On the Plains with Custer: The Western Life and Deeds of the Chief With the Yellow Hair, Under Whom Served Boy Bugler Ned Fletcher, When in the Troublous Years 1866–1876 the Fighting Seventh Cavalry Helped to Win Pioneer Kansas, Nebraska, and Dakota for White Civilization and Today's Peace

"On the Plains with Custer" by Edwin L. Sabin is a historical account written in the early 20th century. The work centers around the life and experiences of the young bugler Ned Fletcher during the tumultuous years of the late 1860s and the 1870s when General George Armstrong Custer and the Seventh Cavalry played critical roles in the westward expansion of white civilization and the conflicts with Native American tribes. The narrative offers insights into both the military and everyday life on the American plains during a period of significant historical change. The opening of the book introduces us to Ned Fletcher, a young boy who has escaped from captivity with the Sioux and is navigating the vast and lonely Kansas prairie alone in search of safety and his lost sister. As he wanders, he encounters a herd of buffalo being chased by a horseman, who is revealed to be the famous General Custer. The interaction between Ned and Custer leads to a sense of hope for the boy, who expresses a desire to join the army and find his sister. The early chapters set the tone for an adventure filled with the realities of frontier life, the challenges faced by young soldiers, and the complex relations between white settlers and Native Americans, establishing the groundwork for Ned's journey alongside Custer and the Seventh Cavalry.