Crazy Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors

This biography examines the parallel lives of Crazy Horse, leader of the Oglala Sioux, and General George Armstrong Custer, two warriors whose paths converged at the Battle of Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876. On that morning, 611 men of the United States 7th Cavalry rode toward the banks of Little Bighorn in the Montana Territory, where three thousand Indians awaited battle. Both men shared striking similarities: they were aggressive and courageous, rose to leadership positions in their respective societies at young ages, experienced disgrace and loss of power, and worked to regain their people's respect. The unspoiled grandeur of the Great Plains held an irresistible appeal for both warriors. Their parallel lives set the stage for an inevitable clash between two nations competing for control of the open prairie—a confrontation neither man fully anticipated.