With Custer in '74: James Calhoun's Diary of the Black Hills Expedition

by James Calhoun

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0842516204
• ISBN13: 9780842516204
• Release Date: January 1979
• Publisher: Brigham Young University Press
• Length: 140 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Insights into Custer and Cavalry life

This book written as both a log and a journal by Lt Calhoun was never published. It is fleshed out by Lawrence Frost who supplements the daily recounting with an array of footnotes that contrast or compliment Calhoun's impressions, insights and opinions. The various official reports copied in this book revel that Custer convinced the army on the advantages of an expedition as a cost savings over garrison duty. It underscores the complexity of preparing and executing the trip into hostile territory for 60+ days. Custer critics point to the long marches undertaken by the 7th on the way to the LBH. This journal lays out many such marches throughout the Black Hills Expedition. Custer had participated in the Yellowstone Expedition the year before, and had observed the Sioux avoid any major confrontation. We see that while he had been informed that as many as 2500 Sioux might confront and block his path, he diligently avoided provoking any battles. However, he expressed his confidence that 10 companies of his regiment were more than adequate to face the entire Sioux nation if required. Once again his opinion was reinforced when the Indians did not challenge his large military force. This book provided some useful insight into the mind of Custer when he drew on these experiences and decided to divide his command to take on the Sioux two years later.