St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-17
CUSTER'S BOYHOOD DAYS.
A Characteristic Story of the Famous
Cavalry Commander
RAZED AN OLD STRUCTURE,
Inpetuosity and a Desire for Glory Re-
sponsibls for the Massacre
At the Big Horn.

Yesterday was a rainy Sunday, and
as dull and cherries Sabbath as one
would care to experience. The streets
were well nigh deserted, the disagreed
BILE rain and cutting north wind driving
the people under cover. The hotels, as
usual on such days, afforded shelter for
large number, and among those who
found comfort in a good cigar and
a big easy chair at the Clifton
hotel was j. W. Cunningham.
A GLOBE reporter, who was blown in
out of the rain, pulled up a chair to
where he was sitting and engaged him
in conversation. The subject of the
Custer massacre was introduced, and
Mr.. Cunningham stated that he was
not only thoroughly posted as to that
event, but had been an intimate ac-
Quaintance of the dead general.
''Gen. Custer" said he, was born
and raised next door TO me, in the little
town of Lumley, O.. Even as boy he
was leader among his playmates and
manifested good deal of the daredevil
spirit that was so characteristic of his
his afterlife. recall an incident that |
remember wildly to this day. On the
street upon which we lived, and 0ppo-
site the Custer house, was an old dilap-
ldated log shanty which was used as a
cooper shop. 1t presented such rick
ETY., tumble-dOwn appearance that it
was really a disgrace to the street. We
boys thought so, at least, and were
strongly inclined to pull
TIE OLD ROOKERY DOWN.
Left to ourselves, believe the shanty
would be standing TO this day, but Arm
strong Custer Chat was the name he
ntby in those days. circulated among
us and braced our nerves, so that we
became equal to the emergency. Sum
day morning while the people were at
church, under the leadership of Caster,
We went to work on the old building.
By noon we had it half torn down. At
that stage, people began to return from
church, and fearful of parental chaS-
tisement, the boys, that is all save Gus
ter, were unanimously in favor of quit
ting and skedaddling for home.
Not so the embryo general; who
took position in front of the boys, and
swinging a huge club, commanded that
the work of destruction should continue.
And the work did go OH till the cooper
shop
WAS COMPLETELY RAZED.
The news of the degradation that had
been committed under the leadership OF
Custer spread quickly about the town,
and when that youth returned home
his father "a man severe if aught, and
stern to view," gave him a terrible
thrashing.
When Custer went to West Point l
correspondent with him for a number of
years and have many OF his letters yet,
which prize highly. Gen. Custer was
in st. Paul for several days preceding
the fatal expedition that left Fort Lin
coin. He wanted to go on the eXpe-
dition the worst way, but told me that
he had some
TROUBLE WITH GEN. GRANT.
and feared he would not be selected.
One day met reporter named Otis,
who told me that he had just been up to
the department headquarters and
learned while there that orders had
been received from Washington for
Gen. Custer to proceed TO Fort
Lincoln and report to Gen. Terry.
Shortly afterwards | met Gen.
Custer on the street and told
him what had heard. He was over
iOyed at the reception of the news, and
sprang across the street in about three
bounds. Poor fellow! He little knew
that he was receiving his death war
rant. He went to Fort Lincoln and re-
ported to Gen. Terry, who placed
him in command of one division of
the forces selected to go out in
search of the willy Sioux. Gen. Terry
assumed command of the other division.
The plan of the expedition had been
made out. The two forces were to march
by cIrcu itous routes and meet at GER
tain point. Clusters sad ending was
due, in my opinion, to his vaulting am
bitiOn. He wanted to make bold stroke,
and he wanted to do it alone. He
therefore hurried his men forward
so as to strike the Indians before Terry'S
arrival. The redskins were lying in
wait, and the brave little band were
ambushed. Not a soul escaped to tell
the tale of the terrible slaughter. Be-
sides Gen. Custer his two brothers, Tom
and Boston, were killed; also Lieut..
Calhoun, his brother-in-law, and Otie
Read, bis nephew, about sixteen years
old, whom Custer had taken with him
on the expedition.