Lakota Noon: The Indian Narrative of Custer's Defeat | Gregory F. Michno

Lakota Noon: The Indian Narrative of Custer's Defeat | Gregory F. Michno | The important 10 minutes in time

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Lakota Noon: The I...

	Lakota Noon: The Indian Narrative of Custer's Defeat Gregory F. Michno Mountain Press Publishing Company, 1997 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 20 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Lacota Noon

This book is excellent for those who are interested in a detailed history of the battle at Little Big Horn - "Custer's Last Stand" from the indian's point of view. The author painstakingly breaks the battle into 10 minute intervals from start to finish based on interviews with the various tribe members. His goal is not to "De-Bunk" all that we have read and studied about the battle but to give a well balanced narrative based on those who did survive it. It is well worth the time and effort of the reader.

The important 10 minutes in time

Michno's work is excellent, with the exception of his failure to include the reports of the Crow scouts. The main question that plagued me (and historians) is: Did Custer or any main body approach or cross the LBH? Michno partly answers the question: By focusing on the stories of the four to eight defenders at the river, Michno proves an Army force went to the river and was repulsed. He also provides strong analysis that it was not Custer, nor were there two deaths at the river. The best book on the incident by far.

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What the Indians reported

I read this after reading "A Terrible Glory" and was amazed that so much Native American testimony of the battle is available, even if it is fragmentary, contradictory, and often given decades after the events they describe. Some of the Native veterans of this battle were still alive in the 1940s and 50s and still offering views of what happened. Of the thousands of people in that village that was attacked by Custer, it seems a shame that only 40 or so seem to have ever had their memories recorded by historians or military or civilian interviewers. Why were so many of the others neglected? This is a compelling account of the battle and, along with the archaeological record and Army records up to the time that Reno's unit split from Custer's, is basically all that is available. Unless something else turns up.

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Good Effort, Contoversial, but Contradictory

Author Greg Michno put a valiant effort into reconciling the multitude of Native American testimonies that surround the Little Big Horn battle. I personally wish he would have quoted their exact testimony, THEN provided his interpretation of their statements. It would have saved me time in looking up their actual statements in my collection. Obviously, there is much dispute over what a particular warrior was trying to say and in most cases, Mr. Michno's views are as valid and thoughtful as most. I did find some of his "Discussions" contradictory however. For example, when discussing the "Henryville" archeological finds, Mr. Michno states that these shots could not have been fired at the soldiers on Calhoun Hill. In support, he states that the Native Americans did not shoot it out with the soldiers at close range, preferring instead to snipe from long range. Thus, this position "had to be" occupied later in the battle. He also states in that discussion that the warriors did not close for hand-to-hand combat. This is contradicted by his interpretations that 1)they did charge in this battle,overrunning the soldier positions 2) that in the earlier stages of the battle they primarily used bows and arrows (very short range weapons, especially when firing uphill), 3) in order to reach positions to charge they had to close to very short range, & 4) that tests proved that the effective range of the Henry and Winchester rifles was only about 100 yds, with hits dropping off dramatically at greater ranges.

Overall, however, his book provides food for thought and helps fill a niche that has been too often overlooked.

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everybody else is wrong but me!

researched and written by an author who makes his point by badmouthing and criticizing all other authors. His points are well taken, however; this has been written by a person who has never witnessed, or experienced the fog of war. Much of his less than honorable mentions of other ideas would have had more bearing if he took that into account. Still, much of it is enjoyable, although hard to follow with his jumping around, discounting one indians theory while using another to make his point.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4

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