The Last Stand is a nonfiction history book written by Nathaniel Philbrick. Released in 2010, it recounts the Battle of Little Bighorn.
Notable People Within[]
- George Armstrong Custer
- Sitting Bull
- Crazy Horse
- Wooden Leg
- Marcus Reno
- Frederick Benteen
- Peter Thompson
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Publisher's summary[]
The bestselling author of "Mayflower" sheds new light on one of the iconic stories of the American West
Little Bighorn and Custer are names synonymous in the American imagination with unmatched bravery and spectacular defeat. Mythologized as Custer's Last Stand, the June 1876 battle has been equated with other famous last stands, from the Spartans' defeat at Thermopylae to Davy Crockett at the Alamo.
In his tightly structured narrative, Nathaniel Philbrick brilliantly sketches the two larger-than-life antagonists: Sitting Bull, whose charisma and political savvy earned him the position of leader of the Plains Indians, and George Armstrong Custer, one of the Union's greatest cavalry officers and a man with a reputation for fearless and often reckless courage. Philbrick reminds readers that the Battle of the Little Bighorn was also, even in victory, the last stand for the Sioux and Cheyenne Indian nations. Increasingly outraged by the government's Indian policies, the Plains tribes allied themselves and held their ground in southern Montana. Within a few years of Little Bighorn, however, all the major tribal leaders would be confined to Indian reservations.
Throughout, Philbrick beautifully evokes the history and geography of the Great Plains with his characteristic grace and sense of drama. "The Last Stand" is a mesmerizing account of the archetypal story of the American West, one that continues to haunt our collective imagination.
Summary[]
Preface: Custer's Smile[]
In the spring of 1867, Custer rides along the plains of Kansas in pursuit of indigineous peoples with his regiment. After his greyhounds begin to chase an antelope, Custer sets off in pursuit of them and is stranded from the regiment. Custer quickly forgets about his predicament when he spots a buffalo. Giving chase to the buffalo, Custer plays a game of bait and switch with it before deciding to shoot the creature. Before he can, the buffalo notices and moves. Due to this, Custer accidentally blasts out his horse's brains. Custer disengages from his dead horse. The buffalo simply stares at Custer before leaving. Once the buffalo is gone, Custer begins to walk back to his regiment.
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Chapter 1: At the Flood[]
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See also[]
- Canaan by Donald McCaig
- Black Hills by Dan Simmons
Sources[]
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