Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-11-02

could only smile family, turn very
pale, find his eyes full of tears, and
sink down in a chair, feeling very
much as if he was going to make a
fool of himself and cry. However, he
regained his self -control in few mo-
ments, and was able to thank his
comrades, who were really in earn
est this time, and after while was
permitted to read the orders which
accompanied his commission, and
which directed him to report to Gen
eral Pleasonton for instructions.
~Of the interview between Pleason-
ton and himself it is unnecessary to
speak. 1t was marked on the one
side by great kindness and good
sense. A few months later Custer
writes home about Pleasonton: He
has been more like a father to me
than general and this was indeed
tho. truth. There must, however,
have been something peculiarly mag
netic about Custer to have attracted
to himself, as he did, the enthusiastic
affection Of three men of such very
different characters as his three sue
cessive commanders. Mcclellan, the
polished, scientific soldier, kind
hearted to fault, slow, methodical
and cautious; Pleasonron, acrid, sar-
castle, exacting, an excellent cavalry
chief, but generally failing to attract
any affection from his subordinates,
a martinez in his discipline; Sheri-
dan, fiery, impetuous, untiring. re-
morseless in the amount of work he
enacted from his troops; all these
three men loved, admired and trusted
him entirely, and it was nothing but
his trsnscendent ability which forced
them to do So
GEN. CLUSTERS FIRST CHARGE WITH HIS
BRIGADE
When the boy lieutenant was sud
denly promoted to be brigadier-
general, and put in charge Of the
Michigan brigade, there was much
finding. They did not want
this mere boy to lead them. They
did not believe he would fight. 1t
was but a few days before they wore
called upon to make the first charge,
which Gen. Clusters biographer thus
describes:
~The charge of the First Michigan
at Gettysburg is described by an eye
witness as something magnificent,
and yet the one thing that gave it
weight is not mentioned IN Clusters
report. We have seen how, the pre-
vious day, the General had charged
at the head of single company, sole
ly for the purpose of encouraging
his men and to win their respect and
affection. At Gettysburg he COM
pleted his victory over the brigade
oy Inc ulduuCi LII WniCu uc iCo ehC
second charge in which he partici-
pated with his men. When that
single regiment, in column OF squad
rons, moved forward to the attack.
every man knew that it was the last
reserve, and had started on an almost
hopeless task. Nothing but the spec
tacle Of the young general at their
head, sharing their dangers, could
have inspired them to such an effort,
and it was the magnificent spectacle
of his gallant and knightly figure, far
in the van, that nerved every man in
that column. Hating him at Han
over. they began to respect him at
Hunterstown; after Gettysburg, they
adored him.
The result OF this attack was that
Hampton's cavalry was driven back,
the infantry ordered up to support it.
the whole ammunition train OF Lee
threatened, and much OF the vigor OF
the assault on the Union right par
alyzed. Meanwhile Buford, on the
other flank OF the army, had prevent
ed an equally dangerous turning
movement in that direction, and the
battle of Gettysburg had been won"