They Died with Custer - Soldiers' Bones from the Battle of the Little Bighorn (Electronic book text)

More than a hundred years after the Battle of the Little Bighorn, its secrets continue to unfold. In this book, Douglas D. Scott, P. Willey, and Melissa A. Connor blend historic sources, archeological evidence, and physical data to present new revelations about the men who rode and died with Custer.

Although dead men tell no tales, their skeletons whisper entire life stories. Through painstaking analysis of the skeletal remains, the authors construct composite biographies of the soldiers, identifying their true ages, heights, states of health, and how they died. A vast selection of illustrations, including photographs, battlefield maps, drawings, and graphs, enhance the discussion.

The authors also move beyond individual stories to consider our views regarding the appropriate treatment for the dead. They explain how Custer Battlefield National Monument, now Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, has always reflected shifts in cultural values. The planned monument to the American Indians who fought against the Seventh Cavalry is perhaps the most notable example.

They Died with Custer is important because it humanizes the cavalrymen who until now have been mere statistics. The first study of its kind, this volume not only makes a significant contribution to Little Bighorn scholarship but also offers a general model for new ways to interpret the past.