Custer consummates his "marriage" to Meyotzi. Copyright 2007 Aram Schefrin

The Battle of the Washita. To learn about the facts on which this book is based, go to www.glorioiusboy.blogspot.com. Copyright 2007 Aram Schefrin

Custer is convicted and suspended from rank and pay. The Peace Commission signs a treaty with the Cheyenne; the Indians give up Kansas and agree to move to the Red River near Texas. But they go back to the Smoky Hill to hunt buffalo, and while there spring an attack on the Pawnee. The attack fails, and the frustrated Cheyenne raid a settler family, raping the women. Knowing they would be punished, the Cheyenne decide to be hanged for sheep instead of lambs, and commit a series of depredations in Kansas. Phil Sheridan comes out to stop them, and calls Custer back.

Custer is arrested and courtmartialed for abandoning his mission and rushing to see Libbie. The Hancock mission has been a failure, and Hancock intends to make Custer the goat. While Custer awaits trial, President Andrew Johnson, in response to public furor over the Hancock war, sends a peace commission to negotiate with the Cheyenne. The trial begins at Fort Leavenworth. Copyright 2007 Aram Schefrin

At Fort Wallace Custer finds a letter written by a soldier at the request of Custer's illiterate cook, telling him that Libbie and Captain Weir looked to be a little too intimate when she was at Hays. Enraged, Custer takes a small party and rushes to Fort Harker, ignoring the deaths of two troopers in an Indian attack en route. At Harker, Custer wakes up Colonel Smith and asks for permission to go on by rail to Fort Riley, where Libbie is. Smith agrees, and sends his adjutant, Captain Weir, to escort Custer to the train. At the station, Custer confronts Weir, who denies any improprieties. At Fort Riley, Custer braces his cook, who says she has never actually seen Libbie and Weir in flagrante. When Custer asks Libbie directly whether Weir has ever touched her, Libbie acts insulted, and backs Custer down with an implied promise of pleasure as she turns down her coverlet. Custer surrenders. Libbie never answers his question. Copyright 2007 Aram Schefrin

Desperate to be with Libbie, Custer disobeys General Sherman's orders. Instead of heading north after Pawnee Killer, Custer turns south toward Fort Wallace, where he has asked Libbie to meet him. Pawnee Killer finds Custer, and attacks him. After driving off the attack, Custer decides to follow the chief to his village, and arrest his whole clan. But when Pawnee Killer goes north, Custer doesn't follow. He resumes his march toward Fort Wallace at a horse-killing pace. Thirteen men desert on the way. Custer orders them shot, against military regulations. Six of them are caught, three wounded. Custer refuses them medical attention and presses on to the south. In the meantime, Indians have begun raiding again in the south. General Sherman now orders Custer to go to Fort Wallace - exactly where he wanted to go. The orders are sent to Custer with a party led by Lieutenant Kidder. Continuing toward Fort Wallace, Custer finds the Kidder party - dead and horribly mutilated, most likely by Pawnee Killer.