I really enjoyed Killing Custer. Throughout the book I found it astonishing with how much detail Welch was able to describe not only the context of each Indian-white battle, but also the important happenings that would eventually culminate in Little Big Horn in '76. One thing that I found interesting was Welch's insight into the U.S army during the time --What made Custer a good leader? What were his shortcomings as a military leader as far as strategy (he didn't even scout the surrounding areas before his attack on southern Cheyenne leading to the massacre of Elliott's men --come on dude!), how, despite his 10 month banishment, he was reinstated and due to his usefulness to the army as a morale booster, and an interesting re-organization of army personnel following the civil war away from experienced, albeit older officers, toward brash young officers like Custer who may not have had the military mind necessary for the job and which caused dissension in his 7th unit. 

 While I, like many of you, enjoyed the book's even-handedness in showing the Indian perspective, I felt that a shortcoming of the book was Welch's occasionally over-opinionated nature. However, I understand that this may have come as the result of the author being a native himself. Overall, I enjoyed the passion with which he wrote the book, which really resonated with me the reader. By the end, I felt more knowledgeable but mostly very sympathetic to the plight of the Native Americans.