Summary of Nathaniel Philbrick's The Last Stand

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

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#1 The Missouri River was the longest river in the United States, and it was navigable by steamboats. The most difficult challenge for these boats was navigating the river in the summer and fall, when the water level dropped.

#2 The Missouri riverboat was an invasive species of empire. It was the tangle of ropes and wooden poles on the bow that distinguished the Missouri riverboat from her less adaptable counterparts on the Mississippi.

#3 Custer was called to testify about corruption within the War Department of Grant’s Republican administration. He eagerly implicated Grant’s secretary of war, William Belknap, and President Grant’s brother Orville.

#4 On May 10, 1876, President Ulysses S. Grant opened the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The ceremony did not go well. There were more than 186,000 people at the exhibition that day. The fairgrounds, surrounded by three miles of fence, contained two hundred buildings, including the two largest structures in the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Mar 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669372318

IRB Media

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Insights on Nathaniel Philbrick's The Last Stand

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 6

Insights from Chapter 7

Insights from Chapter 8

Insights from Chapter 9

Insights from Chapter 10

Insights from Chapter 11

Insights from Chapter 12

Insights from Chapter 13

Insights from Chapter 14

Insights from Chapter 15

Insights from Chapter 16

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

The Missouri River was the longest river in the United States, and it was navigable by steamboats. The most difficult challenge for these boats was navigating the river in the summer and fall, when the water level dropped.

#2

The Missouri riverboat was an invasive species of empire. It was the tangle of ropes and wooden poles on the bow that distinguished the Missouri riverboat from her less adaptable counterparts on the Mississippi.

#3

Custer was called to testify about corruption within the War Department of Grant’s Republican administration. He eagerly implicated Grant’s secretary of war, William Belknap, and President Grant’s brother Orville.

#4

On May 10, 1876, President Ulysses S. Grant opened the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The ceremony did not go well. There were more than 186,000 people at the exhibition that day. The fairgrounds, surrounded by three miles of fence, contained two hundred buildings, including the two largest structures in the world.

#5

On May 10, 1876, President Grant spoke in Philadelphia about his Indian policy, but was met with silence from the audience. Custer and General Terry arrived at Bismarck the same day, and took the ferry across the Missouri River to Fort Lincoln.

#6

When Custer arrived at Fort Lincoln, he was excited to be back in the West, and he was ready to start chasing Indians again. He was also bubbling with enthusiasm when he met General Terry, who would be leading the expedition.

#7

Custer was scapegoated for the failings of his superiors, and the Battle of the Washita was seen as a great victory by both Custer and Sheridan. But local Indian agent James Mooney pointed out that the leader of the village had been Black Kettle, a noted peace chief, and not Custer.

#8

Custer’s peacemaking efforts with the Cheyenne Indians were highlighted in a letter published in the New York Times. His efforts were crowned by the release of two white women hostages, who had suffered a fate worse than death during their captivity.

#9

Custer was recalled to duty with the Seventh Cavalry in the Dakota Territory in 1873. He was elated, but his elation was cut short when he learned that his commanding officer, General Stanley, did not like him. Custer blamed Stanley’s drinking for their problems, but most of their arguments had to