The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-11-30

a political foe and had been the Academy's
chronic insurgent. His nature was bright and
volatile, yet durable past the power even of war
to alter"
1t was during these two years that the tradi-
ton of Clusters luck' began. For nothing else
but luck could have made him brigadier-general
at the age of twenty three the youngest in the
army. At least, the historians have never
been able to find any good reason why In 1862
he should have been advanced from a first lieu
tenancy in the Fifth cavalry to the command of
the Second brigade of the Third division, rocket
ing past the ranks of captain, major, lieutenant
colonel and colonel. True, he distinguished him
self in a wild charge at Gettysburg but at least
twice thereafter he narrowly escaped annihila-
ton at the hands of that cavalry genius in gray,
Jeb Stuart.
The appointment of Phil Sheridan as chief of
the Union cavalry gave Custer his chance for
fame ut was Sheridan who overlooked insubor-
dinations by Custer with unwonted charity
Here was no strategist but tireless body and
a mind as hungry for war as bent bow Custer
was weapon that Sheridan knew how to use"
He used him in the raids which devastated the
Shenandoah valley where Custer seems to have
learned willingly enough the lessons of ruthless
ness so necessary to those who engage in the
dirty business of making war.
BY the spring of 1865 he had become major
general and it was "Custer''s luck" again which
enabled him to be "in at the DEATH" For 1t was
Custer and his cavalry who swooped down upon
Appomattox Station and slammed shut the door
to Lees only avenue Of retreat After Lees sur
render, Custer issued the oftQuoted congratu-
latory general order to his Third division, whose
record, he declared, was unparalleled in the
annals of war"
This is more ornate but scarcely more accu-
rate than other battlefield prQcamations" says
his biographer. whose calm analysis of the rec
ord shows that it was much less remarkable
than the worshipers would have us believe
While admitting that Custer was flair tactician
and smart disciplinarian and as physically
valiant man as ever drew sword" summing
up of the evidence leads inevitably to the con-
clusion that George Armstrong Custer had few,
If any, of the qualities which make really great
commander and 1t Is doubtful if he can be set
down as an outstanding cavalry leader In the
same class with Stuart and Forrest Of the Con-
federate army or Sheridan, Merritt and Torbert
of the Union army.
His weaknesses as a commander became even
more apparent in his Indian fighting days than
in his Civil war career. When he became lieu
tenant-colonel of the newly organized Seventh
cavalry and busted himself with molding thAt
outfit into what he believed cavalry regiment
should be, the strict discipline which he en-.
forced and his callous disregard for the well
fare of his men brought him close to disaster.
In September. 1867, he was court martialed at
Fort Leavenworth on seven charges, the most
serious being that he had deliberately disobeyed
orders of his superior officer. General Hancock,
had deserted his command In the midst of hos
tile Indian country to hurry to Fort Riley where
the cholera was raging and from which his be-
loved wife writing letters filled with loneli-
ness and terror and that he had ordered some
of his officers to shoot down without mercy de-
serters from the regiment.
Former Custer bographers have either ignored
or passed lightly over this court martial but the
fact remains that Custer was found guilty on
all seven charges. suspended from rank and COM
mand for year and his pay for that time for
feited. But before the year had passed Sheridan.
who had more than once overlooked Custer in
subordinatiOn. came to his rescue
The result WIS the battle" of the Washita
fought ON November II. 1868. when Custer at
tackled the sleeping camp Of the Cheyenne chief,
Black Kettle, killing that chief and slaugbtering
men, women and children Unfortunately. There
Is every reason to believe that Black Kettle and