George Armstrong Custer

[PBrunsel]

Colonel Custer was flamboyant. He was arrogant, but he was a fighter. He was not one to like an indian, but had several on his staff. When Custer was killed at the Little Big Horn, his wofe expanded his legacy by p[ublishing books and speaking about her husband in a heroic fashion.

What is Custer? An American Hero or an American Disgrace?

[PBrunsel]

American hero is winning. I didn't expect taht considering how history has soured toward Colonel Custer.

[The Dowager Mod]

eh.
he was too worried about his image.
decent cavalry leader though.

[ShapeShifter]

American hero is winning. I didn't expect taht considering how history has soured toward Colonel Custer.

American hero sure is losing, now.

[opebo]

He killed Indians, what more could one ask of a military man of that era?

[7,052,770]

He was good for the time, but looking from today's point of view, he sucks.

[angus]

I voted hero, but I'm not sure honestly.  I was raised to believe he was a total disgrace, so I don't know whether I'm gaining enlightenment or still in rebellion.  I think having to pick either hero or disgrace is a little tough.  For example, for me Colonel Oliver North is neither a hero nor a disgrace.  But if you forced me to choose one, I'd go with hero just to be a nonconformist, rebel against the old upbringing.  that sort of thing.  Polls should always include a third choice for the functionally indecisive folks.

[PBrunsel]

I voted hero. He did not want to kill all the indians. He was only invlved in one massacre at Sand Creek.

Custer is an American hero.

[angus]

That's my point.  I only know about Custer what my mother and my teachers wanted me to know, which was the massacre.  If someone wants to give your poll its due, then he should learn a bit more about custer.  I voted hero after a brief perusal of internet sites.  If I had been too lazy even to do that, I'd have been left thinking only of the arrogance and the massacre.

[Nation]

I voted hero. He did not want to kill all the indians. He was only invlved in one massacre at Sand Creek.

Custer is an American hero.

Just one massacre? Geez, that's NOTHING! Only one. Huh, imagine. Just one. Who would have thought? Well, one isn't much. After all TWO would have been... you know kinda bad but ONE... no big deal!

My thoughts exactly. It's like saying:

Oh, the serial killer only murdered 5 PEOPLE?  Well that's okay. As long as it wasn't TEN. That would have been WAY TOO MUCH.

[PBrunsel]

Well only one massacre, ot even ordred by Custer, is not bad compared to many Indian War generals.

By the way, it was Phillip Sheridan, not Custer, who said, "The only good indian is a dead one." I can't tell you how many times in history class kids told me this quote out of context.