The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-04-11
GARRY D. CUSTER.
A Tribute to His Memory by an Old
Soldier.

The following tribute to q Highland
county boy, is from the pen of CORES.
pondent Of the Marion, Ind, Chronicle !:
When that greatest general the world
ever saw, died at Mt. Gregor some said,
we have lost our great leader, others,
we have lost one of our best Presidents,
hut General Porter, one of the grandest
men of New York, as he stood with un.
covered head by the body of his com.
panion in arms, and with tears stream.
ing down his cheek, with trembling
voice said: ~ have lost my best friend"
So today, while his wife mourns the loss
of husband, his child a father, his as.
sociates at the bar, one whom they
loved, honored and respected, his rela.
tives, one of whom it could be said of q
truth, that "blood was thicker than
water" yet, the old soldier (for there
are none young anymore) as with
trem bling hand he uncovers his honor.
ed gray head, one who had been with
little Mac. at Malvern Hill, Meade at
Gettysburg, Fighting Joe at Lookout
mountain, m Thomas at Chickamauga,
Logan at Atlanta, Sheridan in the Val.
ley, Sherman to the Sea, and Grant at
Appomatox, and have seen their com.
AIDES killed and wounded by thousands,
can lay his breast, that has been barred
to save the life of a nation, he can say,
in the death Of Custer, II have lost a
friend" Go into his Office when he
would he would always be met with a
good warm shake of the hand. and a
kindly greeting, and never was he known
to use that expression which we hear 80
often, but which should paralyze the
tongue of any man north of the Mason
and Dixon line, "d-n the old soldier"
1t has been said, and it is true, ga friend
in need is friend indeed" and more
than one old soldier who walks our
streets today leaning heavily on his
cane, his body emaciated by disease,
contracted between 81 and '65, at the
front, or in Libby, Andersonville or
Florence, who has gone to Custer, pen.
niless, friendless and almost forsaken,
and Custer has taken bis case, advanced
the money to cover the necessary ex-
penses of the same, and after long
waiting Custer has told him, 'your
claim has been allowed" has stepped
out of his Office with the pleasant
thought, that no matter what happens,
have enough to smooth my very few
remaining years to the grave, and, today
say he walks the street, leaning on his
cane, while if had not been for the en-.
couragement and friendliness of Custer,
he no doubt would have been in a pau.
per's grave.
In the legal profession he may not
have been what U. s. Grant was in the
army, one to plan, or as Sherman, one
to consult, but he was as Sheridan, one
to execute the movement, that would
send his opponent "whirling up the val.
ley," and, as it was said of Sheridan,
when he was through with the valley,
"a crow would starve to death flying
across it," 80 with our Custer, (for we
claim him) when he got through with a
case, his opponents would find nothing
left of their case to hang their argument
on. Custer-good bye-you have gone
on before great many of us. The sun
will rise and set many times before we
will see your like again "Nature never
polished finer gentleman out of solid
block of man. As old soldiers we loved
you for your kindness to many OF us,
and as the years 20 by your name will
be remembered by the children and
grandchildren of those you were so kind
to in life, and when taps has been sound.
ed oy er us, and all ofus will have to answer
when the general roll is called" may
we. hear it said of you "well done," and
while many of us are not of that faith
that can have prayers said for the dead,
yet many of us are of that faith that
can, and will pray, that God will care
for and keep the loved ones you have
left behind-Custer, good bye.
| L. L. A.