The Battle of the Little Bighorn is one of the most controversial battles, perhaps even the most controversial, in American history. General George Armstrong Custer led his 210 soldiers into battle and never came out. Miscalculations, blunders, and personal glory led Custer not only to his death, but to becoming the most talked about soldier in that battle. But the responsibility doesn't rest solely on Custer's shoulders; this also includes Captain Frederick Benteen and Major Marcus Reno, who both fought in the battle. Both the Captain and Major made serious mistakes during the fight, the most notable being Major Marcus Reno being completely drunk during the battle. All of these factors made the Battle of Little Bighorn the worst defeat in American history against a group of Plains Indians. General Custer graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1861; ranking last in his class. He served in the Civil War where he was a fearless cavalry leader, and in 1865 he received the temporary rank of major general. Many people thought he shouldn't have even participated in the Civil War, let alone graduated. However, many who served with him said they admired his courage and success, but many were jealous of him. His enemies often said that he was a “glory hunter”. He was a glory hunter and sought to make a name for himself. After the Civil War, Custer continued to fight Indians in the Southwest, Dakota, and Montana territories. The Indian War stretched from the 1820s until 1890. When settlers began flooding the western part of America, railroads followed. These railroads made it easier for people to go west and also hunt buffalo. The Americans were killing buffalo left and right. Soon, middle of paper......Publishers, 1973), 226-229. McDougal Littell Inc. Web. March 8, 2014. Philbrick, Nathaniel. The last Stand. New York: Penguin Books, 2010. Print. “Little Bighorn, Battle Of The”. Encyclopedia of the Great Plains. Page 1. Web. March 12. 2014. Wilkinson, Stephan. “The Worst Mistakes on the Battlefield: Five Battles That Ended Badly.” » History.net, Weider History Group. Web 30. March 2014. Colimore, Edward. "Grim Facts from Custer's Last Stand Revelation on the Rest of the Battle." Editor of the Philly Inquirer. June 22, 1986. The web 30, 2014.