Book Review: A Terrible Glory, By James Donovan.

 

  Art work from xAI.

Book Review:

A Terrible Glory 

by James Donovan

Review by G.C. Stevens 
James Donovan’s A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn – The Last Great Battle of the American West (2008, Little, Brown and Company) is a meticulously researched and engaging account of the infamous Battle of the Little Bighorn in June 1876. This 500-plus-page work delves into George Armstrong Custer’s “Last Stand,” where he and 210 men of the Seventh Cavalry were defeated by a coalition of Lakota Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors. Donovan, known for The Blood of Heroes, aims to provide a comprehensive narrative, incorporating 25 years of fresh research—archaeological findings, eyewitness accounts, and scholarly reassessments—to move beyond myths and offer a nuanced history. This review evaluates the book’s strengths, narrative style, and contribution to Little Bighorn historiography.

The book traces the broader context of U.S.-Native American tensions during westward expansion, Custer’s flamboyant military career, and the battle’s climactic events, concluding with its aftermath and legacy. Donovan starts with the historical backdrop of the Indian Wars, then focuses on Custer’s journey from Civil War hero to frontier commander. The heart of the narrative reconstructs the battle using forensic evidence and diverse perspectives, including those of Native leaders like Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. The final sections explore the U.S. Army’s attempts to deflect blame, framing Custer as a scapegoat.
Donovan claims A Terrible Glory is the first to fully integrate recent scholarship, such as battlefield archaeology and revised assessments of tactical decisions, offering a fuller picture than earlier works. This ambition drives its detailed exploration of not just the battle, but the personalities, strategies, and institutional failures that shaped it.

Donovan excels at merging rigorous research with a novelistic flair. The book is accessible yet scholarly, appealing to both casual readers and historians. Custer emerges as a bold, flawed figure—ambitious and brave, yet undone by overconfidence. Sitting Bull is a resolute visionary, Crazy Horse a tactical genius, and Major Marcus Reno a conflicted officer whose hesitation remains debated. These vivid portrayals bring the story to life.
The research is a standout feature, drawing on military records, Native oral histories, newspapers, and over 100 pages of notes and bibliography. Donovan uses battlefield evidence—like cartridge case patterns—to clarify troop movements, challenging myths that pin the disaster solely on Custer. He highlights poor communication, divided command, and underestimation of Native strength as key factors, offering a balanced critique. The aftermath, with its revelations of an Army cover-up, adds depth, showing how officials manipulated narratives to protect their image.
This blend of storytelling and evidence makes A Terrible Glory a compelling read. Donovan’s ability to present complex historical data—such as the chaotic final moments on Last Stand Hill—in a clear, gripping way ensures the book resonates beyond academic circles.

Despite its strengths, the book has limitations. Donovan’s focuses on Custer. However he presents the Native American perspective, while he humanizes Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, the broader cultural stakes for the Plains Indians. 
The wealth of detail, while a boon for scholars, occasionally slows the pace. Early chapters on Custer’s career and U.S.-Indian conflicts delve into minutiae, delaying the battle’s momentum. A tighter edit could have streamlined the narrative without losing substance.
Donovan also avoids firm conclusions on some mysteries, like Custer’s final actions—heroic stand or panicked collapse? This restraint reflects his evidence-based approach, but may leave readers wanting clearer resolution. Still, it aligns with his goal of presenting facts over speculation, letting the evidence speak.
Contribution and Relevance
A Terrible Glory bridges romanticized tales (e.g., Libbie Custer’s hagiographies) and vilifying portrayals (e.g., Little Big Man), offering a balanced Custer: a courageous soldier felled by hubris and circumstance. By integrating modern research—like forensic studies and Native accounts—it surpasses earlier works, earning its claim as a landmark study. It’s a valuable resource for understanding the battle’s complexities and the American frontier’s violent legacy.
Beyond history, the book offers lessons in leadership, decision-making, and cultural misjudgment, relevant to modern discussions of power and conflict. Military enthusiasts will appreciate its tactical breakdown, while those interested in Native resistance will find the warriors’ resilience compelling.

A Terrible Glory is a triumph of historical narrative, blending deep research with a gripping tale of ambition, bravery, and tragedy. Its Custer focus and occasional pacing issues are minor compared to its clarity, depth, and fresh perspective. For anyone seeking to move beyond Hollywood’s Little Bighorn, this book is essential. Donovan illuminates a pivotal moment and invites reflection on the forces that shaped it, securing A Terrible Glory as a modern classic.

Tin Jesus on Horse-back, Buffalo Bills Bitter Business: By Matthew Kerns

Buffalo Bill and Nate Salsbury displayed on Buffalo Bill's Wild West, promotional poster

Photo courtesy of Matthew Kerns

 Tin Jesus on Horseback:

 Buffalo Bill’s Bitter Business and Personal Feuds: 

By Matthew Kerns

Buffalo Bill Cody was a legend, but legends are not built alone. His rise to fame depended on key business partnerships, yet those partnerships were often fraught with conflict. Cody’s inability to manage money, his loyalty to problematic associates, and his drinking habits created tensions that led to dramatic fallouts with some of his closest allies. Nowhere was this more evident than in his feuds with two of his most notable partners—Nate Salsbury and Dr. William “Doc” Carver.

                                          Nate Salsbury, Photo courtesy of Matthew Kerns

Nate Salsbury was the driving business force behind Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, handling logistics, finances, and promotion. Without Salsbury, the show might not have achieved its enormous success, but the partnership was strained. Salsbury grew frustrated with Cody’s reckless spending and poor financial decisions, particularly when Buffalo Bill invested heavily in the irrigation project that founded the town of Cody, Wyoming. Their relationship was further tested by Cody’s drinking and his tendency to surround himself with friends who drained money from the operation. Before his death in 1902, Salsbury documented his grievances in a memoir he never published, referring to his years working with Buffalo Bill as “Sixteen Years in Hell.” He derisively described Cody as a “Tin Jesus on Horseback,” a man with a grand vision but little control over his affairs.

Buffalo Bill and Doc Carver, photo courtesy of Matthew Kerns

Salsbury’s unpublished manuscript was filled with venom. “Buffalo Bill makes a virtue of keeping sober most of the time during the summer season, and when he does so for an entire season, he looks on himself as a paragon of virtue,” he wrote. “But when the fever gets into his brain, he forgets honor, reputation, friend, and obligation in his mad eagerness to fill his hide with rotgut of any kind.” He went on to accuse Cody of breaking promises, saying, “He becomes so utterly lost to all sense of decency and shame that he will break his plighted word and sully his most solemn obligation.” Even in death, Salsbury’s words remained a testament to the bitter dissolution of their once-lucrative partnership.

As Salsbury’s health failed, he became increasingly paranoid that Buffalo Bill would find a way to cut his family out of the profits of the Wild West show. “All the brutal things that Cody is capable of are well known to me,” he wrote. “I want this record to stand so that when he starts in to malign me, as he will do, my friends will have my answer.” The mistrust between them had become irreparable, yet Salsbury remained with the Wild West show until his dying day, unwilling—or perhaps unable—to sever ties completely. His family, however, did not share his attachment. When he passed in 1902, his heirs moved quickly to protect what was left of his legacy, selling off his interests in the show and ensuring that Buffalo Bill would no longer have control over Salsbury’s share of the profits.

Another significant rift occurred between Cody and Doc Carver, a sharpshooter and showman who initially partnered with him to launch the Wild West spectacle. Carver’s ego matched Cody’s, and their differing visions for the show led to an early split. While Carver saw himself as an equal partner, Cody ultimately sought a larger spotlight. Carver, embittered, went on to create his own show, claiming that he was the true mastermind behind the Wild West performance. The rivalry between the two became personal, with Carver challenging Cody’s version of events and attempting to outdo him in the show circuit. Carver’s bitterness persisted long after their partnership dissolved, and he spent years trying to compete with the Wild West’s enduring popularity.

Despite these conflicts, Buffalo Bill’s charisma kept his name at the forefront of entertainment. However, his poor business sense and fractured relationships left him vulnerable. After Salsbury’s death, Cody’s financial troubles worsened, forcing him into questionable business deals that led to the eventual loss of control over his own show. He had once been the undisputed star of a global phenomenon, but by the twilight of his career, he was a performer in another man’s circus, haunted by the ghosts of his past feuds and failures.

About The Editor

 

Gene Stevens, was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1959, is an American author, historian, and blogger known for his work in historical crime literature and his engaging online presence under the pseudonym G.C. Stevens. With a deep passion for uncovering the untold stories of America's past, Stevens has carved a unique niche as a writer and researcher, blending meticulous historical detail with gripping narrative storytelling. His most notable work, A Fiendish Crime, explores the true story of the first train robbery in the American West, showcasing his ability to bring forgotten events to life with vivid prose and a keen eye for historical context.
Stevens’ journey to authorship was shaped by a diverse and adventurous life. After serving in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserves during the early 1980s, where he earned accolades such as the Navy Battle "E" and the Humanitarian Service Medal, he transitioned into a career in law enforcement. Over the years, he worked with multiple agencies, including the Fox River Grove Police Department and the Spring Grove Illinois Police Department, where he served as a patrol officer, juvenile officer, and D.A.R.E. instructor. His experiences in security and law enforcement—later including roles with Monsanto Corporation, the Transportation Security Administration, and military police training—provided him with a unique perspective on crime and justice, which he channels into his writing.
As G.C. Stevens, he maintains a blog titled Central States, Lawman and Outlaws Historic Association, where he delves into topics ranging from Wild West mysteries to Civil War history. His posts reflect his extensive travels across the United States, visiting historic sites, and his dedication to genealogy, tracing his family’s roots back to Ireland and England. Stevens’ love for history extends beyond the page—he spent over a decade as a living historian, reenacting periods from the Revolutionary War to World War II.
In addition to A Fiendish Crime, Stevens has authored other works, including Red Flag of Defiance, about the Black Hawk War, and the semi-fictional Ten Eycke Chronicles: Return to Tombstone. Now residing in Des Moines, Iowa, where he runs a private investigative company, Stevens continues to explore the intersections of history, crime, and human experience. Married in Tombstone, Arizona, in 2017, he lives with his wife and remains an avid researcher, traveler, and storyteller, committed to preserving the past for modern readers.

John Wayne Birthday Bulletin. May 23th, 24th & 25th

 

Save the date for the 10th Anniversary of the John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winterset Iowa.

For more details visit the John Wayne Birthplace Museum web page