George Armstrong Custer

George Armstrong Custer was a U.S. military officer and commander who rose to fame as a young officer during the American Civil War. He gained further fame for his post-war exploits against Native Americans in the West. Custer graduated from West Point in 1861 and served in the Army of the Potomac under General McClellan. He was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers at age 23 and commanded the Michigan Cavalry Brigade. He fought in several major battles, including Gettysburg, Yellow Tavern, and Winchester. He was known for his aggressive and flamboyant style of warfare, which earned him both praise and criticism. He was also involved in the Appomattox Campaign, which led to the surrender of General Lee and the Confederate Army. After the war, Custer remained in the regular army and was assigned to the western frontier. He participated in several campaigns against the Plains Indians, such as the Comanche Campaign and the Battle of Washita River. He was also involved in the controversial Black Hills Expedition, which sparked the Great Sioux War of 1876. Custer's most famous and fatal encounter was the Battle of the Little Bighorn, where he and his entire command of about 210 men were killed by a coalition of Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors. Custer's death made him a legendary figure in American history and culture, and his legacy has been debated and reinterpreted by historians, writers, and filmmakers.