On this day (5th December) George Custer was born!

1839, 5th December, George Armstrong Custer was born in the world.
As a non-American to know about Custer, he must have been quite well known in American history. Perhaps it was in the movies(like the reference in the Last Samurai), or references to battles lost....but whatever the reason, his name has been quite a famous one (or was it infamous?).

Custer conversation in the movie "The Last Samurai"

Who was George Custer?

George Custer was known for his part in the American Civil war in which he took part. He was a young leader that seemed to have a knack at leading cavalry in war situations.
This together with his association with important officers (seems to be how real growth always happens) and his ability to lead the cavalry, he became a brevetted brigadier general by the age of 23.

He would personally lead charges of cavalry against the enemy, which also got him injured a few times.

He eventually grew to the position of lieutenant colonel in the 7th Cavalry regiment of the union army.

As a youngster Custer seemed to test his boundaries constantly. In fact he was the type that would have driven teachers to drink!!
He amassed at one stage 726 demerits at West Point, which to date is still one of their worst conduct records.

He was also involved in skirmishes which killed many Indian tribe men, some women and children as well.

The Famous Battle of Little Bighorn

With the expansion of the American people into territory that was being defended by the Indian tribes, there was bound to be fighting. It was generally under control until gold was found in the area.
The expansion then of course, continued regardless.

It was at this time when different tribes of Plains Indians (including the Lakota Sioux and the Cheyenne) got together to decide what to do with the white men that were taking over their lands. They had refused to sell the lands to them, but they kept coming.
It was to quell the Indians and to take control of the gold fields that the US decided to corral the Plains Indians into reservations, and any that were found outside these borders were considered as hostile.

It was in these circumstances that the US armies found the large group of Indians (approx 2000) gathered together near the Little Bighorn river which is in now Montana, and decided to charge them so that they would not escape.

Custer had 210 men in his cavalry, and other commanders with their men attacked but the plans were apparently never followed by the commanders Reno and Benteen, which allowed Custer and his 2 brothers to be overrun and killed.

Custer was found naked with a bullet in his chest and head.

His wife then used the story of his death, and highly publicized it to show him as a martyr which is why he is so well known.

But as more information came to light over time, the aura surrounding him became more clouded in controversy, and to date his name is clouded as such.
Remember you had his wife pushing her agenda and using Goerge's exploits for this, and the US president Grant, who was at that time not a fan of Custer criticizing him for the strategies he and the others used.

In all he will remain a figure of controversy.

Check out the video for some more information

Hope you enjoyed the quick reminder of a part of American history.

Cheers

[Image and info credit Wikipedia, YouTube, nps.gov, dc.wikia.com]