Elizabeth Bacon Custer and the Making of a MythGeorger Armstrong Custer's death in 1876 at the Battle of the Little Big Horn left Elizabeth Bacon Custer a thirty four year old widow who was deeply in debt. By the time she died fifty seven years later she had achieved economic security, recognition as an author and lecturer, and the respect of numerous public figures. She had built the Custer legend, an idealized image of her husband as a brilliant military commander and a family man without