Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1876-08-25

there nOilnG everything III uctAIl, anu Oe-
fore the 81 i.nal cam. he knew where the
fight would be hottest He was to lead US.
and he might have trembled without
:O>ing our respect or any Of the reputa-
ton he hal won.
1t has been asserted by several inf1uen-
tial da,lies. since Custer's death, that a
spirited cavalry charge was pet hobby
of his. General Custer hal but oue the
ory in war-whip the enemy if you ca !.
He often could and did. but it was not
always by cavalry dash. Two thous-
and men encamprd in field can be
routed by charge of one hundred troop
ers, A whole brigade Of infantry in line
OF battle hav, BEEN known to fiy before n
charge Ut six ompanies Of cav, v,lry. Even
when it is tavaIry against cava ry,
fic, ce charge, a loud yell, and the god
use of sabr. s leaves the victory on the side
of dash.
General Custer not only loved music
for its soothing influence. but he loved it
because it cheered the men, AID herycd
them up for bold dash and hot encount-
er. His baud WAS probably More exposed
tn IN any olh'r in the S. rvice. The proofs
of this are the scars which SOM of the
members are carrying to their graves,
Before the war closed every member OF
tue band ws> willing to make oath that
Gust. RS hobby was bald music.
AT Burns Ford the cavalry found the
bluffs on the opposite sid Of the river
cross and when" liz h1ieeH1ag1s. g1ag1s Custer must
shooters mus: first bc routed, lie turned
20 tn. band Ii was ordered to the front,
stationed where bullets whizzed past th=l'
Ears. and the General remarked:
When you see me draw my Sabre oo
YOU s'r.ke up Yankee Doodle, and pia,
her for all she's worth!
He pu, himself at tue head Of the brig
ade. drew sabre. and as tn" band slru'k K
up. the troopers charged the ford, cross
ID If and roustel til. shrrpsllootors lii u"
time 1T all.
At Bristow station, the g"nners OF
field battery received such vigorous re
py from another IN The la ds .; the enemy
that the men vered u lite.
Where's my ba' d. shouted Custer, an
when the leader reported, he was order
to take position besi1e the battery ant
give the gunners something lively. Th'
band went down, every man wishing b.
was his horn, or back 10 Michigan. Th'
guns K .pt roari, &. and while there Is ~
doubt that the band played y tune, ~
imam could be found that heard note
By AMI by y shell Came screaming ovr
their heads, aud, whie all 'squ"tted'
1.-The base drum went one better, and stay
ed down. The very next missile wen
nlump through his abandoned drum, TAX
ling out bo'h heads.
THAT beat was out Of time,' laughe
J Custer. and he permitted the baud 10 r.
tire.
Irevelyan Station was probat II IN
l6rrccst cavalry fight of the Wal. Me
ion both sides charged and cut aid hacke
Iss never before or after. 1t was ma"
IMAM and horse to horse, and chargl"
i.ouadron had no sooner reformed tha
,hey were compelled 10 net . charge
:! TIE Confedcratcs had infantry to bac
! them; they were superior in NUMBER
,nL. while the day was daw"ing to
I close. Custer found his command su
:. rounded. The Co,frd+rates counted
1 h.exing the entire force, and they ha
good reason for 80 believing. There W.
Z only one way out; thai road was to be e.
with eabres. In counci wi b his bro h'
-:otficers, Custer pointed to battery whie
had Just opened fire, and said:
There is sLr road. right over that ba
ltery!' Ordering up the band. h. aske
t for "Yankc- Doodle" the best you k"o
elbow. and history tells how the troope
d folio v ed their leaders out Of The trap.
g was v. afs ago; if one were to look ov
= the list OF n. reported with .'sabre Gu
on The b sd." his blood would tingle
hr resliz. d hnw hot II was.
There we're few officers in the arm
who hsd such . bright side for ever!
ei,hing A rvvcrse stnng him for m
: me, I. and then, to uss his OM . wort
y That's all right; they haven't SEEN o
for the last .i,ne!' His hearty lAuK
y, floating back 10 weary men, seem d 10 r
= viye them. and there was rev reason T
''llovinR him. While he vas strict di
I,iplinarlan, he was ne.,hr martinez. y
. Ibid he rexsr, il necessary to shut his jav
,rItoget her, scowi fi-rcely All seek to m 4
y |his ansn lremble with ave in his preseac
Some Genera's pursued that policy. u
anne troops were whipped every tiu
slth.y formed : b sslle lt"e- Gen. Cuss
'coull J hold his digaity sud distance. =