The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1907-02-09
A MEMORIAL, TO GENERAL GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER
Legislature ApprOpriatng
a a Monroe His Former Home.

ne unpdTdleiieu Tragedy Ol lue iht
tie Big Horn. on June 20. 1876. when
that brave calvaryman, Gen. George
Armstrong Custer. with four OF his
nearest kinsmen and the entire com
mand OF nearly three hundred officers
and men were killed In an engage
ment which lasted but three hours, Is
still a vivid picture In the minds OF
all civilized peoples. Nothing can
impress the mind more profoundly
than these intrepid troopers. with
undaunted bravery dashing into the
attack upon force of the most war
like and brutal bands Of savages head.
cd by the blood-stained Sioux. out
numbering their own force ten to one
1t was an unequal battle. II was an
ambush, and into 1t rode the immor-
tai three hundred. from which not a
man escaped.
There was absolutely not a white
man left to tell the truth of that aw'
full hour.
The only narratives and descriptions
given of this lamentable affair came
from the surviving Indians. who par
ticipated in 1t. and from scouts who
have attempted to explain the awful
massacre and depict It's blood-curd
ling genes. These are conflicting and
often vague, yet the fact remains
that Custer sacrificed his life and the
brave men who were with him fol
lowed into this sacrifice In the dis
charge OF a soldiers duty.
After the lapse Of thirty years, the
people Of Michigan, recognizing. per
haps tardily, the eminent propriety-
yea an obligation-to perpetuate In
fitting, permanent form the memory Of
her gallant son. movement Is now
energetically undertaken to carry ou
this laudable and patriotic purpose. A
bill has been introduced into the state
legislature appropriating $4,000 To-
the erection at Monroe, where Genera
Custer claimed his home. where h
married. and where his parents lived
a bronze equestrian statue. Ever.
good patriotic citizen Of Michigan will
say God speed the good work."
The First Movement for a Monumen,
When the slow news came from tn
battlefield that practically the who'll
Custer family had fallen before tn
rifles and war clubs Of the Sioux. tn
citizens of Monroe, Mich, where Gust
er made his home, met and conceived
the Custer Monument association, O
which Gen. Phil. Sheridan was presi
dent; Hon. Thos. w. Ferry, vice-pres
dent, and J. M. Bulkley, still living II
Monroe, secretary. Considerable none,
. was raised by the slow methods O
those days, and Gen. Clusters bod
was exhumed and prepared for buria
In the east. 1t vs. then learned tina
before the general started on his III
fated campaign against the Indians h
had expressed the wish that when h
died he wanted to be buried at Yves
Point where other commanders h
had known and loved in the civil wa
awaited the reveille of the resurreC
ton.
With the burial at West Point, tn
monument proposition became nation
al and the Monroe sponsors of tn
movement yielded to the general de
mand and consented to the erection
at West Point of the monument. TIL
funds collected were turned over t
August Belmont. treasurer. This &C
counted for the movement undertaken
in this state having no fruition here.
The fact that Monroe. Mich. wa
the scene of George A. Clusters earl
school days. that there he was bes
known that here he did his court
ing and married his wife, and that tn
home more permanent than any hi
rowing life enabled him to have wa
here, makes 1t peculiarly fitting tina
In Monroe the state should rear 1t
memorial monument. 20
The Story Of His Last Military Exps
diton and It's Result.
Lest some have not heard the stor
of his life and others forgotten 1t,
Is briefly sketched here.
On Monday. June 26, 1876, Their
were 20 widows In Fort Lincoln, Neb
all bereaved in one massacre, an
amongst them was the widow of Ger
Custer-the woman who, as Judge Ba
cons charming daughter, married tn
Custer boy in Monroe.
They did not know. however, tn
bereavement that had befallen them
for the battle was fought Sunday
June IS, and 1t was two days after
wards before the bodies of Custer an
his officers and 900 men Of the Sevent
cavalry were found. for news travele
slowly in those days. The newspape
reporter who followed the comman
was found dead with his pencil an
paper beside aim. and not one whit
man was left 10 tell the tale.
Custer LETT Fort Lincoln. Neb.. Ma
IS, Of the same rear, to round up an
punish the obstreperous Sioux. In
conference with other commanders. q
the Rosebud Indian agency 1t wa
agreed that junction should be mad
with Gen. Terry at the mouth OF tn
Rosebud river, June 26. Custer pushe
on his way to corral the Indians. II
staad of deviating from their trail
keep them from returning, as had bee
asreed upon, he followed the ira
with his troopers hard and fast. Gu
ter was smarting under some hars