The New York herald., 1876-07-18
COLONEL sTURGIs ON CUSTER.

A BITTER DENUECIATIoN OF THE DEAD HERO
CUSTER CALLED POOR INDIAN TIGHTER,
AND SHOULD HAVE NO MONUMENT.
The following card from Colonel Sturgs, the real
commander OF Custcr's Seventh regiment, is IN ex-
panaton Of an interview with him by ST. LOUIS
Times reporter, who represented him saying that
Custer wantoniy sacrificed the lives Of his officers and
70 gain notoricty; that he was Indian tighter;
that he was disobcdent; that hc coward and did
die the head OF his column that hts lilo did
pay :he penalty of his wrong In regard to the pro-
posed monument Colonel Sturcis used the following
remarkable language eli monument is TO be erected
10 General Custer, for Gods sake let them hide II
some dark valley, veil II, or put anywhere whero
the bleeding hearts Of the widows, orphan, fathers
and mothers OF the uselessly sacrificed to Gus
ters ambition be wrung by the sight Of It,"
COLONEL sruRGIs' EXPLANATION.
Sr LOUIS BARRACKS. July IA, 1876.
To THy EDITOR or THE ST i0cis TIsxs:-
In your article OF this morning headed "A Curse on
Custer" giving tho result OF an Interview between
your reporter and myself yesterday some strong Ian
guage Is used which cannot bo Justified by anything
ia d. aud have been the result Of unfortunate
understanding II General Custer had any one
trait more iuly developed than another IL proba-
ever knew him. and am xs unwilling AS another to
dctrnct single iota from his fame In this regard.
But General Custer having been public servant OF
the nation, and engaged IN an important military enter
PRISE the manner in which tnat enterprise was con
and criticism In this view OF the case gave my
own views, fully and freely and possioy warmly. TO
your reporter, and he has IN the embodied them
correctly but when he represents me saying ''Why
was not General Custer al the head OF his troops
stead OF a long tho rear OF them; why not
body found where the hottest fight occurred instead
of back on tho knoll ~ he both General Custer
aud myself. no doubt unntcntionaily, avery grave
wrong. can readily see how what did say may have
misunderstood. was speaking of an article had
In paper cxtol!ng the manner OF Gcns. Css,crs
acatb at the head OF his troops and surrounded by
his chosen baud OF officers" "Novn said, p-sc.ng
nv finger the map where his trail the river gad
where the fallen soldiers showed the carnage to have
been III General Custer's body had been iound here
surrounded by tho bodies of hts ofcer then, whiIc
might dcpore his error OF Judgment yet all would have
atty Of his by calamity dying at the hcad OF his
troops but this was not the casc--on the
contrary, he fell herc"-placing my finger
on the map where the knoll IL marked--''not
among his soldiers, but away IN the rear OF them all
and surrounded only by officers, all OF appear
have fallen ngnting desperately for ;hcir lives knew
every one Of them and they were gallant OF gen
OF their lives to cali for the erection monument to
General Custer &c
Now Mt Editor, trust you will do me the favor Of
inserting this explanation in tho next of your
paper that my true relation TO this unfortunate
affair may appear rs early AS possible The criticism
generally reported correctly and Ia the result of
careful comparison OF General Terry's olncial report
with Official map OF tlc field OF battle, together
with my intimate Knowledge Of General Custer's char
acter. and Of the estimation IN which he held
his regiment and throughout tho army lie wrote
much upon the subject OF Indian warfare and the pco
pie the country who read his articles naturally sup
posed he had xreas expsrsnee N sAsAaa uasArat AaA