The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-06
interrogation in Chicago by the
Presidents Order.
STRIPPED OF HIS COMMAND.
The Indian Expedition To Go Forward
Without Him.
RSAR'S SPLE E N .

Inc ocspatcncs rom washington appearing IN west
papers to-day, stating that orders have been issued
from the War department directing General Custer 70
resume his command, and that the Indian expedition
from Dakota had started, are incorrect Dispatches
received by Sheridan at military headquarters
this city yesterday from General Sherman stating that
the President insists that Custer shall not resume his
command
CUSTER INTERCEPTED CHICAGO.
Custer reached Chicago yesterday morning, route
10 join his command In Dakota While in the cars
At she depot and about 70 start for St Paul,
staT oficer OF General sher,dan's entered
and informed him that he wanted at
the Generals headquarters Upon repairing thither
Custer notified by Sheridan that tho latter had
orders from Washington to intercept him he passed
through Chicago and detain HIM here until further
orders from Washington, and in the meantime Sheri-
dan ordered the Indian expedition without
Custer.
NO EXPLANATION.
Tho despatch TO Sheridan contained no charges
sgainst Custer, except that he had left Washington
without seeing tho President. Custer at once tel
cgTaphed Sherman that he had spent tho entire
day before leaving Washington from ten until
three O'Clock, in the reception room At the
White House, seeking an audience with the President,
but the latter sent him word at three O'Clock declining
to grant an interview Custer then called at sher-
STRIPPED or HIS COMMAND
General Sheridan, aftcr OBTAINING Custcr here under
orders from Washington tccgraphed the fact to sher-
man. Orders telegraphed TO Sheridan last night,
instructng HIM to permit Custer to proceed TO Fort
Lincoln, Custers headquarters, but by tho Presidents
directions not TO permit Custer to accompany tho OK
petition shortly TO move against the hostile Indians,
which expedition embraces all OF Custers troops. and
the orders him to proceed to Fort Lincoln under
those circumstances leave HIM stripped Of his ogiti
mate command
MILITARY MEN IN THE DARK.
Inquiry among the military here fails to discover
any procnce for this course beyond the fact
that the President orders It,
Custer left this city this morning for st. Paul and
Fort Lincoln.
WHAT Is SAID IN WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON Nay 6, 1870
The statement that che President relieved General
Custer from his command because he q witness In
the Beknap impeachment trial is ohc.ally denied On
tho contrary u was the wish Of tho President that
General Custer, having been subpGnacd as Witness
should remain until had testified, and that
tme tho Indian expedition should DO placed under
command OF some other oniccr
General Sherman Is most emphatic in saying that
General Custer, though relieved . witness by tho
impeachment managers was not justified in leaving
Washington without notifying the President himself
OF his intention 70 do Neither tho Secretary Of
War nor General Sherman protested" against rcliev
ing General Custer, did General Sherman say that
General Custer mot only the best, but tho only
man" NJ 70 lead the expedition The army, General
Sherman says, possesses hundreds who CON-
petent for the command Of such an expedition IS Gen.
cral Custer
WAS HE 4 VOLUNTARY WITNESS on No!-rHE
QUESTION SATISFACTORILY sErTLED-wHY HE
LEFT HIS COMMAND.
TO TIE EDITOR or THE HERALD:-
The administration organs throughout the country
have repeated the statement originated by Belknap and
his friends In Washington that General Custer left his
command in Dakota and camc TO Washington . volun-
tary Witness Tho Hartford C0srGnt OF the Sd inst.
ediorally denounces the General and concludes a.
follows:-
evidence Meanwhile. st the post which he had
lett important expedition nstng out against hostile
Indiana Had he been anxious attend TO his duties
and taksn Of the expedition Being absent
the President has relieved him from duty and ordered him
TO the regiment Of which ne Is Lieutenant colonel
and viii appoint other officer take charge OF the
command Tho President has done exactly right
The answer TO these repeated misrepresentation Ia
the following telegram copy OF the original sent TO
Mr.. Clymer nearly two months ago.
LErTER GENERAL CUSTER.
FoRr LINCOLN, Dskots. March i6. 1879
Hon HErsrER CLynxR:-
While hold myself In readiness obey tho Of
committee. telegraph 70 state that engaged
upon important expedition intended 20 operate against
she hostile Indians and expect take the field early In
Of t6s would be satisfactory for you forward
return s my replies ~ mail D. 4. CUSTER