Elizabeth Bacon Custer and the Making of a Myth. - book reviews

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), March, 1994 by Gerald F. Kreyche

Just when readers thought the literature of Custeriana had run its long and checkered course, now comes a most welcome addition from Shirley Leckie, a history professor from Florida. She gives yet another view of George Armstrong Custer's life, as see, and shaped by his wife, Libby. it is the most comprehensive investigation of this professional widow" whose entire life was a studied eulogy to her famous, albeit controversial, husband.

Leckie has researched the numerous notes, letters, diaries, articles, and books written by Libby Custer to present the picture of a love-driven Victorian woman whose sole purpose after his death was to defend her husband's fame and honor. Libby Custer had nearly 57 years to extol her husband's heroic virtues after his death at Little Big Horn. She died in 1933, just a few days short of her 91st birthday, She had earned high respect not only from the friends, but even from the enemies of Custer. in fact, most refused to criticize her husband publicly, saying they would do so only when she died. She outlasted them all, thus sending many interesting critiques to the grave, instead of to the printer.

Libby helped her husband's career by working carefully at establishing important social and political connections. She and Custer knew people ranging from Abraham Lincoln to Buffalo Bill, P.T. Barnum, and Annie Oakley and, it seems, cultivated nearly everyone who could help Custer's career.

Libby was a woman of great talent. She could draw, play piano, and discuss religion and the arts. Like her husband, she was a very good writer and helped to support herself through books and articles on military life. Her Boots and Saddles and Following the Guidon were read by thousands, being among the first in that genre. She had a bird's eye view of the military, for she camped with Custer and stayed at his various headquarters, which were nerve centers for discussing and plotting military actions.

Although Leckie says her book is a study of the use of female power in an age of men, this mostly is a sop to the teminists. There is little politicizing here-just a straight account of the life of an unusual couple.