Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1876-11-02
Clusters Family In Camp.

Lizzie w. Champney, in New York independently
l asked myself to what this remarkable
social atmosphere was due. What influence
it was that held band of men, hundreds OF
miles from the restraints of civilized life, up
to it's highest requirements of decorum and
polite intercourse. How was it that there
was such perfect freedom and safety for
sweet-faced young girls, with long golden
braids or flying chesnut curls, and souls as
pur, as their broad foreheads, in such sur
roundings. | found my reply in Mrs Custer.
It was her presence alone that made all this
possible. She followed the General through
all his campaigns, her constant aim being to
make life pleasant for her husband and tor
his command General Clusters officers were
remarkably attached to him; to man they
revered and admired his wife. She was with
him not only in the idleness of summer camp
life, when the days passed in a dolce far niente
resembling a holiday picnic, but in ruder and
more dangerous enterprises she was, as tar as
he would permit, his constant companion.
In response to the bugle-call, ''Boots and
saddles," given at any time Of the night, and
announcing a sudden mount and forced
march, she needed only five minutes for the
completion of her toilet. Eight minutes in
cluded the luxury of bath.
As looked at this cultivated and remark
able little lady SO quietly unassuming, who
-"Walked within heated glare,
Herpresence making cooler air,
I did not wonder at the frankly-expressed
opinion of one of the Generals staff, a gen.
tleman whose high social opportunities and
education had never conquered his natural
brogue, and who was suspected OF eXaggera-
ting it, out Of patriotic pride, who preferred
conversing with Mrs. Custer to dancing at
tendance on the young girls, and defended his
preference thus:
II don't ]oike young leddies; they are so
thrilling and frivolous. prefer the society
of merried women"
General Clusters staff was peculiarly cos
mopolitan one. 1t contained representatives
from many of the European nations. Co...
Cooke was the grandson of an English lord.
He was a magnificently handsome man,
though trite of exquisite, realizing the
description of an English officer given by the
author of 'Under Two Flags" He was
eyse, a. delicate acqu1line nose. and chesnut
side-whiskers over foot in length. In refer
ence to his English nationality and his popu-
larity rs lady's man, the Colonel had re-
ceived the sobriquet Of "The Queens Own, y
an appellation to which he was in no way
averse, but always received with gratified
smile. Captain De Rudio was an Italian,
with complicated political history, full Of
plots and intrigues, condemnation to death
and hairbreadth escapes from French and
Italian despotism. His wife, quiet English
lady, interested US much; and it was alto
gether delightful to hear him descant on
Hberrte. ''The country he would say in his
delicious broken English, ''the country is
nothing 1t is re principle" Colonel Keogh,
of Irish birth, had served before our war as
one of the Papal Guards. Lieutenant Mathey
was Frenchman. Taciturn Captain Nc
Intosh, with the sad, expressive face, and
rare intelligence, had dash of Indian blood
in his veins. The most representative Amer
ican was, perhaps, Colonel Tom Custer, in
his buckskin suit, broad -brimmed hat, and
crimson neck-tie, with long, t1uttering ends
gallant Colonel Tom, who possessed more
medals for rebel flags taken in our late war
than any man in his department.
80 >Qcnh ,, As