Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1910-06-11
CUSTER MONUMENT UNVEILED.

CUSTER MONUMENT UNVEILED.
President TAFT Orator Of the Day. Mrs.
Custer Guest OF Honor.
Monroe, Mich, June 4.-With Presi-
dent Taft in attendance as the orator of
the occasion, the nation, state, city and
adjacent farming district united here to-
day in paying tribute to the memory of
General George Armstrong Custer, who,
with 254 of his cavalrymen, was slain
by Sitting Bulls band Of Sioux Indians
at the battle of the Little Big Horn In
the "bad lands" of Montana, June 25th,
1875.
A magnificent equestrian statue Of
General Custer, for which the legislature
of Michigan appropriated $4,000, was
by the generals widow, Mrs.
B. Custer of New York, and
among the other guests of honor was
Nevin ]. Custer, the cavalry leaders only
brother, who still resides ON Q
farm near here in the neighborhood
where the farmer and his military broth
er passed their boyhood.
The two other brothers, Thos. w. and
Boston G. Custer, perished with the
general on the fatal 25th of June, as did
also Lieutenant James Calhoun, the hus-
band Of their sister Margaret.
Governor Fred M. Warner came today
to give the state Of Michigan official rep
resentation at the dedication and veter-
ans Of the four Michigan cavalry regi.
ments that comprised the Custer brigade
in the Civil war acted as escort of honor
to the president in the parade.
Senator w. A. Smith who tended
tribute to President Taft, saying: "Our
president of today is character in breadth
Of fitness in determination, in patriotism
and love Of country is the peer of them
ALL" he said. When Mr.. Roosevelt's
name was mentioned there was a ripple
Of applause as the senators tribute to Mr..
Taft was concluded.
MR.. TArT's ADDRESS.
President Taft spoke extemporaneous-
y. He declared that Custer took rank
with the greatest cavalry commanders of
he field.
"From Bull Run TO Appomattox, in
every bloody battle Of the army of the
Potomac, he was the right arm Of the
commander of the forces as the leader of
he cavalry brigade"
The president declared the phase of
Custer's career, however, which appeal
ID most deeply to him was his share in
he Indian wars: The president said:
"He was one of the $4,000 men COM
posing the regular army whose work we
10 not fully appreciate as much as
wish we could. The army then and the
army of today is one of which the Unit
I'd States may we'll be proud. I say this
merely to note the indebtness of the
country to the army during the opening
af the west and to testify to the effec-
.iveness and heroism of George Arm
strong Custer in that great battle which
for decade, that great war
Tor civilization of which he the most
and shining parlors."
One of the interesting participants in
today's celebration was "Curly," the In
dian scout, who at the time of the battle
was young boy and was the only men,
Der of Clusters command to escape
slaughter.
The statue unveiled today in front of
The Monroe county court house is the
work of Edward G. Potter of Greenwich,
Conn. The sculptor submitted his mod
81 to General Clusters widow before COM
pleting it and received several sugges.
lions from her, the result, it is said,
being remarkably life-like representa-
ton of the dashing cavalry leader. The
statue represents an incident in General
Custer's careers in the Civil war. Rid
ing ahead of his troops to survey the
position of the enemy, Custer suddenly
found himself almost upon the Confed-
crate lines.
:. Refining his mount up quickly, horse
and rider stood moment bold target
for the enemy, while the officer examin-
ed the position of his opponents. So
were the Confederates by the
bravery of the rider and the beauty of
bis steed that not a shot was fred and
Custer returned unharmed to his COM
mand.
DESCRIPTION OF STATUE.
The statue shows the general with his
left hand lifted high, as he reins up his
mount, while his characteristic slouch
hat is snatched from his curly hair to
avoid all obstruction to his vision and
hangs at arms length in his right hand
at his saddle.
Thousands of visitors came to Munroe
today from near and distant towns to
witness the dedication and listen to the
address of President Taft and there were
many distinguished guests, including
Mrs. John A: Logan, who is friend OF
Mrs. Custer; United States Senator Will.
liam Alden Smith and a number of Gen.
eral Clusters army Comrades of the Civil
war.
After the exercises here President