Custer's Luck Has Run Out: George Armstrong Custer's Changing Image

During the Civil War, George Armstrong Custer seemed to have such a streak of good fortune, which included his avoidance of serious injury in spite of his daring command and having 11 horses shot out from under him. That good fortune was often referred to as "Custer's luck." His uncanny ability to always be "in the right place at the right time" had served him well throughout his military career. The colorful cavalryman was well accustomed to victory; his bold methods enabled him to repeatedly pull victory from the jaws of defeat. "Custer's luck" seemed to run out when he was killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn on 25 June 1876. But thanks to the untiring efforts of his devoted widow Libbie, George Armstrong Custer was able to achieve the lasting fame as a fallen hero well into the 20th century that had eluded him in life. Unfortunately, the assessment of Custer's actions during the Indian Wars has undergone substantial reconsideration in modern times. For many critics, Custer was the personification and culmination of the U.S. Government's ill-treatment of the Native American tribes. Within the context of post-Civil War expansion, Custer's actions differed little from the standard military strategy of the time. However, in the politically-charged environment that currently exists in the United States, it is likely that "Custer's Luck" has run out.

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