The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-19

nasty temper, ana nc was NOT going TO n
low his comrades 10 laugh him out OF II or
this occasion. Still, II was with some bI.
terueas that he answered:
"tYou may laugh, boys. Laugh as long
as you please; but will BIO general yet
for all your chat. You see II don't
that's ALL
ale was greeted with a universal shout
OF laughter In answer. Itseemed as II hla
tormenters were determined to iritate him
into an explosion; and they nearly succeed
ed, for his blue eyes began 10 flash, and he
looked around as II seeking some one on
whom to fix q quarrel. His old friend
Yates (aiterwari brcvet lieutenant colonel,
and captain In the Seventh United States
Cavalry, and one Of the little band OF he.
rocs who fell with CUSTER, whom he had
been himself the means Of putting on
Pleasonton's stat, came 10 his relief with a
few words . ..-
"'Look on the tGbie, old ttliac. They're
not chG6iag.' He pointed to the table In
the tent, and there, In the midst, lay large,
official envelope. and on Il was written,
'BRtGADIRRrG SSgRAL GEORGE A. CUSTER,
U. 8. Vols ..- az
"1he reaction was instantaneous, and
the young fellow was completely overcome.
A moment later, and all his old comrades
were gathered around him In real earnest,
congratulating and shaking hands, while
Custer, too much ovQrpowered to speak,
could only smile falntly, tura very pale,
find his eyes full OF tears; and sink down
In chair, feeling very much as II he was
going 10 make fool Of himself and cry.
However, he regained his sclf.contrOl In u
few moments, and was able to thank his
comrades, who were really In earnest this
time; and after while was permitted 10
read the orders which accompanied his
commission, and directed him to report to
General Pleasanton for instructions.
"0f the interview between Pleasanton
and himself II Is unnecessary TO speak. II
was marked on the one side by great kind.
ness and good sense. A few months later,
has been more like father to me than q
General and this was indeed the truth.
There must, however, have been something
peculiarly magnetic about Custer to have
attracted to himself, as he did, the enthu.
siastic affection Of three men OF such very
different characters as his three successive
commanders. Mcclellan, the polished,
scientific soldier, kind.hearted to fault,
slow, methodical and cautious; Pleasantou,
acrid, sarcastic, cxacting, IN excellent cav.
airy chief, but general y falling to attract
any affection from his subordinates, q mar.
tinet in his discipline; Sheridan, fsry, i'm.
petuous, untiring, remorseless In the
amount Of work he exacted from his troops;
all these three men loved, admired, and
trusted him entirely, and II was nothing
but his transrendent ability which forced
them to do So"
Those who have perused the Generals
own lille on the Plains" have become
familiar with his doings up TO tho time
Of the last fatal fight. Clusters biographer
defends his hero warmly from the ami
madrersions made against his name and
fame, more especially from the enmity
displayed toward him by the President
just before his last campaign. He giTes
US excellent insight into his private life
and habits, entirely clearing his memory
from many base charges made against It
by his enemies. Clusters life was true
and n manly one. He was 4 soldier faith.
ful to his trust, his superior, and his
country. In monarchical nations his
breast would have glitiered with orders,
his family have been ennobled, and suai.
cient money have been voted to enable
him to live in proper style and TO leave
his family in comfort at his death. As
\ soldier Of the republic he. who had
passed unScratched through more battles
than all the Generals Of the British army
put together, left nothing behind him but
his sword, his honor, and his gallant
name.
We congratulate the author upon hay.
Ing produced one OF the best biographies
Of the time. keep, his hero always
in the foreground, and seldom loses sight
Of the fact that II Is General Custer, not
himself, who Is doing the acting, the talk.
ing, and the fighting. We close our no.
lice with the following touching account
of the last long sleep Of the three Gus.
.crs:
All the reports Of tue Indians who
reached the British possessions were I'm.
animous in saying that they dreaded the
,aber more than any thing, and this Is
,asily understood when their supersti-
lion as to hand weapons is considered.
II seems certain that they would never
have reverenced Custet's body rs they
did had he not struck down their beat
men in the grim hand.to.hand fight,
among all the brave and strong,
he was the bravest and best swordSmen
Of all, the other officers having had but
little teaching In the use Of the saber.
Be that as It may, II Is known that he
must have died under circumstances oil
peculiar heroiSm TO win such respect,
and that he was only killed by the brav.
est Indian Of the whole Northwest, man
whose unlinching fortitude had enabled
him to hang in the air for four hours In
the sun dance.
80 fell Custer, the brave cavalier, the
Christian soldier, surrounded by foes, but
dying In harness amid the men he loved.
WHO fell with him?
"There by hia side lay his brother
Tom, brave Colonel Custer, a double Of
the General, who had enlisted as pri-
vate soldier at 10, was an officer at 10,
who wore what no other officer Ia the
army could boast Of, two medals, each
for a flag taken from an enemy In battle.
Brave and gentle, courteous and tender,
u model officer OF cavalry. God be with
gallant Tom Custer till the last day. BE
died like all the Clusters, with his face TO
the sky and his feet to the foe.
mot far Of, close together, lay two
more Of the same family, poor young Bos.
ton Custer and little Aute Reed, Clusters
nephew, son Of that good, gentle Christian
woman who had saved Custer himself
from reckless career, whose prayers
had helped to make him the Christian
knight be became. Brave boys, nearly
boys both, no sworn soldier OF the State
..s.Nl A. ,na.n nahI,, tkaa Nhav ~.