Elizabeth Bacon Custer: Spin Doctress

Tomorrow marks the birthday of George Armstrong Custer, 1839-1876. After meteoric glory in the War Between the States, his life catapulted to an early halt with the 7th Cav at Little Big Horn. Blundering? Betrayal? Tactical errors? He acquired both historical supporters and detractors. The greatest of the former, his posthumous publicist, was wife Libby, who lived until 1933, age 90. Her untiring devotion and effort resulted in a legacy of the General as a fallen hero, an image pervasive in popular culture until mere decades ago when sensitivity toward Native Americans finally surged to the fore. It is interesting that Custer apparently disapproved of President Grant’s plans for Native American tribes. Nevertheless, he followed orders as soldiers do. Libby penned three books of positive spin: Boots and Saddles 1885, Following the Guidon 1890, & Tenting on the Plains 1893.  She proved without a doubt that words have power.