The New York herald., 1879-08-31

ne aehshted in the sports Of youth. and raade the
weiAin rng with the merry laugh aud the boisterous
that Campbell calls
The precious music of the young hoart
His associates remember his neyer-ceasinr ouipa
anu qulrks' ms love of fun and froic. but they
no. recall quarrel or fight in the whole of his
school life He WAS trained in the beginning TO the
rough employ ments OF frontier life and when a
general could swing an axe with as sturdy stroke
the hardest pioneer of the backwoods or
the army. When ten years of age he
was fortunate IN the enjoyment OF the
first OF the new and the rival OF the Oldest and rich
est states i'll all that appertains the education of
the people. The progress OF the pupil lifted him
speedily to the position of teacher and his first
labor IN lie was IN that profession But military
aspiration from the first the ruling passion
OF his liie He thirstcd for military iuslruc.
ton and dreamed. perhaps, Of a military career
Mr.. John A. Binghain for twenty years honored
representative IN Congress from Ohio, and now the
American representative in Japan. had tho good for.
tune To open for him the doors of the Military
Academy at West Point, and place the name of this
aspiring youth upon its roster. 1t was not ths
certificate of friend nor the treasures of an over
crowded memory that opened the academic nort,Is
1t was his athletic and manly form his
vigor and vim. his fresh and palpitatny
spirit. The technical and scientific studies
of the academic courses were not to his taste and
the record of his cadet lite traced by his own
hand in tho simple sketch interrupted by his
sudden and tra DEATH does not claim the highest
academic honors nor anything like religious OBJ
servanco of the ordinary duty and discipline OF
this renowned institution l. was as u sol
that he is best known to the country.
1t was Clusters right to be soldier 1t in his
blood IL is Impossible to believe that the occult
and mysterious ties OF and blood are sundercd,
severed. destroyed. at the termination of individual
existence or the death OF each days iife."
MILITARY SERVICE.
"Custer was born soldier. He;knew his profession
instnctvely, not its dctai.s. artifces, strategy or
technics, but its objects, motives. combinations.
posi- bties and all that constitutes what the first
Napoleon called La 9rande guerre. Events moved
rapidly with him. He left his academy he tolls us.
under cloud for Washington just before the
began, at the moment of AN impending battle. He
reported to the Autant General at two oclock in the
morning. was introduced in fifteen minutes to his
utter aInazement to General Scott, Commander -in-
Chief or the army, made b<Drer of his de-
spatches to Mcdowell. at the headquarters in the
held, which he delivered before daybreak; reported
to his cavalry regiment while 1t yet dark that
he could with dinicuity distinguish the officer in
dawn of day. The battle over he became
temporarily first staff officer to the gallant General
Phil Kearney and was hurled into the Peninsular
campaign under Mcclellan, with whom he served
until after the battle Of Antietam personal and
confidential ade-de-camp with tho rank OF captain.
This was his first promotion.
PROMOTION.
''in 1868, when the Conederates entered Pennsyl.
vaniu Custer Joined the command OF General pleas.
sonton. After the battle of Alde he was promoted
to the rank of brigader general and assigned the
command Of the Seventh cavalry of MEhigan--hii
adopted State. His first service brigadier was al
Gettysburg where he began his brilliant career as Z
cavalry commanderan tinued his successwithout
serious disaster to the end OF tho war; winning By
his valor and genius tho confidence and love OF his
men, before he had Of all the distinguished
manders with whom he had served. alike in the in.
timacy of the military family and on the field OF
battle. It is unnecessary in this presence to follow
detail his in tho campaigns Of tho Hpidan.
the Wilderness Winchester. Cedar Crock and APP
pomattox. The country knows that history by
heart.
'1t is unoxtingushable and undying national
grief that one who, during long and terrible war,
had fought many hundred battles against
many thousand enemies and escaped all perils il
bearing charmed life at per'od Of almost uni,
men against myrials OF savages should have
been. with his companions in arms. mercilessly
slaughtered.e But the is not to the SWIFT
nor the battle to the strong. In the icklc-
ness OF o world OF vanties there il
Inconsistency like that of the god OF war. We mourn
for the living. not for the dead. On his escutcheon
no stain rests. In that chivarous and splendid
career, which surprised and charmed his country.
lost, there is nothing that became him the last
moments of his lite. The history of recounts
the history OF the contest. Every officer. every
soldier dead in his place with his face to the foe.
LESSON OF A LIFE AND DKArH.
''But the dead sometimes speak. 1t not an ap.
propriate moment for the discussion OF the policy OF
the administration but it is proper to say. in the
dark shadow of great q sorrow. that the contro-
vcrsies between the white and red races should be
settled without unreasonable delay. fairly and for
over. Fifty million people. who double their mum.
bcrs three times in century, ought not to
suffer few Thousand savages, whose numbers
reduced one-half six times evcry century. long
to disturb its peace deg rade its character. Wo
told that under other governments the adminis-
tration Of Indian affairs Is conducted with supreme
success; that Great Britain. Russia. even Mexico.
are free from Indian complication and trouble with
their Indian populations. But with those govern
ments legislation and administration move
hand in hand in direction and for
object-the preservation of peace aud
tho promotion OF the prosperity Of all
classes Of their population. and their people. OF
We should give to the white people of the Indian
country chance to fight their own battles or keep
the peace tor them. We should give 10 the Indians
the political character to which they aspire;
make them citizens or leave them saw
ages as they choose. and settle with them
citizens or savages every three months.
short accounts mako long friends. Our army should
be OF sufficient strength to make wars short. and
Indian should never succeed another. A
man who expects to maintain republican
democratic government without an armed force.
like an .undevout astronomer Is mad. II tho
money that IL expended to improve the rivers with
out water and harbors without commerce
appropriated for the army. Indian wars would
cease forever. aud the campaigns OF our time. in
which savages fight battle once in q quarter OF o
century If the conditions favorable and give tho
go you please" might be discontinued "to save
expense" Let have peace! We have no moro
men to spare like the gallant Custer and his band
cusrER's CHARACTER.
.'dcneral Clusters life and character. now the
proud possession Of the nation. Will bear without
detriment the most searching scrutiny 1t not to
be assumed that he was absolutely free from either
occasional or permanent defects OF character This
is neither to be said assumed of any But it
IL be assumed and said. now and always, here and
every where that his individual merits were prom
inent and general as TO secure TOR him the approval
and confidence OF men occupying such positions. as
to protect them from the suspicion of partiality
the desire of personal favor. 1t gave him his rapid
promotions, aud would have given them to any other
person who exhibited tho same unique and initless
capacity and for voluntary service for anybody
at any time place. This fundamental
trait in character that separated him absolutely
from tho mass of well disposed and patriotic
men, 1t secured for him the instant favor and con-
ndcnce OF prominent of totally different idoas
and character in tho of Generals Scott, Han.
cock. Mcclellan Pleasanton and Sheridan. This Is
trait OF character that should DC studied by young
mon illustrated in the of General Custer.
1t opens a pathway through the world to any
who Is its possessor.
INDIAN PIGHTRR
''As an Indian fighter the same distinction was
within his reach IL ii had not already boon obtained.
Napoleon said that IT was necessary to change the
tactics OF war every ten years. Custer began tho
change in the methods OF Indian warfare tho mo-
mont ho entered upon tho theatre OF war. Washing
ton took tho command OF Draddock's army after tho
defeat tho British troops by the Indians because
ho had learned the of in the American forests