The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-19
ONE OF LEES GENERALS.
Custer Put Him ON His Feet" After the
War.

War.
Gen. Thomas l.. Rosser of Charlotte
Vile. Pa. who was recently nominated
10 be ~brigadier general of volunteers,
was a member from Texas of the class
of 81 at West Point, but when Texas
left the union he resigned from the
academy and started for Richmond.
He and Gen. George A.. Custer formed
the friendship at West Point which
survived the rebellion. and it was
through Clusters helping hand hat
Rosser. after the war, got upon his
feet financially.
After the surrender Rosser had moth
ing to do in Virginia. He did not
care to go back to Texas. so he struck
out for the Northwest. and for a year
or two disappeared. The Northern Pa
cihc railroad vas being built at this
time. General Custer. then lieutenant
colonel of the 9Th cavalry, with eight
full troops of his regiment, was guard
ing the working parties against he
Sioux. who were out near what is now
Fort Buford.
one day, as Custer was iding idlN
along the line of excavation he was
struck by the physique of a section
boss, a tall, picturesque young fellow,
whose heavy beard and broad-brimmed
hat rendered further recognition rather
difficult. The man was driving his
force of $50 Irishmen with tremendous
energy.
That fellows been a soldier some
where" said Custer to his brother
Tom. Il can see it in every move he
makes. III find out"
"Hulloa. my man." called Custer TO
the brawny Irish boss of a gang. "wno
is that with the red flannel shirt and
broad -brim hat. who is bossing this
section"
sure. gineral," responded tbs other,
IAN | dunno, sir, but he do be a ter
rihle cusser."
At that moment the subject of the
conversation drew nearer. by iove,
I've known that fellow somewhere, .
aid the young lieutenant colonel.
Il say" he began, addressing the
stalwart boss. where have l known
you?"
The other never looked up, but kept
on with his work. In a IN he re-
piled: why. c~onfound you. | taught
you to ride at West Point"
In a second Custer was out of his
saddle and had his arms around the
big mans neck.
Haven't you something better than
man to do" said General Custer %
William Miner Roberts, chief en-
gineer of the road, thai evening.
why. yes. of course | have; but
what do you mean?'
Custer then told him how Rosser,
having nothing better to do, had taken
a pick and shovel i'm his hands ana
tone To work IN the Northern Pacific
as a railway laborer.
There's good stun in a man vino
will do that" said Mr.. Roberts. Bring
him To me tomorrow morning"
Rosser was made assistant to the
chief engineer of the line. and pushed
his working parties through the Tn
capapa N Sans Are. all on the wa
path, and Bots Brule Sioux country.
having many a sharp fight with the
northern tribes before he could in Sc
curity run his lines. Finally General
| Rosser became the chief engineer of
the line. Knowing just where the road
would rum, he invested his wages 81
prudently that in a few years he had
$500, 600. He invested il carefully. and
now lives near Charlottesville. on the
finest estate of the whole country side.
Why he quit all this and his charming
wife TO put on the blue. no one but
himself can say. Gen. Fftzhugh Lee.
one of whose brigades and afterward a
division Rosser commanded. asked for
his appointment and got it. Rosse-
will go TO General Lees corps, the 9Th.
st. Louis Globe-Democrat.