The National tribune., 1899-06-01
VICTORIOUS CAVALIERS.
$zu. Casters Farewell Adsre,, ,o Hi. Diyisio,

Editor National Tribune: The following
rem niscence Of Gen. Custer will be ap-
preciated by many Ci your readers, and
especially by the old veterans Of the great
cavalry commanders division. / have
not at hand the record Of the regiments
constituting the Third Division, but II
contained tlrce-ist, 2d, and sd ". Va.
Cav, and also several Michigan cavalry
regiments. | also remember that he some
times referred 10 us as ".hiieganlcS and
Wolverines as Loagfellow says OF Ce-
sar, he was both fighter and writer.
At the time this congratulatory address
was delivered Custer was but 25 years
old.
| have never seen the address in The
National Tribune, and would be glad II
| the editor could furnish with II Inst oi
| the regiments constituting the division. =
j. T. Holt, sd W. Va. Car., Long Glade,
Va.
Headquarters, Third Cavalry Division,
Appomattox Courthouse, Va, April 3,
1855
Soldiers of the Third Cavalry Division;
| With profound gratitude toward the God
of battles, by.wh0se blessings our enc
mics have been humbled and our arms
| rendered triumphant, your commanding
General avails himself of this his first
opportunity to express to you ms adj
! miration of the heroic manner in which
you have passed through the series oi
| battles which to-day results in the sur
render of the enemy's entire army
The record established by your indom-
table courage is unparalleled lE the an
| nails Of war.
Your prowess has won for you even the
| respect and admiration of your enemies.
| During the past six months, although
| in most instances confronted by superior
numbers, you have captured from the
1 nj l.
! tlery, IS battle-fags, and upwards OF 10, 600
prisoners Of war, including seven general
officers. Within the past 10 days, ana
| included in the above, you have captured
46 pieces of field artillery and 81 battle
| flags: You have never lost a gun, never
| lost acolor, and never erbeenzdefeated. And
| notwithstanding, the numerous engage
ments in. which you {Tave borne a prOmi1
nent part, including those memorable bat
| ties Of the Shenandoah, you irsave capt
ured every piece of artillery the enemy has
dared TO open upon you.
The near APPROACH Of peace renders it
| improbable that you will again be called
upon to undergo the fatigues OF the toll
/ some march, or the exposure of the bat
tiefieId;. but should the assistance OF keen
| blades, welded by your sturdy arms, be
| required to hasten the coming OF that
| glorious peace for which we have been SO
long contending, the General commanding
| is proudly cOnndent thdt III tue Iutuio' az
| in the past, every demand will meet with
hearty and willing response. Let us
hope that our work is done, and that,
| blessed with the comfort OF peace, we may
soon be permitted to enjoy the pleasures
Of home and friends.
For our comrades who have fallen let
US ever cherish a grateful remembrance.
To the wounded and TO those who Ian
guish in Southern prisons. let our heart
felt SymDathieS be rendered.
And, now, speaking ior myself alone,
when the war is ended, and the task OF
the historian begins, VIXEN those deeds of
daring which have rendered the name a d
fame OF the Third Cavalry Division i'm
perishable, are inscribed upon the bright
pages of the country's history, l only ask
that my name be written as that OF the
commander OF the Third Cavalry Division.
G. A. Custer,