The New York herald., 1876-07-10

.'Brevet Major General Commanding"
General Custer married 1867, al Monroe.
Mich His wiie who shared with him the hardsnips OF
frontier HE is now at Fort Abraham Lincoln He
leaves no children.
"REMINISCENCES OF GEN. CUSTER.
WHAT HIS OLD COMRADES THINK OF HIM.
From the Chicago Tribune, July II
Captain BALLARD--rhe first time that saw Custer
was when we arrived at Hanover. the march up
from Fairfax Court House INTO Pennsylvania Custer
appeared tl ere night command Of the brigade
which composed OF the FIRST Filth, Sixth and
Seventh Michigan, and First Vermont cavalry. This
in June, 1863 On the Sd Of July struck the
lef very nearly the lett, OF army at Gettys-
burg-the whole cavalry corps which was under COM
mand OF General Pleasanton We struck Huntcrstown
within, guess eight miles from Gettysburg. just at
dark, and Custer gavc orders charge down little
lane with OF those post each 81 10
of the road. Seventy live oil charged and twenty
two got back Unfortunately was not among them,
for was captured, ana did not the command
again for twenty-five months, being TO Richmond.
Still we hit them severely, Tor twenty-five dead were
picked up, every sabred The command per-
foctly idoizcd Custer. The old Michigan brigade
udored its bigader and all felt II hc weighed about
u ton.
Major DEANE-Custer was McClellans staff when
he got his first STAR As understand thero sew
eral politicians who interested themselves In his behalf
and succeeded giving him chance, and he, like
man Of gtnus, went on and improved it. l was cap
tain at that time when they gave him the rank OF brig
adler and the command OF the Michigan brigade.
Captain BALLARD--There thing about Gus
ter: he was always at the front and still
believe that ho owed his marvellous preservation to
that. He never still he always on the move,
going just to the identical place where he least
expected.
foinn Tvo thrI I1sh
June. Colonel Keep, with the First battalion and
Major Dean charged and wero captured. Custer rode
up aud ordered to close up and charge. He
quite excited The rebels Ia the woods and
charged and captured colonel and a nnjor On that
occasion his color bearer was shot Tho rebels
around him. He rode up and tried get the staff out
OF the color bearers hands, but he could wrench
IL from his grasp, SO he stripped oil the flag and
stuffed 1t in his shirt bosom, and made the remark
the rebels got that tag they would got his body
with II. We were right with him OF course. In the
Shenandoah Valley be also displayed great deal OF
courage Al that time you could always tell Custer
and his men by their wearing long red necktles
Major DEAN-Afer the battle OF Yellow Tavern, at the
time Wilson got lost, We got down TO Meadow Bridge,
which destroyed the railroad bridge alone
ing The regulars lad the advance and they
skrmshng sheridan ordered them back and sent
the Michigan brigade down to build the bridge Custer
waking tho railroad track and MAS walking
my the road IA front oI the regiment, when
he sung out, "MuUor, you are not going 10 SWIM the
river. are your" sand, mo- am gong 10 ride lar
and got down to the river and dsmount." The
boys we're goilg across the railroad bridge AT tins
moment Gordons battery pumped a she'll into the
ditch, and 1t exploded. got covered with mud, and
Custer remarked, 'We, tnst pretty hot ivr us,
Major, but we viii get them out of tha, pretty soon,'
and noticed we did II. AS brave thing ever saw
Custer do was at inchestcr. We had been lighting all
morning, and finally down and joined Averi, or.
rather, he joined u.s. We were ordered march along
ou,ety We could hear fighting three or four
miles away. Suddenly were ordered 10 battalion
front anu then again 10 form brigade line OF battle,
and we formed our division in that way. Tnen we
int n.e An ThA rphn ripn n1n
there skirmishlng
ousrEn NEVER PUT OUT sKIsxlsHERs;
he kept up IA trot through the woods When came
the other side our line was Two miles long, and
straight us II on dress parade. My brigade came
square the left 0l The rebel Infantry just the end
OF the New York brigade, with Averils division
The got out the Duges ordered charge all
ot battle The stone fences which We met, however,
broke badly the charge Custer got twenty yards
ahead with MS color bearer right IN among the rebel
infantry. The color bearers horse was shot, but tue
man was not hurt.
CUSTER JUMPED OFF HIS HORSE,
picked up the by the Jacket collar his brecchcs.
SWING HIM on his own horse, gave him slap with HIS
sabre, and sent hun oil 70 the rear, aud left there
alone among the rebel infantry; but you bet that
got there in about hall minute. little while
alter that PICKED up about nfty mea from
aud asked what command that was l said il
was the FIRST brigade, FIRST division. He
snsre sn.,, 20 and ret them. charged sswn ,,,SIe
valley and picked up about sovenly-nve eighty
prisoners The rebel limo was reformed the hill
and stood th re- but did not fire. | began TO think
something wrong. thought had all tho prison
could handle and started back Tor .hs rear The
sixth corps changed position aud came back the
other side. and thcy had the line above them.
got away VITA hall OF my prisoners. As
got receipt Tor them started TO JOIN Custer, just
he starting That last Charge but got chance
10 report We went In with him that charge. lie
and Lowell had been begging rorbert 70 lot them
charge for hali AN hour. Just a. 4 came up heard
Custer tell Iorbert, "By God, Will charge any way"
Says roreert .Al right; make the chsr1s and Oreak
berl. .'No; Lowell cannot 60" lie then COM
mandlng the regular brigaae Custer started. We
didnt have 900 men our brigade We charged
between 800 and 700 rebel infantry, with hail
dozen Drgadier aud major generals trying to reform
them get them into line The rebels max
ing charge aud turned batteries IRON fort
the hill upon us and gave us an enladng are until
we got IN among the infantry. We had o15 prisoners
and nve STANDS OF coors out OF that crowd.
Captain BALLAHD-When Custer made a charge no was
the nrst sabre that struck. Tor he was always ahead
Mayor DsANE-l remember AremaYk he made when he
was ridng along and reported that had returned
many prisoners TO the DIVISION provost marshal lie
slapped me on the shoulder ana SAID, "hajor, this
the ouiliest day since Christ was born" He
pleased 10 think OF those prisoners aud flags one Of
the latter the Stoncwail Jackson Brigade battle
nag inscribed Winchester One and Two" Hc
could not contain himself. He never asked the boys
10 20 ahead He always said 'Como"
Captain ballard Never
Colonel BIRGk-He never would hold his under
fire where they wonld be shot down II they could
charge, he would draw his sabre aud lead them. lie
has led IL many a charge.
Colonel BRGE--Custer kept brigade from tho
time EloE Farnsworth killed at Gettysburg up to
the 18th OF September, 1864 Then att,r the cattle of
the Wilderness, his gaIlantry there the prisoners
he took, madc him a Drevet major general and he
put in the Third DIVISION and commanded
the end OF the war. The Michigan brigade has the
credit winning his second star The men followed
him unti he was made major general and took higher
rank
Captain BALLARp-rhcre was a strong feeling OF deep
Indignation the minds OF ans OLD volunteer command
the way in winch be has been The war
closed. We always thought that the way In which lie
used was a crying shame
Colonel BiRaE--Evcry member OF his brigade and |
OF the Tnird cavalry division, feels tho way.
Major DEANgCustcr told me how he got cap
fancy. He was then lieutenant Ncclciians staff.
Al time they were iy NJ the ChIckahominy and
could ana any ford to the river, went
with the Chief Engineer on McCleiIns stan
nossance They got up IN cornDcd whore, looking |
he Custer said, II uon't to this
unless havo an order DOT you give order 70
To and