The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-11-30
CUSTER
Boy, Cadet, General.
by BELLE V. CHISHOLM.

/ pfeSenU uO Ceue a wagon route W
Montana Military posts were
Immediately established along
the line The chief, Red Cloud,
and others began war which
lasted twelve years.
The Sioux Indians having re-
fused to go ON the reservation as
signed them by treaty, aiforce of
regular troops was sent against
them. General George A. Gus
ter led the advance with the
d, Seventh Cavalry On the 25th of
June, 1876, he suddenly came
upon the enemy. A desperate
conflict ensued. General Custer,
his two brothers, his nephew,
and every one of his men were
killed. Editor
General George A. Custer,
whose tragic death marred the
record of the centennial year,
spent his boyhood days near
Cadiz, Ohio, where he is yet re-
membered, and where upon re-
cent visit | was an interested lis
tener to many little anecdotes and
"reminiscences of his early life.
Hon. John A. Bingham, one of
Ohio's most prominent men, who
is now a resident of the town, de-
scribes Custer as a beautiful boy,
with fair face and a wealth of
curly hair-long, bright curls,
suggestive at once of both a
mothers care and mothers
love.
Despite his more than eighty
years, Mr.. Bingham retains much
of the vigor and brilliancy of his
more active life, and in speaking
of his youthful protege, General
Custer, "My boy, George" his
enthusiasm rose to eloquence.
81 loved the boy as l loved my
own son." he said. 81 had been
in Congress- but a short time
when | received a letter from a
boy that captivated me wonder
fully. Full forty years have come
and gone since the morning the
postman handed me that letter,
but | remember it word for word
- just as clearly as if it had been
yesterday. Somtwhere-packed
securely among my important
papers, have that letter yet,
but there is no need of looking
for it, as I can repeat it-verbatim.
Yes, | know it by heart. 1t is
like this" and he repeated:
"DEAR Mr.. BINGHAM:-I am
told that you can send boy to
West Point. | want to go there,
and | am told that you don t care
whether the boy is a Democrat
boy ora Republican boy. l am
a Democrat boy, and | want you
, to send me there. l want to be
a soldier.
GEORGE A. CUSTER.
"lt was real boys letter,
written in boyish hand, but the
writing, despite the evident pains
taking effort, showed a firmness
of purpose, determination to
succeed, seldom apparent in one
so young. was struck with the
originality and the blunt honesty
of the letter and at once snrren-
dered unconditionally to his de-
mands. | replied, informing him
that it would be necessary to Sc
cure the consent of his parents.
His mother objected, as what
mother would not? But the boy
was so eager to go that she finally
gave her consent, and just as soon
as preliminaries could be arrang-
ed the boy went to the Academy
at West Point, and passing the
examination successfully, enter
ed upon his studies.
"The years, full of cares and
Responsibilities, hurried by,1unr
It'll, just on the eve of my boys
graduation, the war, long threat.
ened, became a terrible reality.
Men with some knowledge of the
tactics of war were needed to
drill the raw recruits rushing
from all sections of the North to
the country's defense, and all the
available material at West Point
was put into the field to officer
the rapidly-tilling companies and
regiments being mustered into
service So it happened that my
protege came into the command
of men while he was yet a mere