Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-03-08
GENERAL CUSTER AND HIS MEN.


Dying Win Iheir Leader.
Poor Custerl followed him through a
great part of the war of the rebellion as a
private soldier. followed him afterward
In various capacities during his warfare on
the frontier. Yes, and today, II l should
see the general astride his Kentucky thor
oughbred. seated as no man ever sat horse
before or since, should catch the CLINT of
the sun on the mighty sweep of that saber
of his and see the yellow hair flying
straight as he dashed along, could not re
sst the temptation to seize a poker or O
Ratchet or an ak handle, jump astride that
old mare Of mine and follow him for better
or for worse
And no soldier of Clusters ever did more
than follow him. He was leader Of his
men-not a driver-a cavalier general who
asked no man to 90 where he dare not take
the lead, and as the danger became greater
Custer was sure to be just as much farther
in front of his column. Tacticians have
censured him for that, and perhaps he would
have been with us today had he abandoned
1t. But he was dashing soldier and would
rather charge upon an enemy outnumber-
ing him 20 to than seek vantage ground
or lay seige. He believed it TO be his bust
Dess to fight, and he let but few opportun-
tiles go by, provided he thought the enemy
worth the mettle of his troopers.
Custer had the most unb0lrd,d faith in
the rank and file of his regiment, but.never
reposed the least confidence in his subor-
dinate officers He gave his personal at
tention to the minutest details of his COM
mand, saw that every trooper had his full
allowance Of rations and clothing, and saw,
too, that the men attended just as carefully
to the physical wants OF their horses. He
would never take the word of captain or
lieutenant on such matters. For that rea-
son the subordinate commissioned officers
hated him just as heartily as the men loved
him. He insisted always on being absolute
In his command.
But how the boys loved that mani Their
devotion was fittingly demonstrated in an
incident in the generals last battle on the
Little Big Horn. The 200 troopers of the
Seventh cavalry knew they were hopelessly
outnumbered by an enemy better armed
than themselves. Eight cavalrymen broke
through the Indian lines and gained a
neighboring bluff. They were practically
out Of danger, for the fine horses With
which the Seventh were then equipped could
laugh at the best Indian ponies But they
halted on the bluff, and looking back saw
their leader hemmed in on all sides by the
savage enemy. One said Boys. we can't
do thisp' and alighting placed his carbine
against his horses head and shot him dead
Then he quietly released his revolvers
from the saddle, and thrusting them into
his belt started down the slope The re-
naming seven followed suit, and the little
band was annihilated In an attempt to gain
their leaders side on foot. All but one
were killed, srld he being half breed, the
second son Of Theophile Bruguier Of this
county by his first wife the daughter Of
War Eagle, escaped slaughter, the infuri-
ated Sioux paying no attention to any but
palefaces. Bruguier and | were friends,
and he told me the incident the second day
after the fight.-Sioux City journal.