Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-07-11
Daily Yennrbrt yournaL.
Gales and Sketehts.
SKETCH OF GEN. CUSTER.

killed with his whole command while al
tacking an encampment of Sioux Indians,
under command of Sitting Bull was one
of the bravest and most widely know Of
ficers in the United States Army. lie has
for the past fifteen years been known 10
the country and to his comrades as man
who feared no danger, as soldier In The
trnest sense of the word. He was daring
to a fault. generous beyond most men
His memory will long be kept green in
many friendly hearts. Born at New Rum
lev, Harrison County, Ohio, on the 9TH of
December. 1889, he obtained good com
mon education. and after graduating en-
gagged for time in teaching school. In
June. 1857. through the influence OF John
A. Bingham, then member of Congress
from Ohio. he obtained an appointment
to the United State Military Academy at
West Point, and entered that institution
on the first of July OF the year named.
He graduated on the 2ith of June, 1861,
with what was considered the fair stand
ing of No 81 in one OF the brightest
classes that ever left the academy. I'M
mediately upon leaving West Point he
was appointed Second Lieutenant in ON
pany G. of the Second United States Cav
alrv. a regiment which had formerly been
commanded by Robert E. Lee. He re-
ported to Lieut.. Gen. Scott on the goth OF
July, the day pr ceding the battle OF Bull
Run. and the Commander in Chief gave
him the choice OF accepting position on
his staff or OF Joining his regiment, then
Under command Of Gen. Mcdowell, in the
field Longing for an opportunity to see
active service, and determined to win dis
tinction Lieut. Custer chose the latter
course, and after riding all night through
a country filed with people who were, to
say the least, not friendly, he reached Nc
Dowell's headquarters at daybreak on the
morning OF the 2lst. Preparations for the
battle had already begun, and after dellv-
ering his dispatches from Gen. Scott and
hastily partaking of a mouthful OF coffee
aud piece of hard bread he joined his
company 1t is not necessary now to re-
count the disasters of the fight that fol-
lowed. Suffice it to say that Lieut.. Gus
ter's company was among the last to leave
the field 1t did so in good order, bring
ing off Gen. Heinzelman, who had been
wounded in the engagement. The young
officer continued to serve with his COM
panv, and was engaged in the drafting OF
volunteer recruits in and about the de-
fences of Washington, when upon the APP
pointment of Phil Kearne to the position
of Brigadicr General, that lamented
officer gave him position on his
staff. Caster continued in this posi-
ton until an order was issued from
the War Department prohibiting Generals
of Volunteers from appointing officers OF
the regular Army to staff duty. Then he
returned to his company, not, however,
until be had been warmly complmented
bv Gen. kearney upon the prompt and
efficient manner in which he had per-
formed the duties assigned to him. AT the
same time the General predicted that Gus
ter would be one of the most successful
officers in the Army. Nor were these
predictions without speedy realization.
With his company Lieut.. Custer marched
forward that part OF the Army of the Po-
tomac which moved upon Manassas after
its evacuation by the rebels. Our cav
alry was in advance, under Gen. Stone
man and encountered the rebel horsemen
for the first time near Catlett's Station.
The commanding officer made call for
volunteers to charge the enemy's advance
post Lieut.. Custer was among the first
to step to the front, and in command OF
his company he shortly aiterward made
across Muddy Greek, wounded a number
of them, and had one of his own men in
jured. This was the first blood drawn in
the campaign under Mcclellan. After this
Custer went with the Army OF the Poto-
mac to the Peninsula and remained with
his company until the Army settled down
before Yorktown, when he was detailed
a. an Assistant Engineer of the left wing,
under Sumner. Acting in this capacity
he planned aud erected the earthworks
nearest the enemy's lines. lie also ac-
companied the advance under Gen, Han
cock in pursuit of the enemy from York
town. Shortly a!terward, he captured
the first batte-iag ever secured by the
Army of the Potomac. From this time
on he was nearly always the first in every
work Of daring. When the Army reached
the Chckahominy he was the first man to
cross the river; he did SO in the face of
the enemy's pickets, and at times was
obliged to wade up to his armpits. For
this brave act Gen. Mcclellan promoted
him to a Captaincy and made him one OF
his personal aids. In this capacity he
served during most of the Peninsula cam
paign, and participated in all its battles,
including the bloody seven days fight. He
performed the duty OF marking out the
position which was occupied by the Union
Army at the battle of Gaines Mills. He
also participated in the campaign which
ended ia the battles Of South Mountain
and Antietam. Upon the retirement OF
Gen. Mcclellan from the command of the
Army ofthe Potomac, Custer accompanied
him, and for time was out OF active SER