New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-16
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
LIFE OF GENERAL CUSTER.
A COMPLETE LIFE OF GENERAL GEORGE II. CT
ll.K NV ENInEbNk MllITIAkER. SYo. np. u

The romance OF military lie mas apuhUaht uia'V-
rails for illustration in the career of the chiyarons
soldier N-lcsc tragic fate has called forth thrill of
universal sympathy from the American people,
General Custer Is described in this volume NJ all
the QUALITIES that enter INTO The composition of the
popular hero Original IN conception daring IN en-
torpise. fearless in execution, with genuine feel
irr Of oomradcship though quick in resentment,
and often unguarded III impulse he carly exhibited
the clements Of character which give prom
Use of military ren0wn. His portrat'ue as
man aad a soldier, If not wholly impartial,
and often bctrayiug the influence of enthusiastic adj
mratiou. is free from servilo adulaton, aud shows
sincere intent To eXtrlcate the truth from mani
fold complications. General Custer was born III
Ohio in the year $50. His father was brought up as
ablaoksmith, working at the trade till he had saved
money enough 10 buy farm. lie gave his children
the best education that Ohio could furnish in those
early DAYS. George grow up sturdy. faXen-
headed boy, always in mischief, yet OF gentle
and loyable disposition. He was full OF fro!c bat
by no means quarrelsome. lie was never known 10
FIGHT with schoomate, though ms practical jokes
were without number. Almost before ms reihcil-
brance he was mbued with passion Tor becoming
a soldier, aud while mere child rcJolcei Ill
wearing a military suit which Is stllL pre-
served in the family. In the summer he
worked on his fathers farm, blowing, NOW
~.
foundation for the iron strength of constitution
which he turned to such vigorous account III his
amusement career. He could handle an ak when
general officer as well any pioneer IN the army
and often took hold with his own hands to help the
fatipue parties when clearing the way over fallen
timber in the forests. In the Summer OF 1897
Young Custer. tall, slender lad of seventeen, with
frank handsome face and fair hair presented nm
self for admission to the Military Academy at West
l. Il
graduated in due course with honor, soon after TIE
breaking out of the civil war. Reporting himself to
the Acknowledgement in Washington, h. was intro
duccd to General Scott, then in command of the
arny and was received by the illUs;nOus veteran
with distinguished kindness. Scott at once IN
trusted him with dispatches to General Mcdowell,
aud the manner in which he performed his conmis-
sion NAV be described in his own words:-
Exchanging santations left the presence Of the Gen
erain hcf gifted the prospect OF being nj once
thrown into active service, perhaps participating ID 'he
great hattie " IcE every there Knew was on the eve
OF occurring hut than tins, pride as soldier
was not little heightened b. the lac' mat almost upoh
my entering the service was TO be IN, ba' OF
Important official dispatches from Tie GcEerall-Che to
tie General commanding the prc al army II tc n,i.
had yet difficult task Dcioie me ~ l ,Ci'nE ~
mount. visited an the prominent hyei} sia1its' nRt
received almost the same answer from vach ge eun-
stance Of which that was too late; an the dispose
Die horses had been 1T or engaged was ann - "a
vantage of the splendid opportunity Tor SlSuhci9h
opened before me, and was at loss what TO 40, OF 10
ave a soldier in uniform. whom / at once recog-
nv as one Of tie detachment formerly sta
dered suddenly 70 ne defense OF M4S i az
feared that attempt would bc made to asSasSlnte G
President elect. Glad to encounter any one ! Ild
seen before approached ana asNtu i ILL., WIZ '
was dong in Wasnington He answered liaI ne ne
longed to Grins battery ThSh was Sh Wl,n Ii1JoM
ellis TIE front, aud mad letulh," 90 NIs-in7n
by Capt Gifn's ord - 10 OBTAIN and take back win
from the cap tai. Here then was my opportunity ana
az once led self OF IT, IL was the htenll"h OF
earnest socitatcn he defer his departure
unt after o'cIGck agreeing also 10 hays ,nG TA'3
O'Clock reported the AdjntanGenelals oihce, OD-
tanned my dispatches, ana with baggage or extra
cIatiut t3 weight down my horse save what carried
my person repaired to the l"lht al WhTn WIS 10
find my horse and companion for the ng,l UPon aI!lN-
M there was both sI Used and delighted TO discover
mat ih horse which accident seemed to have provided
learning tie cavalry exercises at Wes Point Tnose who
were cadets just before will probably recall nh
to mind wneu gave Inc haiHc' "eHDStoh' u WINK"
ne c Wa TiG Bide about nichtfall and taking the
FairaN G. H. i ad Tor Centrevie. the hours Oh niGht
fCw quickly past, engroSsed as my mind was WIN tte
excitement ana novelty OF the occasion, as wei
as occasionally diverted b. tie conversation oi my con-
pauioIl. / vas particularly interested with his desc'li
non gwen rode TIE silent darkness OF shIrnIh
WiIci had taken pace only Two days before al Black
burns FORD forces of the enemy stationed
there and accommodating detachment sent IRON Cen
erl MvDowclis army; especially when learner ma
il was between and O'Clock la the m0innS WLrn
We reached army near CcntTtElle Iht men Hau al
ready breakased ana many Oh '.e leg'Iie" lsu y,
formed in column IN the lOdls feady 10 resume me
wcrc lying the srOuIO eidcaNOIlnE 10 calth it"
minutes OF sleep; Others were suing Oh S5udiL9
IA sina groups SMOKING aud chatting 80 hiled dd ma
the road win soldiers mai II was win 1lheu"A ~!
horse could pick his way among the Sleeping
bpdes WI, out disturbing them. But Tor my cJidnUu
should nave had considerable fiji uty III hndln= my
way he4dquatcrs but he seemed familiar "iih tnc
localities even in tue knes and conducted me
10 a group OF near when large log IRE WAS baI-
ing throwing bright hght over the entire scene Tor
SOME distance around. As approached he sounds OF
nv horses brought an oiecr from one OF rc tents
nearest 10 where haHed AdyaHclhE toward Lt, -
inquired / wished 10 see. Informed hiln th4t wac
bearer OF pate from Cen scott 10 Cen Mcdowell
hrVt o. tAein' VAS MS zen " Dut seeing
me l,~ tate 10 deliver mem, he addcd, " am Mayor
WadsWorth Oi Gen. MCDuwels stJn." While hdd
bope,i from ambitious lTido To have opportunity 10
deliver the DISPATCHES in person tO Gen. Mcdowell,
could not dccine longer, placed the documents III
Naor W,!sWOrtA's LiiIs who OUk thcm to cent lew
PAGES distant, where through It's haiIOpen "ld- 81"
him Lanu TO iarge, pOri OmceI, whom aJ once
rightly conceived 10 GUu. Mcdowell Then, returning
10 where 1 sat my hOis,, blair Ndds"Orth tatti-
ward C., NadswOrtA) asked OF me the latest news III
the .lIa, ana wnen replied that every person Al
Washington iOOHins 90 TIE .Ty Tor news. lac ADDED,
swell guess tLeJ VIII noi have 10 Wait mdch longer
The amy Is under arms, ana moving TO atiacA 1le
AiIsr InG,ring It what hour left Washington,
mari KING tEdt must De tIcd NiJo NddsWO IN aeh9 me
10 disnUulj and nave some breakfast as II would De
difficult 10 say when aHOther opportunity Would occur
was yer5 III gu, and rest "'ud MOI nav pecl ul'o
ceptaUlc; Ia ! lncXperlence partly lDiSihed par
ticulary while III me p, scice OF The "ienItd otef
VINO gave thC hNItdh thd hu4'i anu ldli-uc MClC'"h
diiOns iceng ~hc soldier, especially young one,
should Known ledge. Therefore, WITH an appetite
almost craving, dtclhcd Tue hu liOHeF Oh he "OI.
suggested tHdt di~lhOLn. ANA allow ny
WOr,h Wa, kindly .n., .csi himself IN the welfare Oh
my horse Lii ia. COCA iOrtJnc - discover IA an officer
al heauluarers one Of ny r cent Wes Point lIiend-
Lieut. h1ssDufS, & 20 ~ M si ty,r r
yelauco 10 again IClosP. Near TIC log Ire already
toned w,e sone servants buSly engaged ~ rinuv d.
The Remains btahl-t. \ word from klu-rbi1y aAd
they lIc pared Tor NE cup Oi colo, htcak and
soule NL- ma C,rn bread, 10 wl.ch ana ample Jus-
tlce. H.d Known, ever. tIat wac not 10 nave 40
OPpOTtuEiy 30 t-atC food duIhS Tue nest ~ near,
tnUud nave appreciated Inc "FpoI'"li! u4'h eLJo9ed
even more