The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1876-11-03
cUsTER's FAMILY IN CANE.
The People with Whom the Dead General Used
.s- .-.r5 to Surround Himself. ~,...

asked myself to what this remarkable
social atmosphere was due. What influ-
ence it was that held band of men, hum
dreds of miles from the restraints OF civili-
cation, up to it's highest requirements of
decorum and polite intercourse How was
it that there was such perfect freedom and
safety for sweet-faced young girls, with
long golden braids or flying chestnut curls,
and souls as pure as their broad foreheadsz
in such surroundings? I found my reply
in Mrs. Custer. Tt was her presence alone
that made all this possible. She followed
the General through all his campaigns, her
constant aim being to make life pleasant
for her. husband and for his command.
General Clusters officers were remarkably
attached to him to a man, they revered
him and admired his wife. She was with
him, not only in the idleness of the summer
camp life, when the days passed in a dolce
.farniente, resembling holiday picnic but
In ruder and more dangerous enterprises
she was, as far as de would permit, his
constant companion. In response to the
bugle call, "Boots and saddies," given at
any time of ths night and announcing a
sudden mount and forced march, she need
ed only five minutes for the completion of
her toilet. Eight minutes included the
luxury of bath. s.-- A%s' l.4#2s Il
As I looked at this cultivated and re-
markable lady, SO quiet and unassuning,
who walked within a heated glare. il
Her presence making cooler air, 2 va.7.
I did not wonder at the frankly expressed
opinion of one of the Generals staff, gem
tleman whose high social opportunities and
education had never conquered his national
brogue. and who was suspected of exagger-
ating it out of patriotic pride, and preferred
converslng with Mrs. Custer to dancing at
tendance on the young girls, and defended
his preference thus: 81 don't loike young
leddies; they are SO thrilling and frivolous.
I prefer the society of merried women"
General Custer's staff was peculiarly
cosmopolitan one. 1t contained represen-
tatiyes from many of the European nations.
Col. Cook was the grandson of an English
lord. He was magnifcently handsome
man, though trife of an exquisite, real
izing the description of an English officer
given by the author of Under Tho Flags.
He was graceful in figure, with most ex-
pressive dark eyes, a delicately aquiline
nose and chestnut side-whiskers over foot
in length. In reference to his English ma
tionality and his popularity as lady's
man, the Colonel had received the sobri-
quet of The Queens 0wn," an appella-
tion to which he was in no way averse, but
always received with grateful smile.
Captain De Rudio was an Italian, with
complicated political history full of plots
and intrigues, condemnations to death and
hair-breath escapes from French and Ital-
ian despotism. His wife, quiet English
lady, interested us much, and it was alto
gether delightful to hear him descant on
liberte. f'The country" he would say, in
his delicious broken English, ''the country
is nothing. 1t is re principle y Colonel
Keogh, of Irish birth, had served before our
war as one of the Papal guards. Lieuten-
ant Mathey was Frenchman. Taciturn
Captain Mcintosh, with the sad, express
i've face and the rare intelligence had dash
of Indian blood in his veins. The most
American was, perhaps, Co
lionel Tom. Custer, in his buckskin suit,
broad-brimmed hat and crimson necktie,
with long futtering ends-gallant Colonel
Tom--who possessed more medals for rebel
flags taken in our late war than any man in
his department. W. ChamDDey.