Book excerpt: There are few battles in the sometimes bloody history of the expansion of the United States in North America during the Indian Wars that are more famous than Little Bighorn. In 'Red Sabbath' noted military historian Robert Kershaw turns his attention to this classic encounter between the United States Army and the Plains Indians. Analysing the causes of Custer's defeat from the standpoint of a professional soldier, he examines the multitude of factors that lay behind this setback of a modern US Army's campaign against an unsophisticated foe. Bringing a forensic examination to the subject, this new view of the battle will be required reading for all those with an interest in the military history of the USA and of the career of that iconic figure Custer. His analysis debunks many of the myths about Custer's abilities as a military commander and previous generalisations of this savage encounter, providing a unique insight into the Battle of the Little Bighorn.