Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-04-13
miscellaneous.
Personal Traits Of General Custer.
BIZ GEORGIA L. WILLIAMSON.

While still baby. General Custer de-
veloped a strong taste for military pur-
suits, and. upon hearing the beat of drums
and the blare of trumpets. he would. in
stead OF exhibiting fear as most children
do, clap his little hands and shout with
ioy. When two and half years old. bis
father bought, unknown to his mother,
materials for military suit for the child.
and had it made with long. striped trous-
ers, a swallow tailed" coat with brass
buttons, ami vest These. with a jaunty
little cap and toy gun. gave the little fell
low quite the air OF soldier, and he would
strut up and down the road. perfectly hap
py and manifesting all the dignity OF a
grown-up general. Every dav his father
took him out upon the green lawn and put
him through regular drill and in short
time the child had learned to handle his
gun and sword with all the ease and grace
Of an experienced soldier. As the years
went by his love Of ..soldiering" grew
with his growth, until BY the time that he
attained manhood it had become the pas
sion of his life.
His social qualities were as brilliant as
his military ones. lie was exceedingly
witty and entertaining, and his beauty of
person and great kindness of heart. com
bined with his bravery in battle and in the
hunt, made him a general iavorite in
whatever society he WAS thrown. The
picture, however, that arises in the mind
Of every one who knew him. upon the
mention of his name, is always as he
looked when firmly seated upon his brown
horse "Dixey." his yellow hair clustered
around his neck, and his blue eyes looking
oh I N.naIann no
peared to greatest advantage upon horse
back, and there was that in his bearing,
when on his favorlte Dixey, which was
calculated TO rouse the widest enthusiasm
among an army of followers.
They kept an illustrated journal Of
daily happenings at the tort. in the quiet
DAYS Just before the awful tragedy on the
Rosebud. In thi. journal the general
would write some bright, cutting article
and illustrate it. and "A certain very bright
lady, the wife of an officer VINO fell with
Custer. would reply, often getting the
better of the general both as TO wit and
illustrations. She was an intrepid hunter
as well rs writer, and ut one time had
killed six bufIaloes with her own hand.
These papers were read and handed
around, adding much to the entertain
ment and amusement of the occupants OF
the fort. They are still in possession of
the lady, and regarded a. among her
choicest treasurs.
General Custer was a peculiarly devoted
son, and settled a beautiful home upon his
aged parents. This home was IN Monroe,
Mich. an antique and aristocratc little city
rs western cities 90, and containing about
5000 inhabitants. The Custer house stands
on the main street of the town. II j. a
large gray mansion with long porches
and low windows, covered with creeping
vines and shaded with poplar trees After
the death of General Custer, one room was
furnished a. his room had been at Fo.t Lin
coin. Nailed on the walls were the sht ggv
heads of bears. butialoes. wild cats and
coons and the antlers of deer. Over the
doors were the crossed swords of the Gus
ter boys and their brotherin-law Lieut..
Calhoun, and in one corner stood their
stacked firearms. In another corner stood
an escritore with writing materials and
two exquisite china vases. with the heads
of the general and his wife painted upon
them. On one side of the desk. hung the
picture OF Lawrence Barrett. General Gus
ter's iavortc actor, and above it. one OF
the Duke Alexis. A scarlet covered lounge
stood on one side of the room. and. seat
tered here and there, were many relics ot
the brave dead. In the parlor hung a
large bronze medallion heal OF the gener-
al, also an oil painting OF himself and his
wife taken together on the porch; pertly
watching every passer-by lay "Frisky.'
General Clusters pet Spilz dog.
The arms have all been donated to a So
cie,y in New York by General Custer ;
widow. The mother. who neverrccovered
from the shock OF losing her three sons.
her son-inlaw, Lieut.. Calhoun. and her
grandson. AIRY Reid. is dead. She was a
tall. fine looking old lady. with n clear-cut
face, sweet. firm mouth and steady, bright
eyes. After her death. the home was
broken up. Mrs. Calhoun went to New
York with Mrs. Custer. and the father re-
tired to the h~me of his remaining son.
On almost any fair day he can he seen on
the street riding "Dixey." He is tall
and but little bent by age. though his hair
and beard are snowy white. Ii il almost
impossible for him to speak of his sons.
His lips culver, his eyes fill with tears.
and his head sinks low with weight OF
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