What is the public’s greatest misconception about General Custer?
It’s that he was a failure and that he had a hatred of the American Indian, which I don’t think he did. I think he admired Indians. But when a solider is told to march against an enemy he has to do what is required as a military man. How long have you been participating in re-enactments? In 1986 I made a trip to Montana with a school chum of mine. We followed the trail out of Fort Abraham Lincoln [Mandan, North Dakota], living on beef jerky and hardtack [a cracker or biscuit made from flour, water and salt], just like the soldiers would have done. When I got to Montana it was almost like Divine Providence; I was asked if I would portray General Custer in a Little Bighorn Day celebration. This request was based on appearance alone? People have told me that even when I’m not in uniform or buckskins that I have an aura I project. As it happened, prior to the trip I purchased a J.C. Penney buckskin jacket. My school chum said to me, “You need to wear that buckskin jacket out west.” I felt
