George Armstrong Custer stands as the classic example of a fallen American hero. During his lifetime, he was revered by a grateful nation as the youngest, bravest, most colorful, and most successful general of the Civil War. Then, almost immediately after his death at the Little Bighorn, he was reviled as an incompetent, immature butcher who had recklessly led his regiment into a needless slaughter in the search for glory. In The Custer America Forgot, 1861-1865, author Paul D. Walker narrates the untold story of the young general, a man who had a special fearless determination and natural ability to win battle after battle for Union forces and who led more than one hundred battles that produced significant victories. Thoroughly researched, this study takes an in-depth look at Custer-his birth in 1839, his childhood, his schooling at West Point, his young adulthood, his exploits as a military leader, his marriage to Libby, and his legendary last stand. Walker reveals the story of one of the United States' Greatest national heroes and restores Custer to his rightful place in American history

CUSTER 1861-1865

The Custer America ForgotBy Paul D. Walker

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2012 Paul D. Walker
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4759-3999-6

Contents

Acknowledgments............................................vIntroduction...............................................ixChapter 1 The Early Years..................................1Chapter 2 The War Begins...................................13Chapter 3 The Seven Days Battle............................25Chapter 4 Antietam.........................................48Chapter 5 Brandy Station...................................65Chapter 6 The Battle of Gettysburg.........................86Chapter 7 Custer's Finest Hour.............................121Chapter 8 The Abelest Man In The Corps.....................150Chapter 9 Custer's Original Last Stand.....................197Chapter 10 Shenandoah Valley Campaign......................215Chapter 11 Appomattox......................................253Epilogue...................................................287Post Script................................................299Custer Bibliography........................................307

Chapter One

The Early Years

* * *

To fully understand Custer the man, it's necessary to have a look at Custer the boy and his rather unusual childhood. He was a curious energetic lad; always in search of adventure or mischief and in this quest, was constantly escaping from one mishap after another, usually by dashing through backyards, over fences and down alleys, with a gang of playmates tagging along behind him. Often with an irate property owner or the local Sheriff in hot pursuit.

His nighttime adventures, nervous energy and the need for little sleep, caused his weary parents much concern and it's safe to say, that during his youth and at West Point, he never let education get in the way of having a good time.

Later at the head of his "Cavalry" these same youthful qualities and "seat of the pants" reactions, often allowed him to win victory after victory under impossible conditions.

George Armstrong Custer was born on the recently settled Ohio frontier, December 5, 1839 in a large frame house in the little village of New Rumley. His father Emanuel, a blacksmith, had been married twice, his first wife died in 1835, leaving him a widower with three children. Then within a year of his first wife's death, he remarried to a widow named Maria Kirkpatrick, who had two young children. The couple then proceeded to have 5 of their own, with George Armstrong, being the first born of the new family.

It was a very active household with 10 growing children and George, called "Audie," was the most vigorous of the lot. He was filled with a boundless energy and a constant curiosity, usually being the leader to his younger brothers and neighborhood playmates. Young Custer loved to ride horses and lead his hounds on hunts for coons, foxes and rabbits. He was up for virtually anything that involved adventure.

In this large extended family there was much interaction between parents and children. His father, Emanuel Custer would often join in the children's games and wrestle and play with them in their big grassy yard. The parents were understanding and tolerant and placed few restraints on the children's conduct or discipline.

The Custers attended church regularly and Emanuel didn't drink or gamble and used tobacco sparingly. Politics was considered his only vice, talking constantly of politics and often engaging in debates of local issues.

When George was 9, the family had been reduced to only five children because of the older children moving out and so the family moved two miles away into a smaller cabin. One can only imagine the crowded conditions and stress in a small cabin with 5 children that included young Custer, who was often described by his parents as a handful to manage. It was not long after moving to the new house, that Audie, now age 10, was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker in the nearby town of Cadiz. Although Cadiz was small, it was more prosperous, with brick homes, a printing press, a tannery and an iron foundry. The sights, sounds and smells all entranced the young man and broadened his horizons.

From a historical point of view, Cadiz, Ohio was famous as the birth-place of Edwin M. Stanton, (future Secretary of War) and John A. Bingham, (congressman who would nominate Custer to West Point). They also first practiced law in the small town. Both would go on to play important roles in the Northern Government during the Civil War.

When "Audie" was 11 his parents, after receiving numerous complaints about unruly behavior and inattention to woodworking duties, decided he would never be a cabinetmaker and sent him to live with his half sister Lydia, who had married David Reed of Monroe, Michigan.

Monroe was a town of just over 4,000 inhabitants, but had more of the refinements of a much larger city. It was linked to the rest of the world by lake steamers, as well as a modern railroad. If one reads between the lines, it is obvious that young Custer, with his boundless energy and constant activity, was a difficult child for his parents to control. But as he grew, these same traits that had been so difficult for his parents to manage, would become positive qualities for a career in the wartime military.

Living with his sister and her husband allowed him to grow and develop with more independence. However, his efforts in school continued to be less than desired. He preferred to do just about anything but study.

During his teenage years, young George was always attracted to pretty girls. He was exciting to be with and a good storyteller of his many adventures in Rumley, Cadiz or on the road. Numerous stories were later told of the practical jokes he had played or the interesting dates he would have with not just one girl, but several at a time, sleigh riding, treasure hunting, horse back riding or swimming naked in the local water hole.

While thoroughly enjoying his childhood, Custer finally began to get serious about his future and to worry about his poor performance in school. To make up for these shortcomings, his parents enrolled him in a normal school, (a school that prepares students to become teachers) located at Hopedale, eight miles from Cadiz.

Completing his studies at the normal school, Custer was offered a job teaching in a little one-room schoolhouse at nearby Locust Grove, earning 28 dollars per month.

He enjoyed interacting with the students and during recess, often played ball with or chased and wrestled with the boys on the playground and even took special pleasure in rubbing snow in the girl's faces. Years later, when Custer had become a famous cavalry general, newspaper reporters interviewed many of these students about their young teacher with the long golden hair. Most recalled that he was likable and that he had taught them much about the 3Rs, but the girls all remembered his good looks, long curly red-gold hair and dancing blue eyes.

Teaching had caused him to appreciate the importance of a good education and he was determined to find a way to get one. He had discovered that a fine education could be gotten for free at the United States Military academy at West Point. The only problem was finding a willing congressman to nominate him for an appointment to the academy.

His local congressman was the honorable John A. Bingham, but he was of the opposite political party, (the new Republican Party) and prided himself on his avowed hatred of Democrats. Realizing the hopelessness of the effort, Custer nevertheless, wrote...