Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-08-10
By GLENDOLIN DAMON WAGNER
Co-Author OF Blankets and Moceasins,"
Author Of "Old Nutriment"

Co-Author OF Blankets and Moceasins,"
Author Of "Old Nutriment"
Through the eyes Of old John
Burkman we get interesting close
mp views Of General George A. Gus
ter, the brave, fiery soldier, so FREE
quentIy discussed and so little under
stood. John served under the general
the last nine years Of the latter's
life, In Kentucky following the Civil
war, then during the march from
Kentucky to YanktOn, In the 1873
campaign under Stanley, ia the Black
Hills expedition, and finally, ON the
last march Of all from Fort Lincoln
70 the Rosebud and on TO the Little
Big Horn.
Johns mind chung to the past and
TO the general he served and loved
TO the happy days when his chief con-
Germ was the welfare Of the Custer
horses and dogs and the comfort Of the
general and Miss Libby" Through
John we catch a vivid glimpse Of the
beautiful home life Of husband and
wife, bound together by love and 10y
atty and understanding that death it
self could not quite destroy. He shared
with them, as humble servant and
proud friend, the intimacy Of their
jokes and laughter, the hilarity Of their
family frolics.
The general, John tells us, was ex-
tremely fond Of onions, and braved his
wife's disapproval by eating them
whenever he had an opportunity. In the
spring of 1876 John, at Clusters Sug-
gestion, had spaded some ground back
Of the barracks at Fort Lincoln and
sowed it to onions The tender green
sprouts we're just showing when the
7th left Fort Lincoln for its last march,
and Custer, John tells us, eyed them
gleefully, snacking his lips In anticipa-
ton Of the onions he'd have upon his
return to the fort, and begging Miss
Libby" to promise she'd see they were
well watered
According to John the months Of the
last winter at Fort Lincoln were I'M
usually carefree and peaceful and gay.
Often the servant soldier and his be-
loved superior officer "quarreled," for
both were hot-tempered, but John in
sists that upon every occasion when
the general was in the wrong he came
to his orderly with frank and ready
apologies.
Once Custer, who not only did not
touch liquor but also strove to lift |
the moral Of the 7th to a higher level,
caught John with q bottle to his lips |
and reprimanded him sharply.
According to John, 'I said I wasn't
drinking liquor. The general said I
was said wasn't. And it worked
me up considerable because the gem
eral knowed never lied to him, So I
decided I'd git transferred to another
regiment. figured that'd trouble the
general and he'd coax me to stay,
knowing he couldn't ever get any one to
tend our horses and dogs like me. But
he didn't say anything and got ready
to move, but I felt pretty gium. Then
a sergeant come to me and said 1t was
the generals orders that when ! left I
had to leave my horse behind. SO I
decided TO stay. Then the general came
TO me and his eyes was twinkling. I
knew a way TO keep you with us, john
he said. And then he held out his
hand and said: 7 was hasty, John.
should have taken your word Anal
then we was friends agin. Another
time just after the Key West came l ]
seen the general with a bottle and I
tiptoed up behind him, but he turned,
quick, and laughed, and showed me
it was Jamica Ginger he was drink
ing" Z
But once, when John was i'll, Custer
John; you aren't feeling s
well, are you?"
ooh, fair to middling, sir" {
well, you go 30 Mrs. Custer. Tell t
her I sent you Tell her to have Mary
mix you a drink-hot brandy, thick /
with pepper, and then go to bed"
According to John no officer in the
army was so considerable Of the men, /
their health and happiness as was Gus I
ter. 'It was about this time" John J
reminisced, II come by my nickname. S
The general said whilst wasn't feel Z
ing well I'd better take my meals In s
the kitchen. And Mary-thats the
colored girl that worked for the Gus
In no particular hurry to get well. And t
The troopers would watch me come out /
o6 the kitchen, filled up with her pies q