The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-20
CUSTER AND a1s MEN
The Greater the Danger the Further
He Was to the Front.

The Greater the Danger the Further
He Was to the Front.
From the Siour City Journal
Poor CUSTER" said one of his men. II
followed him through great part of the
war of the rebellion as a private soldier. 1
followed him afterward in various capaci-
ties during his warfare on the frontier.
Yes, and to-day IL should see the general
sstrlde his Kentucky thoroughbred, seated
as no man ever sat on horse before or since,
should | catch the CLINT of the sun on the
mighty sweep Of thak saber OF his, and ice
the yellow hair flying straight as he dashed
along, could not resist tie temptation co
seize poker or Ratchet or an ak handle,
Jump astride that old mare of mine and fol-
low him for better or for worse.
"And no soldier of Clusters ever did more
than follow him. He WIS a leader of his
men-no5 driver-a cavalier general, who
asked no man to 60 where he dare not take
the lead-and as the danger became greater
Custer was sure to be just so much further
in front of his column. TectiCians have
censured him for that, and perhaps be would
have been with us to-day had be abandoned
it. But he was dashing soldier, and would
rather charge upon an enemy outnumbering
him twenty TO one than seek vantage ground
or lay seige. He believed it to be his bust
ness to fight, and he let but few opportuni-
ties go by, provided he thought the enemy
worth his metJe.
"Custer had the most unbounded faith in
the rank and file Of his regiment, but he
never reposed the least confidence in his
subordinate officers. He gave his personal
attention to the minutest details of his COM
maud, saw that every trooper had his full
allowance of rations and clothing. and saw,
too, that the men attended Just as carfullV
TO the physical wants of their horses. He
would never take the word of captain or
lieutenant on such matters. For that reason
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 man !
Their devotion was httingly 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 outnu 4 bered by an enemy bet
ter armed than themselves. Eight cavalry
mon broke through the Indian lines and
gained a neighboring bluff. They were
practically out of danger, for the fine horses
which the Seventh were then equipped with
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.
Zone of them said, Boys, we can't do
thisP ana alighting. he 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 remain
ing seven followed suit, and the little band
was annihilated in an attempt to gain their
leaders side on foot. All but one were
killed, and he, being a hGlf-breed, the
! second son Of Theophile Brugier Of this
county by bis first wife, the daughter OF
War Eagle, escaped slaughter, the infuri-
ated Sioux paying no attention to any but
pale,faces. Brugier and were friends, and
he told me the incident the second day after
the fight"