Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-12-21
CUSTER.

er, and Rosser in sight. Out rode
Custer from his staff, far in advance
of the line, his glistening figure in
plain view Of both armies, Sweeping
off his broad sombrero, he threw it
down to his knee in profound salute
to the honorable foe. 1t was the &C.
ton of knight in the lists. A fair
fight and no malice. On the ridge be.
fore him was seen Rosser, his class
mate at the academy, with whom he
had held many q wcrdy contest in
days of old, and who had been his
great rival at ''the Point.' Rosser had
but just come into the valley, and was
already hailed as it's savior. He saw
Custer, and turned to his staff, point
ing hlm out. "You see that officer
down there,' said he. ''That's Gen.
Custer the Yanks are SO proud of, and
intend to give him the best whipping
to-day that he ever got. See if I
DON'T"
And he smiled triumpha. J., as he
looked around at his gallant southern
cavaliers.
Then Custer lifted the hat and
clapped it on his head, turned to his
line OF men, and the next moment the
Third division was sweeping on at a
trot, the flaming scarlet necktie and
bright curls of Custer before all, fol-
lowed by his staff, all with swords out.
Now the pace quickens. Rosser's and
LomaX's guns open furiously at short.
er range, and the rattling of volleys
rolls along the Confederate line. The
bullets go pattering around, whistling
overhead, knocking up the dirt, killing
or woundlng a few horses and men,
but doing surprisingly little damage,
all things considered. The trot has be-
come gallop, and as the pattering Of
bullets become heavier, wild, savage
yell breaks from every throat in that
long wave Of cavalry, ard away they
go, the lines lost in confused clumps
of horsemen, with waving sabers, the
horses crazy with excitement, leaping
half out of their skins as they race for
the Confederate batteries and lines of
cavalry.
Custer's attack, arranged in full
sight of Rosser, yet proved trium.
phantly successful. One brigade in
front, another to the right, the third
to the left, they swept on at a charge,
not needing the FIRE, curled around
ROSSer's flankS in a moment, and be-
fore he could tell what had happened,
had him inclosed in 4 semi.circle of
charging horse. Vain were all his eff.
forts when his flank was threatened.
Had the attack been made Oh foot he
might have had time to think, but the
sudden and impetuous rush of whole
division completely demOraliZed the
ConfederateS. Despite Rosser's ef-
forts, away they went into the wild
est of confusion, driven back in gal.
lop for nearly two miles.
Gen. Custer was promoted at one
bound from lieutenant Of cavalry to
be a brigadier general. At the time
that it occurred it was entirely unex.
pected, Custer hal, however, felt from
the beginning of his career full con.
viction that he would win distinction
In the war. In his open and frank way
he had often spoken Of il to his brother
officers at their long freight talks.
He had received good deal Of ridicule
on this point from his comrades. At
the battle of Aldie, Lieut. Custer may
be said to have almost alone turned
defeat into one of our most brilliant
cavalry victories. His biographer
says:
One evening, IL days after Aldie,
when Custer returned to headquarters.
after Il long riue,in which he had been
posting the pickets Of the entire corps
for the night, he was greeted in the
large tent, where the staff was wont
to gather at night, by the salutations,
'sHallo, General!'' ''How are you,
General e. Gentlemen, Gen. Custer -
''Why, General, congratulate you y
"You're looking well, General y The
greetings came from all quarters of the
tent, where staff officers were loung'
ing, smoking, chatting, laughing, tell
ing stories. They impressed Custer
as being merely continuation Of the
usual ill-natured banter on the subject
Of his aspirations. and, further, as
being carried little too far. How
ever, he had always been noted for
his remarkable control over hot and
hasty temper, and he was not going to
allow his comrades to laugh him out
of it on this occasion. Still it was
with some bitterness that he answered
s'you may laugh, boys. Laugh a.
long as you please, but I will be q
general yet, for all your chaff. Yor
see if don't, that's all" He wa!
greeted by a universal shout of laugh
ter in answer. 1t seemed as if his tor
mentors were determined to irritat'
him into au explosion land they rearl!
succeeded for his blue eyes began t.
, fash, and he looked around as If seek
ing SONS one on whom to fix quarrel
His old friend Yates (afterward breve
lieutenant colonel and captain in th'
7th United States cavalry, and one O.
the little band of heroes who fell will
Custer), whom he had been himsel
e the means of putting on Pleasonton'
staff, came to his relief with q fev
words.
!. "Look on the table old fellow. The.
:. are not chaffing.'' He pointed to tn
|. table in the tent, and there in tn
e midst lay large official envelope, an!
!. on it was written, 'Brig. Genera!
! George A. Custer. United States Vol
S unteerS."
J. The reaction was instantaneous an
!. the young fellew was completely ovel
!. come. A moment later and all his ol
comrades were gathered around him i
real earnest congratulating and shal
'; ing hands, while Custer, too muc
u overpowered to speak, could only smil
y family, turn very pale, find his eye
full of tears, and sink down in a chair
: feeling very much as if he was goin
y to make q fool of himself and CRY
However, he regained his self contrt
l. in few moments, and was able t
u thank his comrades, who were reall
in earnest this time, and after Will
! was permitted to read the orders ths
accompanied his commission, an
t. which directed him to report to Ger
lPleasanton for orders.