Welcome to the Wannaskan Almanac for Friday.
In this day of crazy rulers, one of the consolations of history is that after doing a lot of damage these madmen usually bring destruction down upon their own heads. On this day in 1863, George Custer was appointed a brigadier general at the age of 23. This was fortunate for the Union for a few days later, Custer was to play an important role at the battle of Gettysburg, the turning point of the Civil War.
Custer was born in New Rumley, Ohio on December 5, 1839 into a large, close-knit family. He was named after a local preacher, his mother hoping he would enter the clergy. His later youth was spent living with an older sister and her husband in south-east Michigan, where he attended school. He taught school for awhile before entering West Point, where he graduated last in his class with a record number of demerits.
In normal times his record would have relegated him to an obscure posting, but there was a war on. After his exploits at Gettysburg, Custer became a national hero. He was adept at exploiting his celebrity. In 1864 Custer married Elizabeth Bacon, the daughter of a judge. The judge was not impressed with Custer because of his humble background, but after Custer's promotion to general, the judge changed his mind. Later, during his time on the plains, Custer had a second "wife," the daughter of a Cheyenne chief.
After the war, Custer was sent to Texas as part of the occupation force. His troops there resented his style of discipline and he was nearly assassinated. He then moved up to Kansas to confront the Indians who were harassing settlers. He attacked a peaceful Indian village on the Washita River, killing women and children as well as warriors.
On a survey in the Black Hills in 1873, he discovered gold, which triggered a gold rush to the area. The Black Hills had been given to the Sioux in perpetuity by the government, but the presence of gold voided that. Naturally the Indians started killing uninvited prospectors.
In 1876, the government ordered the Sioux onto reservations. Custer was to lead a campaign to make sure the Indians complied. But Custer had gotten into trouble with President Grant who removed Custer from command. Through a complex series of maneuvers, Custer was given command of a third of the campaign's force. Once back in the west, Custer told a friend he would "cut loose" from his superiors and take care of the Indians himself.
Everyone knows the result of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Custer did indeed cut loose from the main force and even divided his own little army as he attacked a greatly superior force of Sioux and Cheyenne. So that was the end of George Custer. It's been said that had Custer defeated the Indians at the Little Bighorn, he intended to hurry back to the Democratic convention being held in St. Louis where he hoped to secure the nomination for president. Crazier things have happened.
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| This is lots more fun than being a preacher. |
Yeah, George was a colorful character in American history to be sure. His suave smile, yellowish hair with its airbrushed look, innate confidence, persuasive style and eye-catching clothes reminds me immediately of my friend Joe, who lives over the river and through the woods from me. Funny how history repeats itself.
ReplyDeleteWell, I doubt that Joe will meet his end at the hands of a few hundred Dakota and Cheyenne, but tweaking the bad parts out of Custer's biography, including his 'wife', Monahsetah, as you describe her, who was captured during the Washita fight, marched over 100 miles through snow to Camp Supply and given to him as a war prize-- and the product of their pairing, their biracial son, Yellow Swallow, (Cheyenne Autumn/Mari Sandoz, Page 7, 1st para. & Page 21, 2nd. para.) George and Joe could almost be twins on the outside.
1.) For instance, at the age of 23, they were both in the armed services and war veterans. 2.) They both played an important role in the Battle of Gettysburg, although 150 years apart, when Joe played the role of Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker (as I recall) in a type of historic military tactics program.
3.) Both had been to Ohio.
4.) Both their mothers hoped they would enter the clergy.
5.) Both had numerous demerits in school.
6.) Both were from humble backgrounds.
7.) Both have possible ancestral Irish roots.
8.) Both visited the Black Hills. Custer was not invited, but Joe was, as a speaker, to the South Dakota Black Hills Varmint Hunter's Convention. His subject was "Successfully Trapping The Wily American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)"
9.) Both had reddish beards and mustaches
10.) Both had curly reddish hair with blonde accents
11.) Both had freckles and a sensitivity to the sun. (This is why George is depicted wearing a long-sleeved buckskin jacket when all the other soldiers are wearing short sleeves. It's late June!)
12.) Both had been to Texas and Kansas.
13.) Both cut loose when they were out west.
14.) Both recognized U.S. Grant when they saw him.
Spot on, C.J., spot on!
OK, you got me.
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