George Armstrong Custer's Civil War

The legend of George Armstrong Custer leading his fabled 7th Cavalry to disaster at the Little Bighorn in 1876 is known to all. But what's often overlooked is Custer's earlier glory, as a dashing young cavalryman in the Civil War.

Custer was photogenic, and he knew it. During the war he gravitated toward photographers and battlefield artists, and fascinating images depict the years when he was known for flamboyant uniforms and fearless cavalry charges.

Photograph: Library of Congress