During 1952, when I was learning to be a Naval Aviator in Pensacola, Florida, I read a book on the Battle of the Little Bighorn written from the Indian point of view. Do you know the title?

During 1952, when I was learning to be a Naval Aviator in Pensacola, Florida, I read a book on the Battle of the Little Bighorn written from the Indian point of view. Do you know the title?

Ray Latall

Highland, Maryland

The book you are asking about is Custer’s Fall by David Humphrey Miller. During the 1930-40s, he interviewed 72 Indians present at the battle. Unfortunately, his notes were lost by movers during a move. Custer’s Fall is the most reproduced book on Custer.

Many contradictory versions of the battle are given by the Indians, and there were no white survivors, so exactly what happened will never be known. The only thing we know for certain is there was a lot of confusion on that hill. We don’t even know if the body in Custer’s grave at West Point is really Custer.

To learn more about the Battle of the Little Bighorn, visit the Custer Battlefield Museum in Garryowen, Montana. For more information, visit custermuseum.org or call
406-638-1876.