The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-10-08
GENERAL GEORGE 4 CUSTER.

The soldier of the nineteenth CEN
fury differs from the soldier of other
centuries only in the degree of his
military training. The same war-like
| spirit enters into the constitution of
| the soldier Of every age and every
land. What the military academy is
to the United States regular, endur-
ance is to the Indian warrior, and the
school Of chiYalry was to the ancient
knight. But different motives prompt
the people of different nations to the
culture of the art of war. The knight
trained himself that i4e might be more
valiant in the sdefence of his lady.
The red-skin subjects himself to the
most severe torture and exposure that
he may be better able to avenge the
wrongs of his forefathers. But the
soldier of our land receives military
training that he may with greater
skill defend his government against
all foreign and domestic foes.
Although the age of chivalry has
passed, the knightly spirit has been
granted as special gift to certain
men of modern times. Chief among
our nations knights is General George
A. Custer. Born in seclusion, reared
farmer boy with muscles trained to
hold the plough or ''wrestle with mad
men. he grew to be a strong and har-
dy youth. From his childhood his
highest aspirations were to be soldier.
BY fortune and his own exertions he
obtained an appointment as cadet at
- 10
drill made of him a lieutenant with
the beauty of Diogenes and the ply
slque of an Apollo Belvidere. His
military education was completed and
he stepped forth to serve the nation at
a time when there was need of such
as he. Lincoln had just " stepped his
foot upon the EARTH" and thousands of
men fresh from their shops and farms
stood ready to be led to meet the foe,
Having the choice of quiet duty for a
While or being sent at once into active
service, his restless and energetic spirit |
chose the latter. He was soon given
the command of corps of cavalry,
when he displayed the heroism of a
Murat. His influence over his men
was wonderful. Not squirting them on
to the charge by the use af angry
words, as many generals do, but rid |
ing at the head of his ranks, his long |
golden curls flying from under his |
broad-brimmed hat, he would put
spurs to his horse and waving his
bright Toledo blade above his head,
would shout, "ComeIon, boys !" and
the whole line of charging cavalry
would rush to certain victory. No
officer through all that desperate
struggle of four years made a more
glowing record than he. Never be-
fore was known such swift promotion.
At the close of the war, at the age of
tWenty-siX, Custer stood major-gen-
eral complete. His subsequent expe-
rience on the plains was no less fortu-
nate, for he became the most success
full 1ndian-fghter of his time. Being
quick to learn, he took every means of
becoming skilled in the art Of Indian
warfare. While planning night at
tack on some Indian village he would
go far in advance of his men with. his
most wary scouts that he might see
the state of things with his own eyes,
Cbuu UuttO huOW UObGcl uOW W OIuCE dill
attack. Not one of his campaigns re-
suited in disaster until unwillingly de-
prived of his command, he was COM
PEELED to do the bidding of another
Nor would he then have fallen had
his commands been properly executed.
Like Wellington at Waterloo, had the
Prussian reinforcements been delayed
but half an hour longer, the British
must have been defeated, and that
which gave Wellington his fame
would have resulted in disaster. Thus,
if Benteen, according to command, had
fastened with his reinforcements to
the scene of conflict, the Indians might
have been defeated and Custer and his
party saved, and that which men now
call his disgraceful defeat have proved
the browning victory of his life.
Custer fell But not until his man.
ly worth had won for him imperish-
able honor Pure as virgin, frank
and open-hearted as a child, opposed
to the use of tobacco, liquors, and pro-
fame language, free from political cor
ruption, cool and courageous in the
midst of the fiercest battle, he has left
to us the model of christian warrior,
E. M. STANNARD.