The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-04
Michigan's Monument to Her
Distinguished Son Unveiled.
President Taft Is the Orator of
the Occasion.
EXECUTED BYPOTTER,
State Appropriated $25, 900 for
the Memorial.
Many of the Generals Army
Comrades Present.

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 today in paying tribute to the
memory of General George Armstrong
Custer, who. with 254 of his cavalry
men. was slain by Sitting Bulls band
Of Sioux Indians at the battle Of the
Little Big Horn in the bad lands Of
Montana June rs. 1875
A magnificent equestrian statue of
General Custer. for which the 1egisla-
ture of Michigan appropriated $4,000,
was unveiled by the generals widow,
Mrs. Elizabeth B. Custer of New York,
and among the other guests of honor
was NeVin J. Custer. the cavalry
leaders only surviving brother, who
still resides on a farm near here in
the neighborhood where the farmer
and his military brother passed their
boyhood.
Governor Fred M. Warner came today
to give the state Of Michigan official
representation at the dedication and
veterans of the four Michigan cavalry
regiments that comprised the Custer
brigade in the civil war acted as es-
cort of honor to the president in the
parade.
One of the most interesting partici-
pants in todays celebration was
Curly the Indian scout. who at the
time of the battle, was a young boy
and was the only member of Custer's S
command to escape slaughter.
The statue unveiled today in front of
the Monroe county court house, is the
work of Edward c. Potter of Green
wich, Conn.
Thousands of visitors came to Mon
roe today from near and distant towns
to witness the dedication and listen to
the address of President Taft and there
were many distinguished guests, in
Guiding Mrs. John A. Logan. who is a
friend Of Mrs. Custer. U. 8. Senator
William Alden Smith and a number of
General Clusters army comrades of the
Civil war.
After the exercises here President
i Taft and his party went to Jackson,
Mich, to participate in the dedication
of a tablet commemorating the or
ganization of the Republican party
under the Oaks at Jackson. in June,
1854.
The Presidents Address.
Senator W. A. Smith added a striking
tribute to Mr.. Taft to his eulogy Of
Custer. He declared that the present
occupant of the White House would
take rank with the most illustrious Of
our presidents.
while you remember Grant, Lincoln,
| Mckinley, Roosevelt and others of the
Ilustrious line, our president of today
in 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 men
toned there was ripple of applause as
the senator's tribute to Mr.. Taft was
concluded.
President Taft spoke extemporaneous-
ly. He declared that Custer took rank
| with the greatest cavalry commanders
of the world.
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 the cavalry brigade.
The president declared that the
| phase of Clusters career, however.
| which appealed most deeply to him was
| his share in the Indian wars.
The president said:
HE was one of the $4,000 men
composing the regular army. whose
work we do not fully appreciate as
much as I wish we did. The army
then and the army of today is one of
which the United States may we'll be
proud. I say this merely to note the
| Indebtedness of the country to the
army during the opening of the west
and to testify to the effectiveness and
heroism of George Armstrong Custer
| in that great battle, which continued
| for a decade, that great war for civili-
zation of which he was the most con-
SnicnOuS and shining Sacrifice.''