Custer did what Custer did for one simple reason. Custer. He was always all about Custer. He was vainglorious. Overly concerned with image.
Egotistical beyond the norm. Undisciplined and arrogant. Remind you of anyone in our current history??
Of course the lesson we should have learned from the Custer episode was not learned by the many who STILL see Custer as some sort of hero.
So, there you go............
One view is historically based and at least attempted to be informed by the actual event(s).
The other view is all about Patriotism, and belief in some myth of glory and exceptionalism. Why that latter, I can't fathom myself.
The divide seems sewn inherently within our core....... years and years of partisan football rather than allegiance to the Country as a whole by our elected (so-called) leaders within Government.
Currently, HALF the country won't even believe in our Scientists.
It's crazy IMO.