Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-07-21
General Custer.


eral W llllam wells, Couector OF Customs
here, with regard to his old associate and
the lamented Custer. Enthu-
siasm for the memory of Custer and grief at
his death were equally manifest in what
General Wells said Il can easily under
stand, said ne, in speaking of Clusters at
tack on the Indians at Little Big Horn,
chow it was 1t was simply impossible for
Custer TO pass the enemy without feeling OF
him, no matter how great the risk. In the
war his dash always won. lie inspired his
men as Sheridan did," In the course Of
conversation General Wellslgave some inter
esting facts and "reminiscences. During the
time that Custer was in command OF the
Third Cavalry Division from some time IN
October, "a, to April 9, '65, he took more
prisoners than be had men in his command.
lie boosted too, and, without doubt, truth
fully, that during the same time be cap
tured every piece of artillery that was fired
at his division. Clusters disposition to con-
strue orders rather broadly was illustrated
at Five Forks, where he was ordered TO
charge with the three brigades of his
division disnounted, but in fact charged
with two brigades mounted, and again on
the morning of Lees surrender when he
managed to get considerably in advance OF
Gen. Merritt's division, although ordered to
follow 1t. Custer, however, never disObeyed
Sheridan's orders, partly, because the gal
liant Pills directions were simply to fight,
details being left to those who were to exc
cute the commands.
Incidents characteristic of Custer occur
red al Lacy Springs and Brandy Station. At
the former place during the night the enemy
passed our piekets, broke through our lines,
and charged directly past Clusters heaquar-
tiers. Selling his sword, with nothing on
but shirt and pants, Gen Custer rushed from
hi tent and stationed himself by the flag
staff u defend the eolors. At Brandy
Station hi, regimental colors were
taken from the color sergeant. They had
Just before been presented to Custer by the
ladies Of Monroe. Michigan, and without
stopping to calculate consequences. or to see
who and how many would follow be dashed
into the midst Of the enemy and triumphant
" .eca ptursd the prized insignia. Custer
ami his men came to wear the famous red
neckties because Of an incident that happened
in June, 'Gj. After the fight at Ashland,
Custer and those with him found them
selves upon the James River with
out any change of wardrobe. They
however, obtained some sailors shirts
from a gunboat, and, after arraying them
selves in these. fastened them at the neck
with a strip Of red cloth which happened to
be at hand. Their appearance was the occa-
sion Of some derision outside Of Custer :
command, and. IN consequence, red necktes
were henceiorth to Custer and his men what
log cabins and hard cider were 10 the Wings
OF 1910. The marriage Of General Custer,
which took place during the war, was IA
happy occasi0n-one upon which the First
lerm0nt Cavalry showed their esteem for the
sc boy General with the golden locks" by
presenting him with a silver service. On
thi, occasion Custer showed his temper
ance principles and his appreciation Of the
taste Of Nermonters by RECALLING his friend,
with cider, and no other beverage.
GENERAL on CUSTER.
TIE truth about Custer Is, that lie was
a pet soldier, who had risen not above hi.
merit, hut higher than men OF equal merit
lie fought with Phil Sheridan and through
the patronage Of Sheridan he rose . but
while Sheridan liked his valor and his dash
he never trusted his judgment He was 10
Sheridan what Murat was to Napoleon
While Sheridan l. always cool. Custer was
always ahame lie was ike a thermometer.
He had a Uuuch Of romance about him,
and when the war broke out he used 10
60 about dressed like one Of Byrou's pirates
in the Archipelago, with waving. shining
lock-, aud a bread, happing sombrero. Rs
inE u high command early in life, be lost
the Telsse necessary 10 success in high
Whv, l remember when We
were chasing Lee, AMI had him up against
Custer rushed into the rebel
line and wanted Longsueet to surrender
the whole army to him. You see Custer
that if be could frishten Long
street into 4 Surrender all lie would have
10 10 would be to turn over the whole rebel
,ar- To- Grant, bat L0ngstreet. who had
sense, quietly told the furious
-Ulug man that lie did not command the
irmy I, Surrender it, and that Lee was of
70 see Grant On the same business. Then
ulster must rush into politics, and went
wlngiug around the circle with johnson.
lie wanted TO be u statesman. and, but
or Sleridan'> influence with Grant, the
republicans would have thrown him but /
ou see We all liked Caster, and did not |
lind his little freaks in that way any
iore than we would have minded temper
} a woman. Sheridan, to keep Custer in
Is place. kept him out on the plains at
0rk. lie gave him a fine command, one
the best cavalry regiments IN the ser
zee. The Colonel, Sturges, was al
wed TO bask in the Sunshine in q large
", while Custer was the real comman-
er. In thi, service Custer did well. and
indicated the Partially Of Sheridan a. well
: the kind feelings Of his friends. But
rants administration began to 20 down,
I'D 1t looked ike a new deal. The old
Jirit which sent Custer swinging around
ie circle revived in him. He came East
nd took prominent part in reforming the
my. Well, that Is all right in theory
lt, y0u see, when a soldier goes out of sol
leriDg he Is sure 10 blunder. 1t is ike
ylng to run horse-car on cobble-stone
ayemeut. Soldiers >aid that the war de-
artment might be foul enough, but it was
1t their place 10 clean it out They were
lldlers, not scavengers. This made feeling,
nd drew upon Custer the anger of the in
de forces Of tile administration. Then he
ust write his war memoirs Sherman did
and Frederick and Napoleon, and why
lould not Custer ? s. people began to cry
Dime Novel ~ at him. Well, in those
emoirS, he began 10 write recklessly about
le army. He took to praising Mcclellan
: the great man Of the war. Probably he
as but il was no business of Custer, and,
lmlng as it did, when the Democrats be-
IN 10 look lively, it annoyed the administra-
on. Grant grew 50 much annoyed that
zen Sheriden could do no good, and Custer
as dIsgraced. Instead OF commanding the
ellOwstone expedition ,as he expected to do,
: he always had done under similar circum-
ances, he was made subordinate. Tech
ically 1t was not disgrace, for Custer was
oily lleutanant- colonel, and Of course any
lionel could rank him. a that Grant did
as to put Terry, a general, over Custer. n
eutenant-eolonel, who Lad his regiment all
le same but, all things considered, i: was
-4HNN- NANAtA iNAA H. AuQ NtDl OUT 10
lie field to do some tremendous thing, as
'nish the country and oyerwhelm the ad-
Illustration. So, when he saw some Sioux
lmps, instead Of waiting for Gibbon or for
cry, who would have shared or usurped
S donors, he rushed in without knowing
caring. 1t reminds me very much OF the
large Of the light brigade at Balakia lava
hat was all because of row between Lord
lrdigan, who commanded the brigade, and
ord Lucan, who commanded the division.
Judge Poland ard the GOEernorshIp.
The St. Adams Messenger, in an article
the State Convention, asserts that the
pposed disincliration of Mr.. Fairbanks TO
cept nomination for Governor was got up
Judge Poland, with the intention on his
IT to get the nomination himself. 1t may
that the Messenger believes this, but we
eatly doubt it. We are much more in ,
ned to believe that the suggestion comes
IN the chronic habit of the Messenger to
81 nd -