The story of General George Armstrong Custer's early years on the American Frontier has been told before but this book, covering the period 1866 to 1869, focuses on aspects not previously covered in detail. The character and competence of the main US Army actors in the book are examined as to their performance when faced with a new foe and combat conditions in a geographic area that their prior experience in the Civil War did not prepare them for. US Army tactics, equipment and logistics are detailed as are Indian warfare techniques, all within the context of combat-both skirmishes and battles. Drawing on firsthand accounts, this is a fresh exploration of this crucial period in Custer's life and the evolution of the U.S. Army. AUTHOR: Arnold Blumberg, a native of Maryland, is a retired lawyer from the Maryland State Governement. He has for the past several years been a Visiting Scholar with the Classics Department of Johns Hopkins University. A frequent contributor to military history publications, he resides with his wife Marsha in Baltimore. 30 illustrations