The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1929-06-20

ing up against Mexico. Peaceful
America was getting ready TO have her
regular e-War-per-generation conflict.
Even the backwoods settlements in
ONO were thrilled by the righteous
ness OF one-sided patriotism. Silver
tohgued orators were making the little
| req brick schoolhouses and the white.
framed churches fairly ring with RE
member the Alamo!n
emmanuel Custer Joined tbe local
militia, the New Rumley Invincihles'
and SO our future general, little
Autle'-Which was the home manufac-
tured nickname for Armstrong
leased and leased, until his mother
made him uniform out of one of
paws suits and paw whitfield out a
gun for him. BY the time the Mexican
war came along in earnest, Autie was
seven and could go through the old
Scott manual of arms along with the
best of them.
SO 1t was that even in n back
water of pioneer life this farmer how
grew up in warm reflection of the
thrilling atmosphere of war. He
dreamed of being a drummer how and
marching with heroic old General
Scott or General Taylor in the Mexi-
can campaign. Farming was not for
hlm-the sabre and the musket were
to be his TOOLS"
But his opportunity did not come for
several years. A visit with relatives
in Monroe, Mich, resulted in two
years of schooling at an academy
there, two years at seminary. fol.
lowed by school teaching job back
nome IN Ohio. Then came a chance to |
go TO the United States Military acad.
envy at West Point and when he was
enrolled there in the spring of 1857 he
was at last started toward REALIZING
his life's ambition.
clusters career at the academy was
not an impressive one From fhe he
he was among the "Immortals.
the ten lowest in scholarship (today
they call them goats'). The first wear
he stood 90 in a class of 6S. His seq
ond year he ranked IS in class of CO.
In his third year he was No. 81 in .
class of 81 and he was graduated No
80 in class of 50. But if. Custer did
not distinguish himself in his aca-
demlc work and was constantly ac-
1uiring dement's which more than once
brought him to the brink of dismissal
rom the academy, he was absorbing
of greater value than mere
classroom knowledge, for, writes Hunt.
IL would be almost impossible 70
,verestimate what the four wears 81
est Point had done for this blond
JARED, smiling, sx-foot farmer how
rom eastern Ohio. It's fine traditions
lad sunk deep into his heart and mind
uncut ms being in the least aware
Il 1t, the magnificent spirit of tba
'lace-refiected in the three words of
Is -Honor-Countrv-
ad given for him tone a resonance
0 the ancient business of arms II
vas as If some one had taken him hv
ne hand to hilltop and shown him
ne glory OF mounted knights in ar
Tor, going forth to war; for honor for
enoWn, and for the battles sake In
ne very air or West Point he breathed
ne very greatness of the sword.
II would not have been surprising If |
ulster had chosen to follow the for
mes OF the Confederacy, and to have 8
aded the color of his personality to |
lie roll of its cavalier leaders such as
ED Stuart and John Morgan. Instead :
chose to stick with the Union and {
Though he failed to graduate with a
S class because at almost the last
oment he had committed arava I,
each OF rules which led to his conrt.
aftlai ana MS retention at the acad- J.
ny, finally he was ordered to Wash. I
gton Tor duty in the summer of 1861 +
AS lieutenant in the Second cav q
~ ne saw action almost immedi- n