Why Is George Armstrong Custer Important

George Armstrong Custer holds a special place in United States Army History. He is infamous for his final decision that cost over 250 American lives. Custer achieved the rank of General twice during his Army career. His work ethic got him promoted. He changed the way that we fought battles. General Custer was involved in some of the most important battles during the Civil War. He was a loving and caring husband. He recorded his thoughts and memories in several publications. George Armstrong Custer was a free spirit that that never conformed to the military lifestyle. He was arrogant, cocky, and often overconfident. He loved the attention associated with being an officer in the United States Army. George Armstrong Custer

His attitude and tenacity caught the eye of General McClellan. General McClellan soon brought Custer in to be a part of his staff. While serving on the staff, Custer began to befriend many important individuals. He received the rank of Brigadier General on June 29, 1863. His promotion, at the age of 23, made him the youngest General in the history of the United States Army. Custer’s involvement in three major battles resulted in promotion to Major General. He was 25 years old at the time of this promotion. One of the battles was The Battle of Gettysburg. Custer saved the North during the battle. His quick thinking helped to take out the Southern forces that were converging on the North. He relentlessly pursued General Robert E. Lee until the end of the Civil War. The surrender occurred on April 9, 1865, at Appomattox

He received Lieutenant Colonel within months. He moved to the Seventh Cavalry Regiment out of Fort Riley, Kansas. Custer went on a mission to fight Indians in Nebraska and Kansas in 1866. He reported to General Hancock. He became frustrated with the fight against the Indians and began to act out against his leadership. Custer had deserters shot without trial. He disobeyed an order to wait for supplies at Fort Wallace and chose to go see his wife, Elizabeth. Custer faced a court martial for his actions that resulted in a suspension. General Sheridan replaced General Hancock and reinstated Custer. The Army needed a leader that had confidence and ability to fight the Indians. Custer’s unorthodox approach was exactly what the leadership preferred at the time. Trouble soon found Custer again in November of 1868. He failed to search for a missing squad of Soldiers. The squad was dead. This caused major upheaval within the ranks. Custer was very upset by the allegations and wrote an entire novel, My Life on the Plains, to tell his side of the event. George Custer violated the treaty of 1868 when he took a trip into the Black Hills of South Dakota in 1874. He found gold on the trip and this event was a major contributor to the rise of the Indians. It led to thousands of individuals heading out west to find gold. Soon after the expedition, the United States Army deemed that