The New York herald., 1876-07-10

him. and would follow HIM through anything. They
never went back on him nor ne on the men, We have
been IN some as ght places as troops ever were IN,
bat he always got us ont
Mayor DKANr-General Sheridan told me once that II
they got III tigh place they all wanted TO see custer
and the Michigan brigade. That was just before the
battle OF Winchester, and he was speaking Of Custer
ana the NJ Michlgan men
Colonel BIRGE-The Third cavalry division, which he
comm tuded from 1864 iet just The same way as The
old brigade
Eastern army had those peculiar qualities OF mind and
heart and dash that custer possessed He was per-
iectly endeared TO his men.
Colonel BiRGE-At night he was riding with us all
the time, talking and the men, telling how to
build breasiworks and everything OF that KIND, and
taking right hold OF the rails himself
Major DgASk-Ihat was IA gallant thing at Trcveyan.
the time Waoe Hampton charged ON Woodruf's section
o cavalry. was talking with Woodruff, and some
OF the officers thought ash, pretty nearly over
in that quarter But / thought differently. saw "a
cloud of dust and said to Woodruff There are some
more OF those internal fellows coming. Give them
dusting." Woodruff SAID mo- they are all right"
said mot much" and while talking there came gust
OF wind which lifted the dust, and there, within sixty
rods OF us, was
HAMPTON COMING FULL UPON
Woodruff swung the battery round and gave them
dusting dashed for Custer. aud told him that Cen
eral Hampton would have our guns We rallied prob
ably nity men, who were mounted headquarters men,
whom We had picked up whero We could And them
for all the others dsmounted-and we dashed
down just as Hampton had the guns. having driven
away the gunners They drove as back at first but
after about ten minutes ngh,ibg, Woodruff hmbered
up his guns. got them away aud we left
Major DEASg---An the reglmont except those head
quarters men were dismounted
Colonel BiKGE-l have Custer sit on the hcd at
Winchester and elsewhere and laugh NJ the soldiers
who were lodging the balls was told by rebel that
WHOLE COMPANY WAS DETAILED TO SHOOT ousrRR,
but that ne never finchcd, and sat his horse and
looked at them
Major DKAxE-The rebels all tncw Custer and his
br gadc
Captain BALLARD-Yes as well as did
Major DEANE--At Petersburg had the
pickets the left. The Third New Jersey Hussars-
New Jersey Butterflies they used 10 b. called because
Their uniforms covered with yellow lace--had
been there and had begun picket firing and got driven
back. When we went out there ! was ordered TO re-
Ter Of miie through tho heavy timber and when
out To the open field got where the horses had
stood and asked the New Jersey ohcer, rs that
going there You will get shot" rode out
with my company and up to about ten rods from the
enemy. One Of them stuck his head out and sad
''YOU %Uys CUsrER's BRIGADES"
said ''Yes." About minute ator he stuck hts head
out again and said, ''we 'uns won't shoot II you uns
won't" said, 'Al right; we won't unless you do. "
put my line on ana they stayed without beng mo
ested We we're there three DAYS and nights and not
Cuscrs brigade. could hear the boys chatting back
and FORTH fhey were curious to know about our guns
that We loaded IN the morning and shot all day.
Captain BALLARp-Those we're Spencer carbincs The
charge was thrown into the chamber by . movement
OF tho thumb on Tho trigger guard When we threw
the gun up looked Ike coming TO salute and they
sad that every lime We ireG came to salute and
then shot again. see some of the papers say he was
married IN ONO He married the daughter OF Judge
Bacon, of Monroe Mich. Ii after bo got ms
arst star nbout December 1853. know his wife
with him when we were encanpcd at Stovensboro
Colonel BIRGE-He was called Tho Boy General with
the golden locks" He was very young looking.
Captain BALLARD-Hc always displayed excellent
judgment IN handing hts troops lie was different
from fitzpatrick, who was rash HIS standing order
was charge, God damn them" whether they were
five or Ave thousand
Colonel HnGY-Hc always displayed great deal Of
bravery, but don't think that you could call i rash
lie never took his men in any place where they
couldn't get out
Major DgANE-I remember the last time I saw him.
the hotel where he was and was looking al his
staghound, and no came up and said, "ow do you DO
Major p. And l said .General didn't suppose you
would know mo" He said. ~ guess there none of
old Michigan brigade boys whom wouldn't know
n hundred years hence" He said II didn't make any
difference What the odds what the place he got
INTO he knew that his men were gong TO follow hlni,
and that gave him confidence to do things which hc
would have done II he had not known what his
would do. Tho Michigan brigade. he said, had mado
his reputation.
Colonel BrRGK-some called him rash and they are
saying now tnat Custer ought to nave known better
than 10 nave charged when he did. But that is all
bosh. He had just much judgment as any man,
Captain BALIARp-I guess when we get TO The bottom
facts will be found, II the truth ever be arrived
that OF these old men were jealous OF him and
AFRAID OF his popularity.
Major DsASE-l know ono thing. am satisfied Gus
tor would have charged under this command un
less he had been deceived the orcc OF the enemy
Captain BALLARD am satisfied that Il was some
body elscs fauI-thnt he was not properly supported,
Tor instance.
Major DEAyE-Hc has been among those Indians
long enough TO know them aud their way of lighting.
Colonel BIRGg-H was one OF those men who never
wanted TO go back; but II was not rashne' but gal
lantry. He was
ALWAYS WANTING TO
II he saw the enemy he wanted to lrht him. II was
what he for lie would rather be IN a battle than
out. He not rash like KDutrIck
Captain BALLAnD-A different make-up altogether
MAJOR DEAxE-On tho 2Sth OF May, at llnwes' Field
or Shiloh as II Is sometimes called, about noon wo
ordered to mount and move down the road about
nve miles and take position behind battery. We
were then ordered the 'front.' They shclling
with two batteries, and We lost number of men and
had . great many horses killed. We formed in an
open field leading up TO the woods and Custer ordered
to lie down. rhe rebel line was no more than ten
rods from that piece OF woods the New Jersey brigade
In 1t, between us end the rebels The bullets
were coming in perfect hail storm. Custer
rodc up his horse with MS stan and
@se no en- .S.re wScn the @s
came for us to 80 in ne gave tho ordcr-'Givc three
cheers, boys; jump that fence, ana then give item
hell" We had not gone four rods in the woods when
struck the New Jersey brigade. The rcbcl line
not more than five rods from our mcn AS we got in
them. They nad Ennelcs and We had Spencer
bncs We went in 900 strong ann was the only fight
was in where saw
no rLrxcHlyo or sKuLKING WHATEVER.
We drove them back and had twelve killed and twenty
wounded eight Of whom died before night The
rebel regiment in front Of lett 273 ON tho ground
Colonel BrRGE-One thing about Custer he mover
got under shelter battle He was perfectly uncon-
cerncd about danger.
on horseback and looked into the woods while that
storm OF bullets gong by and paid no attention TO
them whatever.
rho Captain Moylan called Custers brother in. law
really married to Miss Calhoun, sister OF Lieu
Colonel Calhoun, who married 10 Custer's
sister.
Captain T. W. Custer. hts brother. was brevct leu
tenant colonel Of the seventh cavalry
CUSTER'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE
AND FAMILY.
His personal appearance singular. Colonel New
hal who wrote .With sherdan In Lee's Last Canl-