, 1876-09-01
Some Peculiarities of the Dashino
Cava1ryman.


Cava1ryman.
Clusters strong points as a soldier were
his almost unapproachable bravery, his
dash, ardor, confidence, and his self
possession and composure, that was
never shaken in the most desperate re-
sorts. have seen Custer in circum-
stances when it was hard for me to be-
lleye that he was human, and I am con-
hdent that when overwhelmed and sur
rounded in that ravine, and staring
death squarely in his face, he loaded the
bennington rife he always carried as
coolIy and aimed it as accurately as if
he had been target-shooting on the pa
background at his post.
Yet have seen tears in his eyes that
were drawn out by the suffering of a
dog. One Of the tender points in his
nature was his sympathy for brutes.
de never allowed an animal to be abused
or to suffer in any way if it was in his
power to prevent it. 1 have seen him
dlsmount robust men from half-starved
horses, and have heard him order sold
lers punished for abusing beasts. It
used to be remark commonly made in
his command that Custer would turn a
wounded soldier out of an ambulance
to let sick dog ride. But this is an
exaggeration.
Many people have the idea that Gus
ter was rough, staggering, drunken
trooper. He was just the opposite. He
was as dainty beau in ladies' society
and as entertaining guest at dinner
table as one often sees. For years he
never drank even the hghtest wines.
He used to in the earlier years of the
war; but to his wife's influence he sur
rendered the habit, and became not only
temperate himself, but an apostle of
temperance. He never swore, nor would
he allow an oath to be uttered in his
hearing. I have heard him rebuke his
officers many time for swearing, and
for one of his soldiers to utter an oath
in his presence, was the grossest sort of
insubordination. Cavalry and profan-
ity seem somehoY to be co-essentials,
but it was not so in Clusters case.
Another anomaly was that he never
used tobacco in any form. Think of a
trooper without plug and pipe in his
pocketl
With one of the sweetest, gentIest,
brightest women in the world for a wife;
in home on the frontier, where the
gentler arts were mingled with the pri-
vations and the rudeness of half civil
zation; with library where Ruskin Law
beside revolver and jean Ingelow kept
companionship with q cartridge-box;
with drawing room where velvet car
pet was strewn with half.cured bear and
wolf skins, where delicate lace curtains
were held in place by antlers, and where
old heads and stuffed owls ornamented
the piano, Custer lived, illustrating in
himself the anomaly of q hunter and
literature, an associate of savages and q
patron of art.
Custer was one of the best marksmen
in the army, and one of the best horse
men. Marvellous stories are told of his
feats in both particulars. he had al
most as many guns as there are varie-
ties of manufacture, and his stable was
filed with the best blooded horses in the
land. During the war Custer always
dressed in what the soldiers of the old
school called an outlandish fashion. He
had utter disregard for gold lace and
trappings. His saddle was always the
most comfortable and not the most
snowy he could find. When he went
into battle, he always wore a loose
blouse, such as was used by the ordinary
soldiers as an undress uniform, with the
skirts tucked into his trowsers like a
shirt. Under his collar was a strip of
red flannel for a neckcloth, with long
ends that foated out over his shoulder
as he rode. He always wore some slight
insignia of his rank upon his shoulders
and that of his branch of service on his
hat, which was always broad SOM
brero. This, with heavy, clanking
spurs on his rough boots, from the top
Of each of which the handle of pistol
was always visible, ponderous saber
at his side and rife across his elbow,
completed his "outfit." On the plains
Custer always wore q handsomely en-
broidered buekskin suit, with his red
neck-tie, and the remainder Of his army
dress, with the exception of the saber,
which is never carried on the plains
N. Y. Graphic.
THE RIVER ON FRE.-Dame Nature.
Il II n