The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-02-21
ESTABLISHED 1886.
GEN. CUSTER'S LAST BATTLE.
One Story Why He Made the Reck-
less Dash in 1876.
smarfing Under n Rebufr From President
Grant for Shooting Down Deserter,
He Hoped to Wipe Out the Stain
by = Last Throw.
From the Washington Post.


said retired army officer the other day,
chat 10 less an officer than Gen. Custer
came to his death through the desertion
from bis ranks Of a common soldier. You
won't hear of this story from the officers
now holding a commission in the army
and when I've told you the story you
viii understand why it isn't spoken Of to
the reporters.
sCuster was a born cavalry leader.
His reputation was made by dashing,
dsreing devil attacks, such as marked
he close Of his career. In other respects
ne was not a great soldier. He died fight
ing and one Is to remember IN judging
him that he lived in ruder times than
ours. Custer was one Of the men of the
plains Of that earlier day when the In
dams scalping knife had frequent need
Of sharpening. and a white rascal some
tin IS found the wages of sin to be a
rope, tree limb, and five minutes to
pray. The generals failings were closely
related to his genius for the dashing
fight. He was apt to take close chances.
st was in 1876, several months before
the battle OF Little Big Horn, and Gus
ter was out with his cavalry chasing the
Indians over the plains. They were
seeing a hard life and the Indians, as
you will remember, were in constant re-
bellion about that time Custer and mis- |
men were hot on the trail of a band of /
savages, when one night a man was
found to be missing. For a while all |
73Fere puzzled to account for his disap- |
Pearance. The scouts, however, found /
his tracks and followed far enough to |
assure them that the soldier had left !
voluntarily and with the purpose Of de-
sorting. Custer and his brother Tom
were furious at this desertion at the mo-
ment when they were hoping to catch up
with and punish the enemy.
iOn the morning following the discov-
cry they followed the deserter's tracks a
little farther; then they turned back and
resumed the pursuit OF the Indians. It i
was late that afternoon when a scout
diseerned the figure Of a solitary horse
man riding toward the little troop. Soon
Custer aud several other officers had
their glasses leveled -on this man. He
turned his borse a bit to one side as
though toride around the soldiers. Sud
denly one of the watchers saw a cloud of
dust beyond the rider and soon they
knew they had come up with a party of
Indians and that the savages- were in
pursuit of the man on horseback. The
soldiers made signals and shouted to the
pursued man, and he, seeming to despair
of escaping the Indians without aid,
turned and rode toward the troop.
aAs he came nearer, the Indians still
in pursuit, the officers holding glasses ex-
changed ing uiring looks. The man wore
the blue uniform of their country and
rode like a trooper. The Indians were
plainly following now out of their pure
daredevil spirit. The man rode more
slowly. Custer and his brother Tom
rode out together ahead of the troop to
meet him. Suddenly they put their
field glasses down and looked each other
in the eyes and nodded, and spurred for
ward. They drew up together when
clase upon the men. The generals voice
rang out so that all his troop heard:
"'It's that d-n deserter,' he cried.
Then both Clusters raised their revolvers
and shot the man dead.
THAT was the Custer temper 1t
brought the general trouble enough, for
such a summary method Of dealing with
a deserter made a scandal that spread
all over the country. Custer was severe
" censured. He came east and tried to
regain his position of favor. Sheridan
was a staunch friend Of his and worked
for him, but the Observation-Disclosures
so affected by the story Of the shooting
that he refused to see Custer when the
latter presented himself at the white
house.
Gen. Custer returned to the plains
Sheridan was commanding officer over
that territory, aud Sheridan was his
friend. In Clusters mind there vas but
one thought-how to regain favor. He
could think of but one answer. He
must win again, as he had often won be
fore, the admiration OF all men in a
dashing charge and gallant fight.
st vas not long before Clusters op-
portunity came to him. The battle of
the Little Horn was desperate venture
and=cost many lives. He died fighting.
When one considers that at that time
Gen. Custer was burning under the +
sting OF disgrace and knew he must do
something big to regain the favor of /
Grant. and, IN fact. of the entire army, it i
may throw a light on his reason in
choosing to risk that last throw"
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