The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-05-18
Grants Cruelty to Custer.
From the Chicago Times. !


In spite Of his official denial Grant has
gotten himself into very disreputabe lie
position i'll the Custer business. He first
atfronted the cavalryman, and then tried
to disgrace him. 1t is not improbable tha,
Grants treatment OF Custer may result in
committee OF inquiry, which will lay
bare the indecent warfare waged by the
Executive. not only upon Custer. but
other soldiers who have, in obedience to
Congress, testified as to army abuses In
the Custer case Grants conduct sounds
like a chapter from the history of some
Eastern despotism, The facts in the case
present the President of the United States
in one OF the most humiliating and disre-
putable of the many humiliating and dis
reputable plights that he has been put in
this winter \ republican member. inter-
ested Iii the controversy, has taken pains
to inquire the status of the case. and from
him these facts are obtained First, Gus
ter, as is the etiquette among army peo-
pie, called upon the President as soon as
he arrived in Washington He was re-
fused an audience He called again, on
three successive occasions. and was met
by the same response, that the President
/.
Within ten days republican Congress-
man learned that the President finally un-
able to contain his anger, and desiring to
paralyze the efficacy of the committee 8
work and punish those that gave evidence,
directed an order to be issued superseding
Custer in command of the Indian expe-
dtion, assigning in his stead Major Cen
eral Terry, who has never had experience
on the frontier and who knows nothing of
the Indian service. Last week Custer,
who has been anxious to get off for a
month, finally obtained consent from the
committee to return to his command, sub
ject to their summons if they needed him.
He visited General Sherman, stating the
case to him explicitly, explaining that he
had no instrumentality in causing himself
to be summoned, nor did be take any part
in the examination which was demanded
Of him by the committee. General Sher-
man expressed perfect satisfaction with
Clusters conduct, lamented the Presidents
stupid wrath and advised Custer to call on
him and explain the true condition OF af-
fairs According to Sherman, Custer had
on several occasions visited the President
for the purpose of relieving his mind of
any misapprehension and disabusng him
of the current slander that he was going
out Of his way to bring disgrace upon his
former companions in arms. Sherman
could see no reason why Custer should
not visit Grant and explain the situation,
and finally, at his suggestion, Custer did
call This was on Saturday afternoon
and Custer had his tickets for his Western
journey He waited, however, over Sat
urday, Sunday and Monday to comply with
Sherman's advice, and promptly at ten
o'clock, 50 soon as the Presidents recep-
ton hour begins, he was in attendance
There were several people who arrived
with Custer. all of whom We're instantly
admitted on sending in their cards The
entire company who came with Custer
passed in and out, and others came and
antechamber unbidden. From ten o'clock
until one he waited, dozens of people Of
all kinds and conditions handing in their
cards and gaining access to the President,
while the lackeys stated at him. About
two O'Clock General ingalls,, passing in to
see the President saw Custer. and asked
him how long he had been waiting
Learning the situation, he informed Custer
that he would call General Grants atten-
ton to his presence and hurry matters up
ingalls,, on going to the President, told
him of Clusters being in the antechamber,
and said: "lt is not fair to Custer to serve
him in that way. If you do not want to
see him you should have sent him word
this morning, and not kept him out there
among the crowd waiting the entire day"
Ingalls, went on stating further his opin-
ion of the proprety OF treating an officer
OF Clusters distinction in such a fashion
1t seems that his upbraiding met with no
response for at three o'clock, having wait
ed since ten, Clusters card was returned
to him with a message from the President
declining to see him, stating that he was
going to lunch.