The Detroit times., 1910-05-31
GEN. CLUSTERS AIDE TELLS
OF HIS TACT as SOLDIER
,Con,Inued from Page oIs1

lost his balance.
In the battles OF Bull Run, Get
tysburg. the Wilderness and otner
great struggles, Lieut. Custer was
conspicuously gallant and was deco
ated for his heroic deeds. Custer and
his company were among the last 10
leave the Inflated Bull Run battle
field. rescuing on their way TO Wash.
ington Gen. HeintZelman, who had
been wounded in the battle.
Lieut. Custer had exceptional tact
I'm dealing with his men and always
was able TO spur them on TO strike the
hardest possible blow AS his pet
sonal aide | had a rare opportunity to
study him as a leader on the baltle-
field. We were schoolmates In MOI
roe and used TO play marbles together
on the spot where the statue. whieh
will be unveiled Saturday, nov
stands. His every movement In con
fict was OF a born leader He drew
Iup his plans with the minutest de-
/ tail and was always master or his
subject.
Promoted for GaIlantry.
His rapid promotion attests his
calibre as a military genius. He was
made a brigadier-general OF volun'
teers for his unusual gallantry In
June. 1868: major United States army
for checking the Confederate attempt
10 turn the left flank OF the Union
army at Gettysburg July 3, 1868;
lbrevetted a lieutenant colonel for con
spicuous gallantry In Sheridan's raic
towards Richmond. He was In com
mand Of the cavalry division whicf
went In pursuit OF Gen. Robert Z. Lee
IN April. 1865. and received his regu
lar promotion as major-general o.
volunteers upon Lees surrender.
After the grand review that com
lmemorsted the end OF the Civil war
IL went to Texas with Gen. Custer, still
Iserving as his aide We went to Gin
cinnau and then sailed down the
IOhio to New Orleans, thence tC
Shreveport and 10 the Rio Grande
The Macmillan trouble stopped about
that time and. longing for the qule,
life at home, / quit the army anc
came back TO Monroe.
IL saw Gen. Custer at times afteI
that. He visited his home In Monro'
whenever possible. He was hn'
young fellow and the news OF hh
death in Montana struck keenl,
sympathetic note in Monroe. Thef'
were evidences OF sorrow every
where"
Monroe will ring with patriotism
next Saturday when the monument u
Gen. Custer is unveiled The statue
stands at the corner of First ant
| l. Tho praEhytlr
ian church, in which Gen. Custer ant
Elizabeth Bacon were married In tn
early sixties, on one corner, and TIT
court house on the other. Not Ia
from the spot where the Custer statue
stands Is a memorial to the herol'
Kentucky soldiers who died In theil
country's service In the massacre o
1913.
Statute Costs $4,000.
The Custer monument cost $4,000
which was appropriated by the state
OF Michigan. The movement to pay
fitting tribute TO the memory OF Gen
Custer was successfully launched In
Monroe four years ago Ii was sug
Rested during a toast on civic I'm
provement by, Commodore Charles E
Greeuing. The plan was taken up by
various persons of influence and the
.atue was put In position last week
The three commissions who VIII have
charge OF the unwilling services were
all members OF the Custer brigade
They are HcS. Otto Kirchner, Detroit
chairman; Hon. James V. Barry
Lansing. secretary; Rev. Michael j
Crowley, Monroe.
President Taft will reach Monroe
Saturday morning, at Sill from De
troit, where he will address the board
OF commerce, Friday evening. Upon
his arrival In Monroe the president
| will breakfast In his private car. He
will have as his guest Jacob Martin
mayor OF Monroe. He will then bt
taken on a sightseeing tour OF the
city. With President Taft on the
stand when the statue Is unveiled
| will DE Gov Warner, Senator VIM
Alden Smith. Mrs. Custer, widow o.
the Indian fighter; Bishop Foley
Bishop Williams. Mrs John A. Logar
and manv other prominent persons.
The dedication day parade. to b'
commanded by William Z. McGurrin
adjuant general OF Michigan, vii
then be formed at Elm-ave. and Bor
gess-st II will move to st. Mary'i
college, where song OF welcome vii
| be rendered and a ten minutes re
ception held to AFFORD the president
opp I3,.nity to meet others who vii
participate I'm the program, guests o.
honor, and the members OF the tive
n onument commissions appointed b.
Gov. Fred z. Warner, OF Michigan.
| A Michigan cavalry troop will serve
as the presidents escort TO Ct. Mary'i
college. From the college TO the
speakers stand, near the base OF the
monument. the veterans OF the foul
cavalry regiments that comprised the
1 famous Custer Michigan cavalry bri
gade. will be the escort OF honor
They will wear flowing red necktiei
like the one by which Custer was al
ways distinguished in action on tn,
field. The guardsmen will wear full
| dress uniform.
Taft to Go to Jackson.
| Immediately after the exercises
| President Taft. Governor Fred M
Warner and party will leave on a spe
cial train for Jackson. Mich. where
they will dedicate a memorial TO com
1 1atipO NJ the Re