The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-09-18
GENERAL CUSTER.

the 30th of August with impressive ceremonies The
portrait Of the original in his last and fatal fight It
Is eight feet in height and dressed in Colonels uni
form. The pedestal is of granite and is nine fees
teen feet from the ground to the top of the head On
the four sides of the die of the pedestal are three me-
dallions and tablet all of bronze TAs front medal
lion represents General Custer on Horseback In the
characteristic costume la which he delighted to aP
pear while on q warlike ex petition. The other two
madslions on the right and left sides give buffalo
work is PRONOUNCED very artistic one. Among the
other of the day the reading OF the follow
ing poem, entitled Clusters Last Charge" by John
Mccullough the tragedian:1 elsi sa..f -'3f
CUsTERs LAST CHARGE.
On through the mist Of the morning,
On through the binding glare;
A hard, fotiglr ride by the Rosebud's side sz1
Cutting swathes through the sultry air.
With frightened girthes and with brides free, q
Their sabres Gathering beside the knee;
Pistol and earbine ready at hand, - vel
And one brave heart in the wide command,
Rodethe sun-broNned troopers till eve grew red
Rode Custer right at the columns head
rsmall rest tonight; by to-morTow's sun r
We'll strike the red mans trail, ~
But an hour to breathe till the fight is won,
TIL the bright redeen1lng deed is done; 9&S3
Till the climax caps the tale"
A AwiId, fierce lights in the hero's eyes, 9f
For storm IL In his SOUL
Bitter and sweet in the charged clouds meet,
And the souls low thunders roll
And they roll ana repeat AZ CIe stars COiHe OUT,
And the troopers spring to their saddles ono
Ea1 q *a ssaa - -
SON by the stars, scan well the trail, s.....-
And miss not an Indian sign" ls
Nov ths ;Rs the sss pale
The hope, half joy, Of the soldiers trust, M -
That wants not trump or drum.
"scatter out, my lads, 50 the heavy dust ,iSsFt
Shall not tell the Sioux we come" 4
And the chfeftain rode b. his brothers twain,
And his sisters husband was by his side, l.
And his sisters son drew an easy rein $50"
AT his heels, a they faced the high divide. ~.
Again the dark hills around them rise, ,-.sf
And cloud of dust beyond
Brings the coming fight fore the troopers eye
Like the waves OF wizards wand;
And Custer still at the columns head, .n sz
Spurs on, that none may share
The first glance down the rivers bed 4sf.
The game he's hunted there.
Gross you the river; ride them down ;rsss.
God! how the prancing devils swarm!
q The squavs shall wall q saE wt 1T
Through the mile-wide vale
When sweep we down it like storm ~
] with three hundred sabres bright
Shall meet you on your way. -
Forward" Their blades like sudden light,
Leap up and carbines cooked, in hand,
Flash glinting long the brave command,
And on behind the bluhs they speed .Bs 81
With laundering hOofs, to do the deed
Shall bring them higher soldiers need g
Than ever fell to warrior band.
Rough and steep till they reach the crest,
Rough and Jagged when on the hill;
Press on, the swiftest now the best;
Here Fame shall drink till she drinks her dll
Over the nii1e-wide valley lowered the cloud
Not the bitter wrong, q as@ e4zil
.1ss.s Not the brave heart strong,
Not the wrath of the mighty, cherished long,
Or wild hope elate ss .s----..s -. 4
Could rob one gloom from the cloud that hung
To be their shroud in the name Of hate i',.
On through the smoke Of battle, afl'31-
| Dimming the binding glare, s-. a. s..
Ahead-long ride to the river side, ~4'4a
NJ Cutting swathes through the red men there.
Cutting swathes, but the troopers are falling
-r Falling fast, while the swarming foe
| From the earth and the hills seem to grow,
And the roar of their rifles appalling
Rolls out in a long thunder rattle.
| See Custer has swerved from the river.
"Fire! Make for the hill Wen have Reno so'
His voice, like clear trulnpe-sound without quive
Is heard by the remnant unfallen. A cheer
Is their answer, but leaving their cover, @is. aj
| Fresh swarms of the Sioux ride down on the ban
| On the grim wild ride from the river!
| rs Three hundred had shrunk to a score;
Their track was of heroes gore,
And the heroes corses that went 10 rest
| With spouting wounds in the head and breast,
And with savage foes in their death embrace
The brave and the braves dying face to face.
| Brothers and kinsmen have fallen!
Doomed Custer stands all but alone, -fH 81
| A rampant of dead men around him,
| His last cry his rifles deep tone! 50 sa
d On through the smoke of the battle, sF
| With maddening cries on the air,
| The wild Sioux rush from the river,
| Like wolves on man in their lair.
Like wolves and trusting to numbers, El
They sweep on, the desperate few
| Who, each babe stern adieu t
| To the tried, the trusted, and true.
| hen died as they stood, ere the oncoming yell
| >. OF the savages lifted its chorus from hell.
| Ere their horses h0ofs tramped the irampal
| dread,
The last Of the whole command lay dead vi
A sight for the world in pride to sean;
While valor and duty led the van,
They charged, they struggled, they died to ma
But fame viii never forget that ride, e n
That wild, mad dash to the river side.
| Where trooper and horse in red death allied,
Near the monument rocks and the bloody tide
Where the glorious Custer fearlessly died.