The New York herald., 1876-11-30
GENERAL CUSTER.
Interesting Story of the Modern
Bayard's Life.
GRANTS PERSECUTION IN EVIDENCE.
Review Of the Little Big
Horn Fight.
DID RENO DO HIS DUTY I?

COMPLETE LIFE or GENERAL GEORGE A. CUSTER
Major General OF Volunteers, &c, by Frederick
Whitaker, Brcvet Captain sixth New York Veteran
Cavalry New York sheldon X Co.
BY the courtesy OF Messrs. sheldon Co.,
permitted look the sheets OF Captain whilta-
kers lie OF Custer days advance OF publi-
cation. This is the only authorized life of General
Custer that has appeared and contains heretofore
published letters and kilograms that throw light upon
the career the dead cavaryman In his preliminary
remarks Captain Whitaker tells US that Custers
cess, which has been attributed good luck,
.ircy the OF wonderful capacity for hard
energetic work and "a rapidy OF intuition which is
seldom found apart from tary genius Of the highest
order" Few men hal more enemies than Custer"
says his biographer, 'and deserved them less
The world has known a tithc Of the difficulties
under which he struggled Il Will be the authors
aeavor remedy this want 0; knowledge, to paint
sober colors the truthful portrait Of such
knight OF has not onored the world with
his presence since tho days of Bayard.'
General Custer born in New Rumley, Ohio, Dc.
ccmber s. 1899 HIS father a hale and hearty yeo-
man. His mother was tho widow Fitzpatrick when his
father married her. She bore him five children OF
whom George Armstrong was the hrst Mrs Custer is
still living but in very feeble health General Custer
boy not fond OF study, his passion being Tor
reading military noves--his chief ambition TO be a
soldier There are many amusing and interesting
records OF his early days in this book.
Custers introduction 10 military lie Is told In hts
words. Hc left West Point for Washington the
18th of july 1861, stopping in New York only long
enough TO purchase the necessary eutenanrs outfit,
and he tells OF his interview with General Scott.
Alter Custcr's adventure down the river with Gen.
cral Barnard General Mcclellan Tor him and
made him relate his exploits, The young
carried away by his adventures and described the
scene in glowing language Mcclellan listening Sud-
deny the young officer rccollected himself again. grew
silent and basnlul, touched hs cap stiny and said,
THAT'S all, sir''
Then 1t that Mcclellan broke tho silence
abruptly ..Dp you know. you're just tho young man
I've been looking for, Mr Custer How would you
like 10 como my slaHy'
Custer made answer For moment he could
make He paed aud flushed, perfectly
He could not believe his good fortune
s.You doa't-realy- it-G ?" all he
could saminer out
II do" said the General, kindly "How say your
Will you acceptf"
eHow did you feel when tho General spoke to your"
lsked a friend Of Custer long. long alter.
Ills reply was brief, as his eyes lleo with tears ~
felt could have died for him."
That tho commencement for Custer, OF u life
long adoraton OF Mcclellan, which nothing ever
served to Seakon Mcclellan was the lrst man whom
through lie, and no never forgot the iact Hitherto
lie had been alone helpless and rcndless, all his gall
lanl deeds apparently wasted.
Just before the time General Mcclellan was removed
from his command, Custer wrote home 10 hls sstcr:
= m s CUE s. ,r h a,s to s com
ss ges @ the power Of bis lying enemies
DC uund among tnosc wno ron lack Of patriotism.
.owar,ee ana ~ some case lrom ootn causes combined.
ny their country. N. New YORK - is Among The
srns Mcclellan. is enemies dwindle down in por,ance
anti .hes sach such insignificant d lying
nembes h nanc th.nS could devote the columns
And oas%y sandcras tno.e is ts ow eoansyymen nS
viii he ike = mean eomardiy iisi as b. is remains y,
aaee,ionsie i Srothtr ''' ' %RmsrsoNG our
GRANTS FIRST OPINION OF CUSTER.
We append this letter OF special interest," in
o the altered relations OF the parios III after days
HIS etlcr written 10 scnor Romero, the Mexican
Minister to Washington 1t shows Grants opinion OF
Custer in the days when Grant nothing but an
honest soldier
Msasafos Amiro of b. lh si'iS Msp o @
DEAR SIR VIII % your aeaaatanee Gen.
asary oieer durnS the war There vas no officer in that
Sheridan to greater de ree than general Custer. and
BY this - ndorse 0eueral Custer in ish degree.
for one Win leave country SsssS ani S
ns o syary ssrsss aud s he 3 es IT, IT, oa, m npe
To senor M RoaGRa. Minister. 6e I. :. GRANT
GOING OUT TO THE PLANE.
Altogether the summer campaign OF 1868 against
both Northern and southern Indians had been a fail.
ure.n says Captain Whitaker. 'rhc troops had lost
men and pr, stgc the Indians had lost nothing but
men killcd IN action The deht with Forsyth took
place the lhrd wecS in September and the fact OF his
beng desperately wounded rendered IL impossible
rely on hm Tor any more work, while General Sully
Was getting too old Tor real active service against such
Toes as tho indianA IL the cath Of September
that Custer, who was then at Monroe, received the
following telegram
:, hrApSsAnTnes s,s a DsrARTnrSr % or rnE Missouri:
General q; A. NusrhR, Monroe, Mich
officers Of yonr regiment have aed ior YOU and hope ths
sppiieaiion W., oe snesess'a Gan you come at onse'
q october against the hostile iadians from Medicine Lodge
7. II. sHERlDAN. Major General Commanding.
1T may surprise the reader to hear that Custer IL
be obeyed TINS request, osobeyed the of the law
Just much when he lett Fort Wallace without
orders proceeding which cost MIN years. retire.
mcnt owing to tho structures OF red tape He had
been by the War Department especially cnJolncd from
taking command OF his ment and his sentence had
been approved by the President No less authority
could give him leave 60 into the field. However, he
decided TO take the risk oiSheriaans application being
refused and accordingly started II almost
ceive such despatch. Red tape and envy had sent
him home aud tried TO get along without him,
but rcd tape and envy were found unequal 10 the tasks
o war Like law, red tape Is all very while people
choose to submit to IT, but II depends the consent
o Tue koNcFhcd IN thc case OF Tue lndlans as In the
OF the Coniedcraics II proved useless, Tor both
spurDed IT, man was wanted, and they had TO send
ior Custer
she lelcgraphed Sheridan that ho was coming by
the next TRAIN, and by the next tram he He
was overiaAen al way station by telegram IRON tho
atJutant general OF the army, directing him report
to sheridan thai. for this once tape Welded
gracefully and cgalizcd his Journey. The his
sory We shall tell briefly aud much in his
words as possible
/" arriving AZ Fort Hays, says Custer, 'on tho
morning OF the Goth, found General sheridan, who
had transferred his headquarters temporarily from
Fort Leavenworth TO that pont IN order 10 be nearer
The leld OF operations. Ny regiment that time
ou the Arkansas River, the vicinity OF Fort
Dodge and a0ous three marches from Fort Hays.
Alter remaining AT General Sberdan's headquarters
day and receiving his instructions set with
Bmall escort across the country 10 Fort Dodge TO
sumo command of my regiment Arriving at fort