audacity would ultimately lead him to the banks of the Little Bighorn River and the most famous battle of his career.

Custer always led from the front, a trait that distinguished him throughout the Civil War. At the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863, Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer and his Michigan Cavalry Brigade confronted Confederate Major General J.E.B. Stuart’s cavalry, which was attempting to penetrate the Union rear east of the main battlefield. Recognizing the danger posed by Stuart’s advance, Custer repeatedly led his regiments in mounted charges, personally riding at the head of his troopers.

During the fierce cavalry battle, Custer launched a series of aggressive counterattacks, committing his regiments one after another to halt Stuart’s momentum. The fighting was intense and often at close quarters as Federal and Confederate horsemen clashed across the fields east of Gettysburg. Custer’s bold leadership and willingness to share the dangers faced by his men helped inspire his brigade at a critical moment.

Stuart’s force had to be stopped. Had the Confederate cavalry succeeded in breaking through, it could have threatened General George G. Meade’s supply lines and rear areas while the main Confederate assault, Pickett’s Charge, was underway on Cemetery Ridge. Such a development might have forced the Army of the Potomac to divert troops or even abandon its strong defensive position.

Although overshadowed by the more famous fighting on Cemetery Ridge, the cavalry battle east of Gettysburg was a significant contribution to the Union victory. Custer’s aggressive actions helped deny Stuart access to the Union rear and played an important role in preserving Meade’s position during one of the most decisive battles of the Civil War. The engagement further enhanced Custer’s growing reputation as a fearless commander who led by example and was willing to accept great personal risk in pursuit of victory. This painting is from Emerging Civil War