In the days leading up to the Battle of the Little Bighorn, General Custer said something that comes across as being rather interesting. What's more, since it was spoken, it doesn't seem to have garnered too much attention. This can make the statement even more interesting.

On the evening of June 22, 1876, General Custer held an officers' meeting. The regiment he was commanding was to start out on a scout the following day. During the meeting, Custer said: "We are starting on a scout which we all hope will be successful, and I intend to do everything I can to make it both as successful and pleasant as I can for everybody" (Merington, 310). It's rather interesting that Custer stated that he was going to do everything he could to make the scout as pleasant as he could for everybody.

One reason why this is interesting is because Custer is so often depicted as being selfish at this very time in his life - unconcerned about anybody other than himself. On the contrary, his own words tell a different story - he says "I intend to do everything I can" to make the scout "as successful and pleasant as I can for everybody". This is a very different Custer from the one that is so often presented.

Another reason why Custer's words are interesting is because they relate that he understood how to properly manage people - he seemed to realize that you cannot just take from employees - you must treat them properly. He also seemed to realize that a happy employee is generally a good employee. So, Custer appears to have had some insight into the proper management of people.

Another reason why Custer's words are interesting is because they show him as being a servant leader. In fact, when reading Custer's words, it kind of sounds like he is working for his men, instead of the other way around.

These words of Custer are also interesting when considering that he was a military leader at the time. It seems likely that many wouldn't expect a military leader to be giving voice to the idea that he was going to do what he could to make a scout pleasant for his men.

In the end, these words of Custer are quite interesting for a number of reasons. They tell a different story about a man who has been presented so many times - and yet, these words of his seldom seem to find their way into the presentations. These words tell us that perhaps Custer was not the man that has been so often presented. They also tell us that perhaps the story of the Little Bighorn is different from what has so often been told.

---

About the Author

Tim Kloos is an online advertising professional. He helps clients with their websites, online presence, and online advertising. If you need help with any of these, feel free to contact him via the contact page.

His tech website is clevelandwebdesignplus.com.

He has also written a children's book set in the Old West.