The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-10-25
Patriotic Letter from Gen. Gus
ter-WhOIesOIne Reading for
Loyal Men. 1oe

LOyoi Mem.
We present below most important
extract from a letter of Gen. Custer,
who has just been promoted to aleading
command in the army of Gen. Grant.
1t will be seen that the brave and sue
cessful soldier writes with the same
trenchant vigor that he fights, and al
though the following was only intended
for the private eye of a friend, it could
scarcely have been written with more
force and eloquence. AS soldier,
Gen. Custer is marvel If we mis-
take not he hasjust turned twenty-five,
and yet he counts his battles by the
score. His name is linked with the
proudest triumphs ofthe Potomac ar
my. No General in the service has
led his own men into engagements
more frequently than he has. lie is
not one Of those Generals who says,
"Go in, boysv' but "Come on!' is his
invariable order. The post of danger
is always his, and J ct there is nothing
reckless about him, but he unites nat
ural sagacity and military skill with a
courage that Marshal Ney never ex-
ceeded. He has made the Michigan
Brigade of Cavalry the pride of his
country, and the terror of its foes.
He.is also a man of tireless energy
and iron endurance. Difficulty and
hardship only serve to bring out the
wonderful qualities he possesses. He
has no superior as a cavalry officer in
the Union army, and it is astonishing
that he has not been made q Major
General before now. N!' - ~ -
I'VE know that our readers will be
pleased to see the opinions of such a
man--one of our own fellow. citizens,
of whom we are all proud-upon the
political and military situation. They
are such words of scorn for base SUBJ
mission, and encouragement topatriot-
ic effort, as we would expect so gallant
an officer to write. His peace com
missioners are those sent from the can
mons mouth, and his only terms are
unconditional recognition of the SUI
premacy of the Federal Government.
Were a, commanding General in tho
field to do what the Chicago Conven-
ton proposes, she would be cashiered
for cowardice and treachery.n And to
these he adds the words of cheer.
"Our cause" he says, "was never so
promising. or our success more certain.
let the public confidence be commensu-
rate to our successes in the field, and
finally SO speak as will guarantee to
the soldiers in the field a full and hear
ty support" But to the letter:
EXTRACT OF GEN. CUsTER's LETTER OF
SEPTEMBER 16, 1864.
81 am peace man, in favor of on
'armistice' and Of sending peace Com.
missioncrs.' / desire an honorable
and lasting peace. Such a peace can
only be secured by the acknowledge.
ment of our government supreme and
entire. 1t must embrace all Of the
States, and must possess self-sustain.
ing powers; in other words, the decis.
ions of the general government, as af
fecting individual States, must, in all
matters of national concern, be final
admitting Of no appeal. The Peace
Commissioners / am i'm favor of are
those sent from the cannon's mouth
The only armistice l would yield to
would be that forced by the point Of
our bayonets, whose object would be
to afford the opportunity for an uncon
ditional recognition of the supremacy
of the Federal Government This ap.
peal must first come from the rebels
otherwise it will be practical admis
sion on our part that we are the van
quished party. To me it seems like
madness to think of proposing an ar.
mistice, particularly at the present
time, when success is every where at.
tending our arms, and the rebel con
spiracy is about to crumble to pieces
As well might the commanding gene.
raj of victorious army order his col.
umns to suspend their attack at the
moment the enemy's lines are giving
way, that flag of truce might be sent
to enquire if it was necessary to contin.
ue the battle to obtain victory. TIE
general who wonld be guilty of such
conduct would be cashiered for cowar.
dice and treachery; and that govern
ment which would ask for, or allow, an
armistice, when situated as our gov.
ernment is, would not be entitled to
the respect of other nations, nor to the
support of its own people. H
sour cause was never so promising,
nor our success more certain than at
present. Let the men be hurried to the
front to fill the ranks, as they have
been for the past few weeks; let public
confidence be commensurate with our
successes in the field. And, finally,
let the people, at the proper time, speak
in such tones as will guarantee to the
soldiers in the field full and hearty
support, and thereby contradict the
statements ofthose who would have ns
believe that at home we are looked
upon as ''marauding hirelings, employ
ed in n war of pillage and subjugation.'
Let the public sentiment be the echo OF
that which is found in the heart of ev-
cry true soldier in the army that we
are fighting for human rights and lib
critics, for the preservation of free
people, free government, and having
secured these privileges to ourselves,
we desire andintend to transmit them
unsullied andN Naimpaired TO those who
shsll come afte, as in all future time"
80 .EL- n mo- -Yn- 80.
HrATLANTIc CABLE TEsTED,-The
Atlantic cable, which is to be laid next
summer between England and America,