Book Signings!

Hello! Aimee here- we’ve been quite busy here in Garryowen because of the 135^th Anniversary of the Battle of the Little Big Horn. The museum has been filled and we’ve been able to meet and talk to a lot of interesting people over the past week. We had two book signings in the museum Re-enactment Weekend: Chris Enss, who co-wrote None Wounded, None Missing, All Dead: The Story of Elizabeth Bacon Custer, and Steve Alexander, who portrays General Custer in re-enactments and some films and wrote G.A. Custer to the Little Big Horn.
Steve Alexander came in for his book signing after the memorial service at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the museum. Dressed as General Custer, I was quite excited when he stepped inside our door. I mean, this is the closest I’ll probably ever get to meeting the real George Custer! Also, I had never been to book signing before, let alone help one run smoothly, so I was anxious to see how it went. We set him up at a table in the back of the museum; it was a fitting place because there was a giant painting depicting the Last Stand behind him. It was quite a busy book signing- many of the people already within in the museum purchased a book and hopped in line for a chance to talk to the Custer re-enactor. Also, a lot of the 7^th Cavalry re-enactors got in line to have their book signed.
For me, the best part about it was getting the chance to have a lengthy conversation with a few of the re-enactors, including Steve Alexander himself. We got the chance to talk with the men who played Lt. W.W. Cooke, Lt. Algernon Smith, (commander of Company E- also known as the Gray Horse Troop,) and Custer himself. They all seemed to really enjoy sharing their stories about re-enacting and their thoughts on what actually happened on June 25, 1876. We asked them questions about the behind the scenes action of the Real Bird Re-enactment that we would see a few days later. At one point, W.W. Cooke pulled out some empty bullet casings that were found on the field after the re-enactment earlier in the day. He gave one to each of us as souvenirs. It’s a pretty neat souvenir, especially after we had Steve Alexander sign “Custer” on it. Luckily, I’ll be driving back to Pennsylvania so I do not have to worry about getting it on a flight! It was definitely a great afternoon being able to take some time and chit chat with the re-enactors.

Sami here now-
I agree with Aimee that the whole reenactment week was fantastic. I love talking to the people who come in and hearing the stories from the re-enactors; it was pretty fantastic. I love hearing the stories that they tell, because unlike a lot of the people who just study battles, reenacting becomes a visceral experience which I think can often help people come into an even deeper appreciation of what each side went through.
The day after Steve Alexander came in to do his book signing, Chris Enss came by to promote her new book as well. A few weeks ago I read None Wounded, None Missing, All Dead and I can say that I was really looking forward to the woman who put pen to paper on such a captivating subject. We set Chris up in a separate location from where Steve Alexander had been. She was closer to the front of the museum- partially so she wouldn’t feel lonesome all the way in the back of the museum, but also so people who just wanted to stop in to have her sign the book could get in and out faster. Since I worked at the desk that morning, I was patiently sitting and taking care of everything before she got there. I fully expected that once people realized that a nationally known author was sitting just inside the door, we’d be busy and I’d be selling lots of books.
Thankfully at one point there was a lull, and I was able to step away from the desk and talk with her. Chris Enss is an absolutely lovely lady, and a veritable treasure trove of information on various subjects. She writes a lot of western history, especially including the role of women in that time period- and I think it’s an absolutely fascinating topic. I can’t wait to read more of her work.