Custer, Gen. George Armstrong

Gen. George Armstrong (1839-1876), an American soldier. Having finished his course at West Point he was sent from Washington to Gen. McDowell with despatches just in time to take part in the battle of Bull Run. He attracted the attention of Gen. McClellan and was made an aid-de-camp. Later he became a dashing cavalry leader in the Shenandoah Valley. He was first over the river at Chickahominy, and had two horses shot under him at Gettysburg. He was promoted rapidly for bravery, and was a brigadier general four years after graduation. For a short time after the Civil War he did unwelcome patrolling in Kentucky and other states, but from 1866 to the time of his death his name is associated with those of Miles and Crook as an Indian fighter on the plains. An expedition to the Black Hills is fittingly remembered in Custer and Custer County, South Dakota. His headquarters were at Fort Lincoln, opposite Bismarck, for several winters. In the summer of 1873 his regiment was detailed to guard the engineers who were locating the extension of the Northern Pacific Railway from Bismarck through the Bad Lands to the Yellowstone Valley.

In 1876 the Sioux Indians, who saw that the advance of the railroad was depriving them of their last hunting grounds, grew ugly; and the war department decided upon a general campaign in the Yellowstone country. Gen. Sheridan directed Crook to lead a column from the south against the villages of chief Crazy Horse; and Terry, with a force including Custer and his command, was dispatched against chiefs Sitting Bull and Rain-in-the-Face. Gen. Custer accompanied Terry by way of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers to the mouth of the Rosebud, when they were joined by a column from the west under Gen. Gibbon.

The campaign was planned well enough. Three columns were to converge in the Yellowstone country and crush the Indians. Either column was supposed to be strong enough to disperse any force the Indians might collect. But no one had foreseen that so many dissatisfied braves would leave the reservations and join the hostiles. Unknown to Gen. Terry, Crook was repulsed, and retired to wait for reinforcements. Gibbon was sent south from the Yellowstone up one valley, Custer was sent up another searching for the Indians. Custer followed a fresh Indian trail up the Rosebud and crossed over into the head waters of the Little Big Horn. Here he came upon the Indians, and, not dreaming they were in such force, he divided his command, ordered one-half under Major Reno to attack in the rear while he made a bold dash for the front. Reno soon found that the Indian camp was large, and drew off to a safe distance and fortified himself, leaving Custer to make the best of it. Had Reno attacked vigorously it is thought the Indians might have been stampeded; but, be that as it may, the wily savages surrounded Custer's band with din, whoop, and blazing Winchesters, and wiped out "Yellow Hair" and his troopers to a man. Instead of a few hundred warriors, the Sioux were 2,500 to 3,000 strong. The troops under Crook and Terry united later, and drove the Indians to their reservations or north into Canada, but it was too late to save Custer.

Longfellow has commemorated Custer's last battle by a poem entitled "The Revenge of Rain-in-the-Face," beginning

The battle ground is now occupied by a fitting monument. In Custer, Custer County, and Custer Creek of southeastern Montana, the name of the gallant soldier has found a lasting record. Sitting Bull, Custer's old enemy, lies in the military burying ground at Fort Yates. Boots and Saddles, by Mrs. Custer, who accompanied her husband on many of his less important expeditions, is a readable account of experience.