born Dec. 5, 1839, New Rumley, Ohio, U.S.
died June 25, 1876, Little Bighorn River, Montana Territory
U.S. cavalry officer.
He graduated from West Point and at age 23 became a brigadier general. His vigorous pursuit of Confederate troops under Gen. Black Hills , a sacred Indian hunting ground. The resulting gold rush led to hostile encounters with the Indians. In 1876 the 36-year-old Custer commanded one of two columns of a planned attack against Indians camped near Montana's Little Bighorn River. He rashly decided to attack without the other column, and in the {{link=Little Bighorn, Battle of the">Battle of the Little Bighorn he and all his troops were killed.