The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-07-22
"REMINISCENCES OF CUSTER.
The Murat of the American Army.

The Murat of the American Army.
The Ohio State Journal, speaking of Gen
Clusters tragic tate, says: 1t is very hard to
believe that Custer--the gayest cavalier in our
army-has had his gallant head laid low and
his long yellow hair smeared by the hand OF
some filthy Sioux brave. He was the Murat
of the American army-the dashing, brilliant,
handsome, proud and daring cavalryman par
excellence. He was one Of the few utterly
fearless men who were at the same time talka;
tive and boastul like the Gascon. HIS ner-
vous sanguine temperament made HIM as
nervous as high strung racer, and if his
body was still his tongue must 20. II he has
enemies, it is probable thathc has made them
by his tOngue-thOse met by his sword have
generally been gathered TO their fathers.
THERE ARE SEVERAL ERRORS
in the published notices. Writing entirely
from personal knowledge or personal intor.
nation, we feel sure that it is an error to say
Gustav was a native Of Michigan. lie was
born in Cadiz, Harrison county, OHIO, and
was sent to West Point by John a. Bingham.
He married in Michigan, and both Custer
and Sheridan commanded Michigan cavalry
regiments at one period IN the war. 1t is also
on Mcclellan staff and with the army of the
Potomac-omittng entirely his service with
the army of the Shenandoah. The truth is;
his most brilliant service was with Sheridan's
incompatible cavalry in the valley. II was
here he won his rank by some of the most
dashing fighting OF the war He was very
strict dlsciplinariaD, and 1t was only By
THE MOST SUPERNATURAL DARING
in the face of the enemy that he was able to
maintain a place in the esteem of his men. A
story was told which will illustrate this, and
which we have not seen in print. We have
it from soldiers of the twenty third Ohio, who
were out on picket and saw it. It was when
Rosser-" this new Savior of the Valley
Sheridan called hlm)-followcd the rear
guard of the army Of the Shenandoah so per-
tinaciouSly down the valley after the advance
in 1854. Sheridan was finally irritated at
Rossers impudenCe, as he pounded away al
our pickets with his cavalry in front OF Stras-
burg, and finally ordered Custar's division
out to drive him back. They passed through
our picket lines Sheridan and his staff along
to see the thing start of right. Rosser's cav.
airy was drawn up within PLAIN sight of
our lines.
CUSTER FORMED HIS CAVALRY
Po,.nr slowly nil alone RoSscr vas an old
friend at West Point. Custer was very
striking figure, with his long yellow hair
floating over his shoulders, his red neck tie,
his dashing lluzzar Jacket, and wide brim-
med bandltloOklng hat thrown backward on
ms neau. nc Loue slowly out ehtIrely clear
to the front, then halted and lifted his hat and
made a royal cavalier salute to Rosser, drop
ping MS MAJ W MS hoisc > SUE. ilC 'hCh IouC
9o"ly oIch, pi"ccu nlniSe.i @l llie nc"u VI MS
cVlhhlanu' anu oluGlcu INC charSe' me
charge was 50 Suuuen anu impe'uouS 'ha'
l'osser was
SWEPT BEFORE IT LIKE THE WIND,
and he WAS followed at a run 70 Rood's Hill.
miles distant w,thopt over bovinr a chance
10 reform and with only one niece of artillery
Jeff sheridan used 10 say. Iaurbinr that
one niece Of artillery went over Foods ITiu
81 fast that only ON, wheel touchrd the
rrouol
....:...-,,
u.s. US u, "iT W " 'no"S",l" s,'Di s'oa.u 10Y
d NuS'tI mere was an cNFdN"Gant anu
Icli i MS iFiGnuShip oe'" zen oneLluah
thd custer ~ uiU uinr' Inc memory
h'o'sa Nl'n IuCIueh'S, pUt space VIII not
permit. II custer Is gone me army mas ios'
vs. must ililpetuous "uu uatlhE cavalry NAN
VIC CduApI OeIlc'c yet 'ha' Ac 10 S"uc'
THE GREAT REVIEW or 1861
Among all those who took part in the great
.eview of MAY. 1861. none made so dramatic an
,pncarancc AZ Custer 4 corrcsnodcnt of the
New York World described him thus:
m, r,,,., CT. ..,,,,,,,o,,l, 81 mill,
inC t",tu 10y ":t'oao',oI1, a"" on IN
yel III tle ''IslduCe d ho''oie anu i ~,
haito ePlsouc o.outS hoi Sc'.in 20 ,S syn
'ash'us up we su'c. AZ Vi .nvSS P"C5'
us iaIs oay more: ~ almost Val ohIal oLoTu'
caps IN me ar aS II II were ms proper eIe-
neh.; anu WIN inc s"ppltnrss VI e'pcnt
lis Marks heau 10 MS shou!"cT' anu ms curry
ng neck sWoopS uCWh 10 ms sauu.c pOIhhiel'
my cehtaur cou.u keep MS seat On such "