The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-09-02
Some Peculiarities of the Dashiuc
Cavalryman.

Clusters strong points rs 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-
lieve that he was human, and am con
fident that when overwhelmed and sur
rounded i'll that ravine. and staring
death squarely in his face. he loaded the
Remington rifle he always carried as
coolly and aimed it as accurately rs if
background ut his post.
Yet l have seen tears in his eyes that
were drawn out by the suffering of
dog. One of the tender points in his
nature was his sympathy for brutes.
He never allowed an animal to be abused
or to suffer in any way if it was in his
power to prevent it. l have seen him
dismount robust men from half-starved
horses, and have heard him order sold
iers punished for abusing beasts. 1t
used to he remark commonly made in
his command that Custer would turn Il
wounded soldier out of an ambulance
to let n 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 rs entertaining guest at dinner
table rs one often sees. For wears he
never drank even the lightest 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 sworc, nor would
he allow an oath to be uttered in his
hearing. l have heard him rcbuke his
officers many time for swearing, and
for one of his soldiers to utter an oath
in his presence, was the grossest sort of
INSTRUMENTATION. Cavalry and profnn-
ity seem somehow to he cO-essentials,
but it was not 80 in Clusters case.
Another anomaly was that he never
used tobacco in any form. Think of u
trooper without plug and pipe in his
pocket!
brightest women in the world for wife;
in home on tho frontier, where tho
gentler arts were mingled with the pri-
vations and the rudeness Of half civil
zation; with library where Kuskin lay
beside y revolver and Jean Ingelow kept
companionship with cartridge box;
with drawing room where q velvet car
pet was strcwn with halfcurcd bear and
wolf skins. where delicate lacc curtains
were held in place by antlcrs, and where
old heads and stuffed owls ornamcntcd
the piano, Custer lived. illustrating in
himself the anomaly Of u hunter and
literature, an associate of savages and
patron of art.
Custer was ono of the best mnrksmcn
in the army, and one of the best horse
men. Marvellous stories are told of his
feats in both particulars. lie had al-
most Us many guns rs there arc varie-
ties of manufacture, and his stable was
filled with tho best blOotlcd horses in the
land. During the war Custer always
dressed in what the soldiers of the old
school caileu nn Outia,i,,ioi. s..,i-: no
had utter disregard for gold lace and
trappings. His saddle was always the
most comfortable and not the most
SNOWY he could find. When ho went
into battle, he always wore loose
blouse, such rs was used by the ordinary
soldiers as M undress uniform, with the
skirts tucked into his trowsers like
shirt. Under his collar was IL strip of
red flannel for neckcloth, with long
ends that floated out over his shoulder
rs 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
brcro. 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
ut his side and rifle across his elbow,
completed his "outft." On tho plains
Custer always wore a handsomely en-
broidered buckskin suit, with Ills 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.