Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-08-02
GEy GEORGE A. CUSTER.

GEN. dEOhGE a. COS1ER.
The dashing, gallant George A. Gus.
ter who met his death In desperate
fight with the Indians on the Little
Horn river on tho 25tb June, was
born at Now RumIcy, Ohio, December
D, 1889. After being carefully edu-
Gated he entered the Military Academy
at West Point, from which institution
no was graduated at tho outbreak Of
tho war in 1861, and was commissioned
a second lieutenant in the Second Cav
airy. Ho served in the early cam.
paigns In Virginia, and in the summer
OF 1862 was commissioned first lieutcn-
ant and attached TO the staff of General
Mcclellan. Hc participated in the
battle Of Yorktown, South Mountain
and Antictam with great credit, and
was also engaged in the brilliant cav.
airy raid led by General Stoneman.-
In June, 1863, he was made brigadier
general OF volunteers, and, with bri.
gade of cavalry, held the right OF the
line at Gettysburg, q post Of immense
Importance TO the Northern army
General Custer also commanded cav.
airy brigade in the Richmond cam
paign from April to August, 1864, and
increased his reputation in the field by
several acts more than usual bravery
and military skill. He commanded
the third division of the cavalry corps
in tho Shenandoah Valley, and at Fall
ing Waters met and routed force Of
the enemy after a spirited fight
While at Winchester ho captured nine
flags, and his prisoners amounted to
moro than the whole force he had
under fire. His brigade took an i'm
portant part in the actions Of Fishers
Hill and Cedar Creek, and for his con.
duct at the latter engagement he was
breveted major general of volunteers.
In October, 1864, General Custer de-
feated the Confederate leader, General
Rosser with heavy loss, and then
marched upon Waynesboro, and at that
point overlook and captured the rem
nant Of General Early's command. At
the desperate fights in the Wilderness
General Custer was present and acted
with his usual force and energy. He
commanded cavalry division when
General Lee was finally driven back
on Richmond, and took conspicuous
part in all the battles which led TO the
downfall Of the Southern Confederacy.
lie acted at Dinwiddie Court House
Sailors Creek, Five Forks, and was
present at Appomattox Court House,
where the fierce and bloody drama
ended by the surrender OF General Lee
and his forces TO General Grant Short
ly after this General Custer was raised
to the rank Of major general OF volun-
teers, and in February, 1866, he was
mustered out Of that service, falling
back to bis regimental command in the
regular army. On the 2Sth of July,
1866, he was commissioned lieutenant
colonel in the Seventh Cavalry, the
body which he led into the late fight.
In 1868 Lieutenant Colonel Custer was
placed in command of the cavalry in
the military division of the Southwest
and the Gulf, and at later period was
appointed chief of cavalry in the De-
partment of Texas. Upon his return
he was sent to the West and began his
career as an Indian-fghter. In June,
1873, his regiment, the Seventh Cav
airy, formed portion of General Stan
ley's command operating against the
Indians in the Valley of the Yellow
stone and did good service. In the
following summer ha made recon-
noisance of the Black Hills, and acted
in that section in endeavoring TO pre-
vent conflicts between the Indians and
the whites. When the Sioux became
uneasy and dangerous, in the early
part of the present year, Colonel Gus
ter was ordered to take part in mill
tary expedition for the purpose OF
bringing them into subjection. The
force, numbering about thirty-fve hun
dred men, was divided into three col
umns, led by General Terry, General
Crook and General Gibbon, Custer be-
ing second in command under General
Terry. The first fight was at Rosebud
Crook, whore, afiar a ctubborn fight,
the whites held the ground, but did
not pursue the Indians. The second
conflict was between Clusters force and
a party of Indians numbering about
five thousand warriors near the Little
Horn river, in which the whites were
defeated with terrible slaughter. GEN
eral Custer was an officer OF determined
courage, and his dash upon the late
occasion sprang from that reckless dis
regard for danger which was leading
trait Of his military character. He
was a writer as well as soldier, and
his magazine production, "Life on the
Plains; or, Practical Experiences with
Indians" attracted considerable atten-
ton both in Europe and this country.
1t was written in an easy, picturesque
style, and the incidents were wild, ro-
mantle and exciting. General Custer
was a favorite in the army, and the
sudden end OF his career will be re-
gretted by all ranks Of the service. In
private life he also had many warm
and devoted friends.