In August 1862, nineteen-year-old Edward G.  Granger joined the 5th Michigan Cavalry Brigade as a second lieutenant.  On August 20, 1863, the newly promoted Brig. Gen. George Armstrong Custer appointed Granger as one of his aides, a position Granger would hold until his death in August 1864.  The 44 letters the young lieutenant wrote home during those 2 years, introduced an annotated here by leading Custer scholar Sandy Barnard, provide a unique look into the words and actions of his legendary commander.

As Custer’s aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Granger was in an ideal position to record the inner workings of the Michigan Brigade’s command echelon, and he could closely observe on of America’s most celebrated and controversial military figures during the very days that cemented his fame.  With a keen eye and occasional humor, Granger describes the brigade’s operations, including numerous battles and skirmishes.  An Aide to Custer gives readers an unprecedented view of the Civil War and one of its most important commanders.