Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1876-08-16
Gen. Custer at ~AppOmattOx.

we take pleasure IN copying the follow
ing defence of the gallant and lamente,
Custer. from the Burlington Free Pres
and Times. 1t is understood to be from
the pen of one of the bravest officers O
the cavalry, Capt. A. G. Watson, of Bur
lIngton:
In the Free Press Of the 18th ult.. undeI
the heading A General on Cus:er.'' will
much more of the same kind. is the fol
lowing:
Why remember when W. were chasing Lee, ali,
Ia" Rebel lines and wanted L"ngstreet t. surrende
II he could irlGhten Lonvstreet into a surrender ali III
would have to d. would be to turn over the whole rebe
sense. u city told the furious young man that h. dc
Mt coIninand the army to surrender it. and that LIE,
vas on to See Grant on the same business.
| don know the name of thi, re,loubt
able General who speaks so snceringl,
of Custer, but Us | WAS at Appmmatlo,
myself, and not many rods from Custer Il,
the time allu1cd to. | know that the above
account is Il base SANDER and unworthy O
IN honorable man.
1t is SO Wor,leu that the reader would
get III" idea that all Custer wanted was to
make II display of himself be ore the tw,
armies. and that he simply made himself
the laughing stock. 1t is evident th,t This
-'b' Il wv ht' " liNS' III vi LII III
deliberately and knowingly ftisitie, the
f,cts. He says Custer crushed into the
rebel lines exc. That part IS true. Gus
ter had lone the same thing Il hundred
times before. 1t was i habit of his and
about that time was thought very credit.
able. And he was followed by his entire
division while at the same time not les,
than Il dozen rebel guns were pouring
~'ot and she'll into him. Then it was that
Gen. L"ng>trcet, seeing that shot and shell
did not stop him. also seeing the long lines
of the oh and other corps in the distance.
onlln| up to the support of the cavalry
md alitck, sent out the fl - of truce. The
!ltg first reached Ma Il Bliss. commanding
tlc Sth New York cavalry. which led the
.lvanrinE ~hirlnl>li line. 1t va, at once
orWarlr'l by him to Gen. Wells who com
mlnic the b1iyade leading the CHARGE
Neil~ immediately passed it on to Custer.
who was Il few rpi> dist mt from him.
.lcrr Custer is Reported! to have replied to
the officer in ctilrgco Of the FLAG, when asked
+" hIlt his command. as Lee wanted an
.rmi tirr. that he would mot halt hi
tor ANY thing short of unconditiun,.
surrender" \ d without hating lii
command n once accompanied TIL, tlty t.
sheridan. who wa, u little distance back
nd To the righr. pushing up the i%nflnlrv.
soon IN aid came g,llupiny after Us with
n order 10 halt. The first Verne mt cav
dry, which led llIc advancing column, an
htd been moving at 4 trut. at this moment.
u II cmrr@rd INTO the opening. came upon
he enemy upon the opposite ridge amt
'tltrgrl them. The hur" Of the aid who
cam" l." halt them WAS not fleet enough To-
'vtrttkc The tlr~t battalion, which da>hc
upon AMI put 10 II gllt the enemy, bcfur,
pcinE "vrrtak.n and ordered back. In =,
Htllr tlnr We were informed that \ ce-sa-
on of ho>tilltl'- TIL four o'clock T.. NJ.
had been agreed upon. 50 much for Gas
Ter running i'll ana demanding The sur
rrndcr If Lees army etc, Ii WIS hall
~ll>p' c1c,! that he flag of truce when ii
inst anne in was simply Il 1usr to cain
iimc. Custer did not propose t. be out
wittcl.
II i very easy for those generals whose
ttmt WAS cell -cd by Custer to speak
-nrcrinyly and tnIcavur to bclitlIc his
must he Ial on whom 10 put The .dium Of
hi> hate disaster, anl it is better to have =.
.,;d man lllrn one VITO can defend him
elf When tn Montana slaughter is in
N~">liTtttd ii wi! be found llat some on,
Dr~il, Custer has Numbered
Having followed Custer from the Hapi
TN to AplonlttioX Court House. and
uGgIt under HIM in more than a score @,
~;,ttl's, eng twice severely N0unIcI bl
;iyhjiny untrr him. | can say that next To-
>IlrlId III tie II" WIS no general | Wuuld
serve under than Custer. In ,Li,
hlLh | ccio the sentiment of. every MEM
of tie First Vermont Cavalry. H.
never asked hi> men to 90 where H.. dnI
not lead. IGitrVrr he did he did with All
Al> mir t. He WAS Il DESPERATE fighter.
never reckless of the lives of hi, men
ONE OF THE FIRST VI. CAVALRY.