Several men claiming to be scouts or part of Custer's command became part of the folklore and mystery surrounding the Last Stand. Some of the men, such as James Mannion, attempted to gain fame by claiming to be a part of Custer's command on the fateful day. Examine the stories, the men and reasons why they would make false claims. The cultural significance and clout one would have as a surviving member of Custer's final battle would be great, and many men falsely took advantage of that. Some men's claims cannot be proved or disproved. Raymond Hatfield Gardener, for example, claimed he attempted to warn Custer of impending doom but was accused of treason by the commander. Investigate these stories and their significance to the historical record.
Custer divided his troops into three forces: Major Marcus Reno was to invade the Sioux village from one side, while Captain Frederick Benteen blocked the upper valley to prevent Sioux from escaping. Custer and his force went deep into the encampment from the other side, which turned out to be a fatal mistake. Discuss the reasons why Custer ignored orders to wait for reinforcements. Approach the battle from Custer's perspective and detail what he could have done differently to prevent the demise of his troops. Do not take a hindsight approach. Instead, consider the situation from his own working knowledge and apply your own strategy. What Custer knew and did not know is still debated. Investigate disputes regarding this and address several possible solutions.
The Old West is grossly romanticized in books, movies and legends. Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Red Horse and George Custer were all transformed into legends. John Finerty, a reporter for the Chicago Times, interviewed Sioux survivors of the battle. In 1881, Chief Red Horse wrote an account of his experience at Little Bighorn using pictographs, translated by anthropologist Garrick Mallery. Examine the reality of the men who fought against the later, fantasized versions you might find in books and movies. Investigate how perceptions have changed regarding Custer, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, as well as reasons behind cultural shift in attitudes.
During the time of Custer, the United States was primarily a white, Anglo-Protestant nation with very clear notions of the manner in which men should worship. Likewise, white settlers saw the land as a means to an end -- namely wealth. The American Indians as a whole, and especially the Sioux, saw the land as a living and breathing being that gave birth to their people. Investigate the ideological differences, the spirituality clashes and the underlying greed of those who sought to defeat the Sioux. Custer advocated the Black Hills as grazing land for ranchers, and the gold in the Black Hills made many men rich. Discuss the conflicting goals of the American government, settlers and the Sioux and how each group's actions affected the outcome of the Little Bighorn.