The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-12-28

lieutenant colonel and captain in the
7th United States cavalry, and one Of
the little band of heroes who fell with
CUSTER, whom he had been himself
the means of putting on PleasontOn's
staff. came to his relief with few
words.
"Look on the table old fellow. They
are not chaf6ng.' He pointed to the
table in the tent, and there in the
midst lay q large official envelope, and
on it was written, "Brig. General,
George A. Custer. United States Vol
untecrs."
The reaction was instantaneous and
the young fellow was completely over
come. A moment later and all his old
comrades were gathered around him in
real earnest congratulating and shak-
ing hands, while Custer, too much
overpowered to speak, could only smile
family, turn very pale, find his eyes
full of tears, and sink down in chair,
feeling very much as if he was going
to make fool of himself and cry.
However, he regained his self control
in few moments, and was able to
thank his comrades, who were really
in earnest this time, and after while
was permitted to read the orders that
accompanied his commission, and
which directed him to report to Gem
Pleasanton for orders.
Of the interview between PleasantOn
and himself it it unnecessary to speak.
1t was marked on one side by kindness
and good sense. A few months later.
Custer writes home about Pleasanton,
ssHe has been more like father to me
than general" and this was indeed
the truth. There must, however, have
been something peculiarly magnetic
about Custer to have attracted to HIM
self as he did the enthusiastic affec-
tions of three men of such widely diff
ferent characters as his three success
sive commanders. Mcclellan, the pol
ished, scientific soldier, kind hearted
to fault, slow, methodical, and eau
tious, Pleasonton, acrid, sarcastic,
exacting, an excellent cavalry chief,
but generally failing to attract any af-
lection from his subbordinates, a mar
tinet in his dicipline Sheriden, frey,
impetuous, untiring, remorseless in
the amount of work he exacted from
his troops all these three men loved,
admired and trusted him entirely, and
it was nothing but his transcendent
ability which forced them to do SO.
When the boy-lieutenant was sud
denly promoted to be brigadier gen.
eral, and put in charge of the Michi-
gan brigade, there was much fault
finding. They did not want this mere
boy to lead them. They did not be-
lieve he would fight. It was but a
few days before they were called upon
to make the first charge, which Gen,
Clusters biographer thus describes:
The charge of the LIST Michigan at
Gettysburg is described by an eye-wit-
ness as something magnificent, and
yet the one thing that gave it weight
is not mentioned in Clusters report.
We have seen now, the previous day,
the general had charged at the head of
a single company, solely for the pur-
pose Of encouraging his men and to
win their respect and affection. At
Gettysburg he completed his victory
over the brigsde by the manner in
which he led the second charge. in
which he participated with his men.
When that single regiment, in column
of squadrons, moved forward to the at
tack, every man knew it was the last
reserve, and had started on an almost
hopeless task. Nothing but the spec
tacle of the young general at their
head, sharing their dangers, could
have inspired them to such an effort.
and it was the magnificent spectacle
Of his gallant and knightly figure, far
in the van, that nerved every arm in
that column. Hating him at Hanover
they began to respect him at Hunters
town after Gettsburg, they adored
him. The result Of this attack was
that Hampton's cavalry was driven
back, the infantry ordered up to sup
port it, the whole ammunition train Of
Lee threatened, and much Of the vigOr
of the assault on the union right par
al,zed. Meanwhile Buford, on the
other flank Of the army, had prevent.
I'd All equally dangerous turning move
ment III that direction, and the battle
Of Gettysburg had brrn won.
Donaldson, the 4ronauL who lost his
life in an asc. ion, predicted that II
travelling in balloons ever became COM
mon it would not be by lofty flights,
but close to the ground. lie said that
by carefully gauging the amount OF gas,
and using a pole to assist in rising over
obstacles, a man might certainly travel
fast and safely in the direction Of tht
wind and he thought that some sys
tenn OF steering and lacking might bt
} devised and would make movement
!, passable without reference to thu
wind. The Secretary Of the British
Eronautical Society seems to have :
similar idea, for he says: 1T ID sing