Evidence based research is the mechanism which defines history. It is not defined by one's opinion nor is it defined by philosophy.
Yes Custer was correctly defined by Styles with the good and the bad, However along with the good and the bad is the ugly.
Custer's Ugly is his AWOL (along with his later Presidential suspension)
Custer's AWOL is a VERY serious violation of military code of conduct.
Then and now AWOL continues to be a serious violation of military code of conduct.
AWOL misconduct cannot be reduced simply to a footnote
Some historians (and history buffs) especially those whom never served seem to reduce the AWOL misconduct violation to a footnote in their effort to minimize the severity of the misconduct.
I would suggest you consider contacting an actual military historian as I did in 1973 to understand the significance and severity of AWOL misconduct.
In summary: Custer 50% good and 50% bad appears to be a balanced view of Custer as you have suggested.
However the AWOL along with a Presidential suspension is Custer's ugly.
AWOL along with Presidential suspension negates and trumps EVERY other variable per defining Custer's career.
History is not governed by a specific course, it does not obey academic rules. It is an entity unto itself, independent from consensus, or fashion. The only historical moments people agree upon are perhaps... more
Re: History is not static — B.J.,Fri Jul 16 2021 14:36
One of my favorite analyses of Custer is the last chapter of Robert M. Utley's CAVALIER IN BUCKSKIN (1988). Utley, who has devoted more time to the plains Indian wars of the than probably any other historian,... more
All of the above appears to give a balanced view of Custer. However Custer's AWOL misconduct and later presidential suspension are the only variables which really matters. This was the summation of... more