"How Few Remain"

The book that imagines Custer the way I see him is "How Few Remain" by Harry Turtledove. In this masterpiece of alternative history, we imagine what it would be like if the South had won the war with the help of England and France. The North allies with Germany and a second war breaks out in the 1880's. Various historical characters make an appearance. For example Abe Lincoln survives and becomes a Socialist as the Republican party is discredited for losing the war. Lincoln travels the west making speech's as the second war breaks out.

One of the main subplots takes place in Montana where Union forces are led by General Custer and Theodore Roosevelt win one of the few victories by the Union in the Second Civil War. Custer is a blustery vain old war horse but he leads from the front and is victorious and emerges a hero. It is a sublime imagining of what might have been. Many historical personages make cameo appearances and this is the first book in a long series by Turtledove. I must warn you though that the series peters out by the third or fourth book even though he slogs on to what would be the end of World War Two with a death grip between the North and the South with Mormon rebellions and the occupation of Canada thrown in for good measure. But this book is a great read as a stand alone and you will not regret purchasing it. It is one of the finest alternative history novels ever written. I mean it's not literature, just a hell of a good read.