Will the real Custer please stand up!

[davel]

The following excerpt is from "From Manassas to Appomattox" by James Longstreet and describes his contact with Custer just as a truce had been arranged at Appomattox to allow Generals Lee & Grant to meet to discuss the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. I think this illustrates Custer's impetuosity and intensity and may be indicative of how he conducted himself in battle. If so, it would indicate impatience and a penchant for action which may have served him well at some times and not so well at others.

After delivering the message, Captain Sims, through some informality, was sent to call the truce. The firing ceased. General Custer rode to Captain Sims to know his authority, and, upon finding that he was of my staff, asked to be conducted to my head-quarters, and down they came in fast gallop, General Custer's flaxen locks flowing over his shoulders, and in brusk, excited manner, he said,—

" In the name of General Sheridan I demand the unconditional surrender of this army."

He was reminded that I was not the commander of the army, that he was within the lines of the enemy without authority, addressing a superior officer, and in disrespect to General Grant as well as myself; that if I was the commander of the army I would not receive the message of General Sheridan.

He then became more moderate, saying it would be a pity to have more blood upon that field. Then I suggested that the truce be respected, and said,—

" As you are now more reasonable, I will say that General Lee has gone to meet General Grant, and it is for him to determine the future of the armies."

He was satisfied, and rode back to his command.

[joewiggs]

davel, an excellent read! it is an inescapable certainty that Custer could be as was impetuous on occasion. it sometimes served him well and other times, it did not. Although I can offer no substantial proof, I have, for sometime, considered his fabled "moxie" as a factor in his defeat. he and Reno were the antithesis of each other yet, their responsibility for the outcome may have been equal. Reno was too timid and Custer to aggressive.

This of course does not mean that the fatalistic outcome was the sole fault of either. I f both men were more like each other, Reno more aggressive and Custer a bit less aggressive, many troops may have been spared.

[tbw]

davel,

Thanks for sharing that piece of Custerainia. The Civil War years, not just Custer's, but for other members of the 7th, are so unexplored, that I enjoy them, each and every time someone shares a story or tale. Thank you very much & welcome to our forum.

[joewiggs]

A subject I would like to broach is this, did Custer have designs to be President of the United States and, was this desire a motivation at the Little Big Horn. It seems that the seed that sprouted into this theory was started by an "Ree" by the name of Red Star which is questionable at best. he claimed that Custer called the scouts to a meeting in which he stated that, "Any kind of victory over the Sioux would make him president, Great Father."

I disbelieve this claim and, let me explain why I do. Custer and Libby wrote constantly to each other wherein they shared their hopes and dreams. They were very much in love. In all these letters not once was it mentioned that the General desired that auspicious post.

I believe he did have designs on a post that would have made him responsible for the welfare of the subjugated Indians and, somehow, this desire was misunderstood.

[whitebull]

I'll be darn. Until now I thought that that story was a given!

[stumblingbear]

I believe that I read somewhere that Mari Sandoz wrote about that in her book on crazy Horse. Can somebody confirm that?

[tbw]

stumblingbear,

I have her book here 'somewhere', like packed away in some box somewhere. If I find it I will try to answer your question. In the mean time if someone else wants to, by all means, chime in...

[whitebull]

Dennis and Joe, the book is titled crazy Horse, The strange Man of the Oglalas. Yes, she pretty much insisted that Custer needed to win the fight to gain the presidency.

[joewiggs]

Now I remember! I believe that the only evidence(?) she presented was the conversation of a "Ree" scout who, in all probability, misunderstood what he heard.

[cinnamon]

Custer never wanted to be President. He was also disgusted by his political experience with Johnson, for that was not his kind, not his middle.

[joewiggs]

You are absolutely correct beyond a doubt. This story, I believe, was initiated by Mari Sandoz who made the unsubstantiated claim.

[Cutter]

Oct 22, 2010 6:15:01 GMT -5 cinnamon said:

Custer never wanted to be President. He was also disgusted by his political experience with Johnson, for that was not his kind, not his middle.

I agree. I have always thought that after a successful military career, he And Libby would roost in NYC, where he would write, and travel the world.
Thought it would have been cool if he and Libby were passengers on the Titanic.
Welcome aboard Cinnamon. ;D

[cinnamon]

Titanic? Well, their love story makes much kinda Jack-Rose...that's right...thank you Cutter!

[joewiggs]

Yes, welcome aboard Cinnamon! you are forever welcome here! ;D

[joewiggs]

"Of the Union's Generals, only grant, Sherman, and Sheridan were thought of more highly (than Custer) by the American public." Among Custer's peers, only the jealous would whisper that such a meteoric rise was undeserved. There was still plenty of boy in him, but he had matured. he seemed to many, inside the Army and out, to be the very model of noble knighthood.

Custer's praise and concern for those serving under him filled his reports - to the virtual exclusion of any feats of his own. His men responded in kind, and anecdotes of his gallantry and modesty became became the stuff of legends. One soldier who had been shot in the leg and helped off the field by the Boy General summed up the admiration his men felt for their commander when he said, 'I would had given up my right arm to save his life - aye, I would have died in his place.'

A terrible Glory - Donovan

These attributes of virtue used to describe the character of Custer were attributes of the Civil War General rather than the Indian fighter some of years later.

The complexity of a human is exemplified by the complexity of his or her life. Those who insist on labeling him within the strict confines of being a "Glory -Seeker" do not wish to know the man.