Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-19
STORIES OF CUSTER.
John A. Bingham Tells How He Gave
Him a West Point Appointment.

John A. Bingham Tells How He Gave
Him a West Point Appointment.
| From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Gen. George A. Custer, whose terrible
| death shocked the nation in its centennial
| year. was born near Cadiz, Ohio He was
appointed to West Point by John A. Bing-
| ham, who, after long service as minister to
| Japan. is still living, and it is one of Mr..
Bngham's proud memories that his pro-
| tege achieved fame and justified the APP
| pointment.
The story of Clusters career is almost
| romance, tragic as was its end, but never
before has the history of his entrance into
| military life been told in print.
Some time ago an Enquirer correspond
ent had a talk with Mr. Bingham ON the
| war between China and Japan. During
| the conversation the name of Custer was
mentioned, and the old orator was at cnce
full of enthusiastic reminiscence concern
| ing the boy who owed his career ard
| greatness in part to John A. Bingham
| II was not long in Congress-" said AIR.
| Bingham, before / received letter from
| a boy. 1t was a boys letter, but not like
| the letters of most boys. and it captivated
me wonderfully.
| Though that letter was written nearly
forty years ago. can remember every word
of it as if it had arrived in this mornings
| mail. Somewhere packed away among MY
| letters and papers / have 1T yet, but here
is no need of looking for it. / know 1t ty
| heart.
| 1T read like this:
Dear Mr.. Bingham: am told that you
can send boy to West Point. 1 want to
go there. and l am told you don't care
whether boy is democrat boy or re-
publican boy. l am a democrat boy. and
l want you to send me there. 1 want to be
a soldier. GEORGE A. CUSTER
Such was the letter, written carefully
in boyish hand. but firmly and leCibly.
l was struck with the originality and blunt
honesty of the letter and was captured. L
wrote back that the consent Of his parents
must first be obtained. In that day there
| was none of the miserable machinery that
| worthy applicants. l had but to make my
choice and send the boy to West Point,
where he could stand examination.
| The mother of George Custer objected
| as fond mother would. He was a beau
| tiful child-as beautiful Absalom, and
her mothers heart possibly had PRESENT.
ment of the terrible fate which befell him
twenty years later. George insisted on be-
ing a soldier, and finally she consented.
He went to the academy. had never
seen him and was so engrossed with polit-
| ical cares at Washington that l almost
| forgot him. Then the war came on and all
the senior cadets of West Point We're mus
| tered into the service without graduation
| The nation needed every one of them to
|
from the north to defend the nations cap
ital So it happened that my protege came
into the command of men while he was
| yet a mere boy, with his long yellow curls
| hanging down to his shoulders.
| Il heard of him when he came to Wash
| ington but did not see him until after the
| first battle of Bull Run.
| In the report Of that miserable fasco
| he was mentioned for bravery and was
| promoted on the field. A leader was need
| ed to reform some troops and take them
over a bridge held by the enemy. Like
| Napoleon at Lodi young Custer sprang to
the front and led the charge. The bridge
was taken and my protege was hero.
II read all this with pride. but hunted
him among the soldiers. One day young
| soldier came into my room without the
formality of sending In a card. He was
out of breath, and with some hesita ton
| declared
"'Mr. Bingham, I am the boy you ap-
pointed to West Point l have fought my
first battle and I tried hard not to te a
coward. think it is my first duty to make
'Brave boy! How manly and beautiful
he looked that day in his uniform of blue,
with his golden curls hanging loosely down
his back
His breast was bare and he was every
inch a hero and soldier. What wonder
that I was proud Of him then and thence
forth, and l watched him go up to the
rank of brigadier general, and then the
youngest major general in the army.
Never shall I forget the day when he
came to me in full uniform, bringing his
bride.
'They came into my parlor. and he was
a proud, happy boy as he said to me:
Mr.. Bingham, I've brought my wife to
see you and to thank you for what you
have done for me-
And there they stood, those two
young people, beautiful in their youth. Mrs.
Custer, good, beautiful, noble and pure
woman, took me by the hand and there
was the struggle of emotion in her voice
as she said:
~ want to thank you, Mr.. Bingham,
for Transforming my husband from a wood
chopper into general Of the United States
army
Il was touched deeply myself and re-
sponded with pride, for 1 was proud of
them both-he so beautiful and brave. and
she SO beautiful and pure. I know she
Is now and will be until she leaves this
world.
lone day months afterward came the re-
port that George was killed in one Of the
| Wilderness battles. / rushed to the War
! Department and into Stantons office to
learn If the terrible report was true.
KILLED? No.! Numbered Stanton. He
was hemmed IN by rebels, but he cut his
way out with his own sword and covered
himself with glory
"Oh! so like him, my brave boy! 1 hur-
ried to the home of Mrs. Custer. found
her alone. with pale face and sad eyes that
could not find relief in tears. She too, bad
heard the report and the newsboys were
calling out beneath her window: All shout
Custer killed! and no message had yet
been borne to her denying the rumor. Even
my presence seemed to alarm her. as II
she feared that brought confirmation. But
when I told her that her husband was
| alive, that he had covered himself with
glory. she broke down and cried like a
, | child.
ALAS! that my brave boy George Custer
should survive the war and then be cut
to pieces by those miserable savages on
| the western frontier!
And even the stoical John A. Bingham
, | had a tremor of emotion in his voice as he
closed the chapter concerning George A.
Custer.
} Some Costly Stockings.
, | From the New York Times.
Grand danes in Paris have gone a ster
further than stockings with real lace in