George Armstrong Custer

Biography

The American Civil War

George Custer was born in New Rumley (Ohio) the December 5th 1839 and leaves last promotion 36 juniors by West Point in 1861. It joined then a regiment of the US Army with the First battle of Bull Run. As a staff officer, his audacity and its energy, in particular at the time of its impetuous recognition towards the Chickahominy To rivet, bring it to the knowledge of the general George McClellan who makes of it his aide-de-camp with the rank of captain.

Continuous Custer to be useful with McClellan until the general is raised of his command. Custer turns over then in its regiment as a lieutenant. In 1863, it is promoted general sergeant of the volunteers. It is distinguished with the head from the brigade from cavalry from Michigan to the Bataille from Gettysburg and in the following operations from the countryside from 1863.

When the army corps of cavalry of Potomac is reorganized under the command of Philip Sheridan in 1864, Custer preserves its command and takes part in many operations of cavalry to the Bataille of Wilderness and in the Armée with Shenandoah. In February 1864, Custer attacks a camp of confederated in the Bataille of Rio Hill. At the end of September 1864, it is named with the command of a division, and on October 9th, it fights in a brilliant attack of cavalry to the Bataille of Woodstock.

Although preserving its rank of captain, it quickly receives a patent enabling him to act as a major, lieutenant-colonel, colonel and an even major-general of the detachments of volunteers for its rendered services with Gettysburg, the Bataille of Yellow Tavern, with the Bataille of Winchester and especially with the Bataille of Cedar Creek.

It is, and remains to date, the youngest major general of the history of the Army of the United States.

It is used with the general Philip Sheridan in the last great raid as cavalry, carries it with the Bataille of Waynesboro and in the last countryside with the Bataille of Dinwiddie and the Bataille of Five Forks, where his/her own brother will obtain the highest American distinction, the Medal of Honor (it will obtain from it a second at the end of the war, which is a true exploit). At the end of the war, it receives the patent of sergeant and general major in the regular army, and is promoted general major of the voluntary troops.

The Indian Wars

In 1866, Custer is made lieutenant-colonel of 7régiment of cavalry, and takes share under the orders of the general Winfield Scott Hancock with forwarding against the Indians Cheyennes.

The same year, it passes in martial court for abandonment of station (it travelled with escort to seek supplies and to see his wife whom it feared victim of the cholera) and because an armed deserter had been cut down by its troops. It is suspended for one year but is pointed out a few months later by the general Phillip Sheridan.

The November 27th 1868, it inflicts a severe defeat in Cheyennes with the Bataille Washita River. Several tens of Indians are killed (including 11 war leaders and some 100 warriors and 20 civilians) and 53 women and children are made prisoners. The touched village was guilty serious exactions the preceding summer (nearly 300 killed white civilians) and retained captive white women and children. Some are released by Custer (Crocker Miss and two little boys), others assassinated by their geôliers cheyennes (a man, a woman and two children) at the beginning of the attack.

In 1871, it is charged to track Ku Klux Klan in the hostile grounds of Kentucky. It tries, without success, to invest out of purse. In 1873, it is sent in the territory of the Dakota to protect a railway line against the Sioux. The August 4th, Custer and 7th of cavalry meet the Sioux for the first time. Two Indian attacks are broken.

In 1874, he escorts a group of engineers in Black Hills, then Indian territory in order to study the layout of future the " Northern Pacific Railroad" who will connect the lake higher than the Pacific Ocean. Gold is found, causing a rush of researchers who settle there with the contempt of the treaty of 1868. July 2nd, 1874, Custer which the Indians had called " Pahuska" (Long Hair) with the head of the 7th Regiment of Cavalry was inserted deeply in Black Hills, reaching the area of Paha Sapa, place crowned ever pressed by the white Man. He writes in the same time of the articles in the newspapers, under pseudonym NOMAD, which will be joined together in a book, " My life in Plaines" (immense best-seller).

In spring 1876, it is likely to be erased army to have criticized before an official Commission the policy of the Indian reserves of the government of the United States.

In 1876, one entrusts another mission to him which leads the June 25th to the Bataille of Little Big Horn where he dies in the combat.

The battle of Little Big Horn

See Battle of Little Big Horn

Myths and lies on the Custer general

Many lies were conveyed on Custer. Here the most important refutations:

Custer was not a massacror of Indians. See on this subject the article on the Battle Washita To rivet.
Custer called forever of alive sound " Killers of squaws" , " Jaunes" hair; , " Jaune" head; by whoever.
Custer did not have known presidential ambition.
Custer forever known as celebrates it sentence “a good Indian is a dead Indian” (it is its hierarchically superior in 1868, the general Sheridan which said it, and the sentence specifies was “only the good Indians whom I saw were dead Indians”).

What they said of Custer

" Custer is the man able of the cavalerie" General Philip Sheridan

" The men of the brigade adore it and will adore it for eternity. With each time it crossed a company, it greeted it by taking off its hat. Everyone acclaimed it. The soldiers admired it, venerated it même." Soldier James Avery , of the brigade of Custer during the American Civil War

" We admired it. All the women cheyennes spoke about him like very beautiful man. Little Big Horn, I often wondered whether my horse had thrown dust on its body, whereas I gallopped between the dead soldiers, where it reposait." Kate BigHead , Indian cheyenne

" If we forget something during our ceremonies, it us it rappelait." Red Star , Indien will arikara testifying to the interest of Custer for the Indian habits

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