A Terrible Glory

November 12, 2007
In this labor of love, Donovan collects the multiple threads that led to the 1876 massacre at Little Big Horn. By the 1870s various American Indian tribes ignored the American government’s edict to relocate to reservations. Growth in pioneer settlements had produced so many clashes that western commander Philip Sheridan ordered three army columns to converge on an immense Indian encampment in southern Montana Territory. Donovan’s eye-opening description of these cavalrymen contradicts the Hollywood image. These troops were untrained, inexperienced in individual combat and poorly equipped. Custer, the first to encounter the enemy encampment, split his forces before attacking. This tactical error ensured that some units would survive the fighting, here described in vivid detail. Custer’s last stand became the Indians’, too. Though the army was happy to blame the debacle on the dead Custer, the battle’s survivors banded together to ensure no reputation went tarnished in public hearings. The author makes a good case for Custer as scapegoat by portraying him as a likable Civil War hero, flamboyant publicity hound and more experienced Indian fighter than most of his men and all of his commanders,. Exhaustive research, lively prose and fresh interpretation make for a valuable addition to literature on this otherwise well-trodden historical event.

Starred review from December 15, 2007
Recent decades have seen important new findings regarding the Battle of the Little Bighorn. What has been needed next is a clear narrative for scholars and lay readers alike embracing all of the recent research; literary agent Donovan has written just that. First he provides the context of the campaign of 1876 from both the Native American and the U.S. Army perspectives, with the essential background on the major players. Then he presents what he considers the most likely sequence of events of the battle itself, based on archaeological and other research findings, along with the many Native American accounts that have become available and a careful review of the traditional sources. Rather than interrupting his fast-paced narrative with asides on his sources, Donovan wisely places such discussion in the notes, making them available to scholars and serious Custer students. The final quarter of the book is devoted to the aftermath of the battle, particularly the court of inquiry. Donovan shows the extent to which the army and surviving members of the Seventh Cavalry went to put all of the blame on Custer in what today would be called a cover-up. This book is an excellent starting point for those seeking an understanding of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries.Stephen H. Peters, Northern Michigan Univ. Lib., Marquette

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2008
Despite the passage of 131 years, our national interest in Custer, Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, and other less prominent participants in the battle of the Little Bighorn has not abated. There is still room for this well-done account of the controversial events that occurred on a hot June Sunday on hills and in ravines in eastern Montana. Donovan provides meticulous detail about the men and their times. This is a valuable work, particularly for general readers who lack extensive knowledge of the episode. Donovan doesnt shy away from casting aspersions. Reno, Custers second in command, is portrayed as a drunk who panicked in his first major engagement against Indians. Captain Benteen performed magnificently in organizing defenses after Renos charge was rebuffed, but his intense hatred of Custer may have clouded his judgment. Donovan views Custer as rash and prone to self-promotion but not as the ruthless egomaniac portrayed by some of his detractors. He doesnt solve many of the mysteries surrounding the battle, but this is an excellentreexamination.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)