Lakota Noon: The Indian Narrative of Custer's Defeat

Outstanding book. I would highly recommend it. Probably not the first book you should read on the Little Bighorn Battle but definitely should be in your collection. A basic understanding of the battle before reading this is helpful. That said, Michno does an outstanding job of sorting thru the numerous Indian interviews/testimonies of the battle. On face value, many of these testimonies seem contradictory and confusing which leads to many authors/researchers to discard them. Michno sifts thru the pile of interviews, finds common ground in them and realigns much of the apparent differences. He really utilizes the Indian testimonies as no other author. Indians didn’t carry pocket watches for example, so time periods of 15-20 minutes to us may be “the time it takes a hungry man to eat breakfast”. There are indeed a few testimonies that Michno can’t align but he addresses these as well. The book is very well written. Each chapter begins with Indian testimonies relating to a time period on the battlefield. Then, a discussion follows at the end of each chapter. Outstanding revelations in the book? Well that depends on your understanding and beliefs concerning the battle but for one thing Michno says we need to put to rest the theory of Custer getting wounded or even killed at the “attempted fording” at Medicine Tail Coulee. Did not happen. I agree with him.If you enjoy books on the Battle, Lakota Noon should be in your collection.

Michno writes a masterful narrative of Custer's Last Stand from the Native American perspective. Brilliantly dividing the entire battle in ten minute segments the author quotes each interviewed participant, explaining where they were and what happened during each segment. This gives a much clearer and cohesive overview of the entire battle scene. Many historian's have lamented that there were no survivors of the battle to relate what happened, but THEY ARE WRONG. The Native Americans who fought and won that battle survived. This book relates their story.

This book is a great addition to the books I have about the Little Bighorn battle.Love the maps!

One of the great books on the Little Big Horn because it offers a fresh approach from the Native American point of view by consolidating their testimonies through time motion studies. Michno's book offers a different point of view that Custer stayed on his side of the river to stay in some visual contact with Benteen and Reno after the latter's retreat. That Custer hoped that he would draw the Indians to him while the rest of his command would appear in his rear to trap the Indians between two attacking units. He also demonstrates a new spin on Custer's movements that Yate's Battalion of E & F troops joined Keough's Battalion (C, I and L) on Nye Cartwright Ridge instead of Battleridge, that Yates went futher north and west than originally thought, that the Cheyene Lame Whiteman's backbreaking attack ocurred below Custer Hill and not against Company L on Calhoun Hill to the Southwest and that Keough's Company I's collapse caused the destruction of the south of Battleridge leading to the destruction of Custer's battalions. Mincho also adds disturbing insight that Reno and Benteen may have witnessed the destruction of Calhoun's command but not Custer's that was further north and still fighting when the two commands turned away. A lot of detail and testimony that makes Mincho's appraisal more believable because many of the testimonies substantiate each other and isolate those that appear to be exaggerations. And the testimonies trace the whereabouts and actions of Gall, White Bull, Sitting Bull, Wooden Leg, Two Moons, Crazy Horse, Lame Whiteman and many more participants.A good book to go with Utley's, Fox's and Gray's. They all cannot be right in every detail but reading them all brings you closer to narrowing the possibilities.

Unlike those great westerns of the 50's, the Indians did not ride in circles around wagon trains or groups of soldiers. Clearly, if the Indians had attacked as shown in those old westerns, the outcome of that battle would have been different. The book Lakota Noon explains how the Indians used cover and long range tactics to slowly gain the upper hand over the 7th and it's leader Custer.Mr. Michno does a nice job of relating how the Indians viewed events as they unfolded that day. The book is based on many conversations and statements from the only survivors of the battle. As I read the book, with it's unique way of telling about the battle, I could picture how the troopers were at a big disadvantage as they became targets, while their adversaries did not.As you read the book you will see that there were a number of opportunities before the last fight, for the 7th to rejoin with Reno and the rest of their comrades. But Custer was on the offensive, giving no thought to defense or retreat. This was not recklessness on his part, he had reasons to expect a victory that day, even an hour or more after the battle had been joined.The reasons for the failure of Custer's plan to achieve victory becomes clear as you read the book to it's conclusion.

Most of the book needed to be read twice to grasp the scene clearly. A little bit heavy, but never the less enjoyable. It appears that Custer was notprepared for the ensuing battle, being either negligent or stupid. There was never a last stand, he simply died with the rest of the men, quite justly in my opinion.

Captivating Indian perspective. I like the short narratives by each Indian witness. Holds my attention much longer than any normal book. After reading this book i am reassured that the soldiers did in fact try to act in an organised manner but strength in numbers resulted in a Tsunami of warriors overrunning them. Must have been very brave man or absolutely petrified. Can understand why some may have committed suicide, some may have run, and some fought to the end. Truly awe inspiring. Cannot stop thinking about some of the missing links - Did they get into the village early on and were chased out hence missing bodies? Did Harrington get away and was caught later on? If only Foley had not blown his brains out after eluding his pursuers. And finally, if you were there, and managed to escape, would you tell anyone !! Not me for sure. Look what happened to Officers Benteen and Reno afterwards. As a private you would have been shot.

The minute by minute perspective is really thought provoking. Excellent

Excellent, very sad book. The native Americans suffered, as did the Australian aborigines and other charming people.

Wargames