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made their romrade's son his own faIo Shield. lbrwgh acaJUnlS lUeb as these, IIClI Mooocy'I DOles provide a window moMAS W. CUSTER-VALOR PERSONlI'1ED J lbe Plains Indian shield romplex, a byErvingE.lleauregard I fuDdameota1Jy alien 10 those who liDcd lbe Plains Indian peoples to mll.ioos. Over !be years, young Kiowas Thomas Ward Custer was born OD ground where the meeting c subjected 10 indoctrination ar Man:b 15, 1845, al New RumJey, Harriaoo assembled, to lhe greal ... and tbe government's schools. County, Ohio. Hi! parenlS, Emmanuel IllllKJ)'IlOCC of aU tbeir decent III lbe way, tbe shield romplex was Henry Custer and Maria Ward Kirkpatrick Republ.icaD brethren. II was said ~ forgotten, just one more aspect of Custer, named him after Thomas Ward of that lhey inlended lD represent im past. Wa!.hington County, Pennsylvania. ttilI the "ruffians of Missouri." They But the fact remains that for Kiowa maternal great-grandfather. He was five played one part naturally-tbe Kiaow-Apache warriors the blessings years younger than his renowned elder -ruffian,- and lhat they will play ling 10 them through shield Medicine brolher, George Arrnslrong Cusler, all tbeir lives. If they represented perceived 10 be e jusl as real, fully as nicknamed·Autie." anything. it was Jim lane and his :acious, as any benefit accruing to In 1851, Tom matriculated at the ruffians, oow engaged in Jrews from the Ark of the Covenant, nearest district school, Creal's, located murdering the peaceable settlers :hristiallli bathing at Lourdes, Hindus about a mile and a half from lhe Custe~' in Kansas. They distracted the king to the banks of the Ganges, or f.annhouse. At this lime -Autie- was meeting very much while the m's adnerents malting pilgrimage to beginning his final year at Creal's.. A luSty, speaking was going on, by the ::ca. The sooner that fact is goo:::l-natured boy, Tom prOYed a born firing of pistols, and hideous IIOWledged, the sooner we will attain a leader, his clas.smales attested. However, yelling. I "C complete knowledge of and be always bowed to -Autie- in all things; rmation for one of the mosl poorty indeed, he proudly imitated -Autie." The Ever close to "Autie," Tom rejoiced wn yet powerful aspect.5 of America's two boys had much in common when his elder brother received a coveted ns Indian beritage. indifference to study, froliclting. and love appointment to Ihe United States Military Academy. Tom occompanied "Autie" to -ading of hOr&e5. As a gangling yoUlh, Tom joined the railroad wtion in seio, Ohio, in the "Autie" in some escapades. On August 2, early summer ct 1857 when the elder 'In Magazinf, Vol. I, No.1, 1975, 34 1856, they appeared at lhe Democratic brother depaned for enrollment at West rally for presidential nominee James Point. Tom seriously thought of following 00 an lmpon..am Southern Cheyenne Buehanan held at Hopedale, Ohio. The in his belOYed friend's footJteps.2 , VoL 57, No.3, 1979, 123-125. rally occurred at McNeely Nonnal School In 1857, veritably, lhe problem of 44, No.4, The Museum of Northern where "Autie" hac! been a student. 1be Tom's fulure arO!iC. AI Creal's School he local Republican newspaper noted tbe had rompleled lhe silt-year coune of ~. John C. Ewers, ed., ContribuJions presence of noisy young petllOO.'l posing as rommon SChooling that was then l' FOWIdatioll, New York, 1975. ·border ruffians." Tom and "Autie" also considered cwtomary for Ihe chik1ren of lakOl.3,- Anlhropologi€a1 Papen of the attended a mass Republican rally for Harrison County. His mOl her f8vored Pt.. 2, New York, 1907. presidential nominee John C. Fremont in enrolling him al lhe IieCOndary scbool at Cadiz, Ohio, on September 15, 1856. A cadiz, the county §t8L ThiI; would prepare f'A Plaim Indian heraldry notes for reporter wrote of the Custers and their him, she felt, for entrance to Franklin Unive~ity's itance from Emporia Stale friends: College al New Alhens in Harrison Be Paul Dyct, Foundation-Research County. lbat, in tum, would qualify him A molley crew of vagabonds :an PhilCMphiC31 Society's Phili(l'i Fund for a seminary because she preferred a dressed in fantastic slyle ... rode Ethnohislory, and the Wenner-Gren ministerial career for h.im. HCJWe:\Ier, father the streets, and paraded on the Emmanuel vetoed hill wife', plan. He 10
thoughl ill of Torn', scholarly acumen. combat Tom received several promOlions. Moreover, Emmanuel, a staunch bec:omiilg, by brevet, major of volunteers Melhodist, regarded Franklin College as a in Mareh 1865. Atronghold of the AMociate Presbylerian George gave no (IMlrs 10 Tom. Chun:h. Furthermore, JUSlice oflhe Peace Actually the former sometimes went OUI Emmanuel Custer, a diehard Democrat. of his W4'j to give his sibling extra considered Franklin a baslion of the assignments. "U anyone thinks it is a soft Republicans, horrid abolilionists who had lhing to be a commanding officer's gooe over 10 the I:>eW. So Tom remained brother," George's other officers said, "he at the Custer fannhouse ill New RUmley. misses his gues5-" However, vmeQ alone, When the family mO't'ed [0 a farm in George and Tom would unbuekle their Wa6hington Township, Wood County, sword belts and scuffle around lhe Ohio, in April 1860, Tonl went along.:\ general's officer quarters a.~ Ihey did al Upon the oUlbreak of the Civil War their father's farm at New Rumley.s sixteen-year-old Tom immediately sought Glory first came 10 Tom Cusler on enlislmenl in the Union Army; however, April 3, 1865. At NarnOline Church, his age prevented thi.\. Repeatedly he Virginia, a part of George Cusler's volunteered, finally being accePled 9-~ a division, of which Tom was a member, private by rAlmpany H, Twenty-first pounced on the combined mounted Regiment, Ohio Volunleer Infantry, on divisioo:> of Major Generals FilZhugh Lee september 2, 1861. 5emce in the Western and Rooney Lee, cousin and son Theater--Slone River, ChlclGlmauga, respectively of Robert E. Lee. Allhough Resaca, Missionary Ridge, and Kennesaw outnumbered, the Union tTOOPS prevailed Mountain-·led [0 promotion to corporal and the Confederates retrealed. Leading and orderly to Brigadier General Jame& in Ihe pursuit, Tom had his mounl shot SCott Negley. At this lime a comrade out from under him. Nevertheless, described lhe young Custer a.~ a "blue undaunted Tom slill remained iT: combal eyed, flaxen-haired beanpole" who "played and single-handedly captured a a mean jew's-harp and sowed wild DaiS Confederate flag, and look three officers wilh camp followers." Smoking and and eleven enlisled men. For Ihis aelion occasional alcohol also appealed to him. he received his first Medal of Honor. After serving his Ihree years' term of On April 6, 1865, at Sayler's Creek, enlistment, Tom ~ mustered out on Virginia, Tom Custer again rode 10 glory. October 10, 1864. Soon he 'NOuld return Here George Custer's division encounlered to combat, for il Vatilly more appealed to Lieu\en.anl General Richard S. Ewell's him than an appointment to West Point wagon train. A recognized expert provides which brother George ~hed 10 Obtain for a cap!ivaling de.e.cription: "' , ,"m. Accompanying COlonel Capehart, On November a, 1864, Brevet Major Lieutenant Tom Custer spurred General George Armstrong Custer ahead imo the midst ot the oblained for Tom II second lieutenant's commis!ion in COmpany D, Sixth enemy and clawed at a flag. The Reb color bearer fired his pislol Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Cavalry. pointblanlr: at Tom's head. The Now Tom served under George whrne blast burned the boy's face and Third cavalry Division included Tom's speclr:Jcd it wilh powder, and Ihe III regiment. Indeed, Tom 'W8S immediately ball plowed through his cheek assigned to General Custer's staff as aide and passed out behind his ear, I de-camp. For distinguished and gallant IhrO'olfing him flat on his horse's
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11 lbat Tom receNed several promotioll5, rump; but reeling back instantly CreeL9 omiDg. by brevet, major of 'JOlunteers in his saddle and drawing his In February 1866, Tom Custer Illart::b 1865. revolver with his left hand, he entered tbe regular army as a second Georse gave no lavon to Tom. killed his as"o;,ailanl and caught tbe lieutenanl of infantry. Scxm., July 1866, he uaDr lhc former sometimes went out tottering banner wilh his right. transferred to his belaYed cavalry. He bill way to give his sibling extra Waving his prize in triumph, he became a finl. Iieulenant in brother pllDl:nts.. ·U anyone lhinks it is a soft wheeled his mount around and George's newly formed Seventh Regimem. 18 to be a commanding officer's dashed through the melee, blood George exalted OYer the appointment. tbcr," George's other officers said, "he streaming dCM1l his face, to show JUbilantly be noted that the "Cu5ler luck" IlCS his guea." However, when alone, the standard to the division had again prevailell. George urged Tom qe and Tom would unbuckle their rommander. ~ he made his way to study "Tactics.. 010 rd bellS and scuffle around the to the rear, an officer in the 3rd Tom received hearty welcome into eral's officer quaners as they did at New Jerney yelled after him, "For George's household. He became onc of r father's farm at New Rumley.S God's sake, Tom, furl thai flag the family. Tom's sister-in-law, George's Glory firs! came to Tom Cusler on or they'll [ire on you...6 wife, Elizabelh ("l.ibbie"), thought highly 11 3, 1865. At Namozinc Church, of him. Tom shouted to his brother, pnia, 8 part of George Custer's "Armstrong, the damned rebels have shOl ... he was in all the campaigns D, of wbkh Tom was a member, me, but I've got my flag!" General Custer and engagements of the nted on lhe combined mounted ordered him to leave the ballldield for regiment. II was an immense liDnI of Major Generals fitzhugh Lee Rooney Lee, cousin and son the dressing of his wound. HDWCVer, the change to come dCM1l from the rourageous Tom waived aside the order. posiLion of aide-de 1 13 aMxl fn::m rank and command plus two summers their activities exhibited lwenly-6Ye-year-oid Boston, lilted OIl the ciIW'c of all "p'oper pay. ~t4 diversity. One was a punil.iYe e:tpediliol:l quanermaster rolI& • "pkk.~ The In May 1868, Major General Ptlilip againsl the Indians in lhe YeUOMltooe e:tpediliol:l, which eDdcd OQ Auguat 30, SbcridBa rcca1Ied George 10 duty. Valley. Another undertaking CDl:ItaiDed an 1874, bas been cbaractelized as a ridaD. needed bUn to aush lhe valiant expl()(8lkm of Lhe Black: Hilla. "froUc8ome picnit. ~ Signi6cantly, two III India.DL Upoo George'5 relum 10 On August 4, 1873, baltle..eaured "practical miDen" tat.en BloIlg bf George .. 8 wekome greeted him. Tom Cusler raced tbe Sioux. 1bo&e Custer, diliaM:rc:d gold.. MOl'CO'Ier, George warriors surprised George Gusler's coI.umn Custer "PUbticly announced uJXHI his Mea of the officen in the 71h on the YelkJwslOne River in Monlana return lbat tbe Black HilI& ought to be ClMWy seemed gJad to aee their d Territory. The U.S. force staunchly lai.en oYer bf wbite men. ' (*i commander. Major £lIioU, resiited. Tom, as well as George, fought Whea DOl c:Bmpaigning Tom Iited to Captaint Yate&, KMgh, and bral/ely. Outnumbered lhree to one, frequenl the theater. His taste was ~utenants Weir, Mayland, George Custer's regiment prewiled in eclectic. One of his loves WBII "Julius Coote, and Tom Custer lhree hou~ of hard fighting. The Sioux Caesar.~ Tom became involved with the wckxxDed B renewal of the old were driven from the field. siage's aetiOlU. Once upon viewing the sad bUarioos da)'I of honeplay and Then on August II, 1873, George farewell &cene in lhe milila!)' play "Our," practical j(*es.. Tom rould hanU,. Cusler's Seventh Caval!)' won another Tom bUrst inlo tesrs.19 wail 10 teU his brolber aboul a battle on Ihe Yellowstone River. Again Ironically, Tom, tbe enlranced lItunt wbicb bad tangled with his the formidable Sioux atlaek.ed Custer. spectator of fiction, himself would be q ~." To be amfoned, Leading 450 cavalrymen, Custer connected willl a romantic poem. The lbc: unfortunale canine had vanqUished the enemy who numbered episode twd roots in an evenl of jumped 00 him and Captain between 500 and 1000. Once more Tom December 1874. AJ: ttwl time U.S. Army Hamilton. After Itwt mey bolh gave his usual slerling performance. Scout Charles Reynolds visiled the amused themselves the rest of In 1874, Fi~t Lieutenant Tom Cusler Slanding Rcx:k. Indian ABency in Dakota lbc nigh' by visiting other took part in lhe famous Black. Hills Territory. There he O'Yerheard Rain-in officers' lent&, sunting them out Expedition. Lieutenanl General Philip H. the-Face, a prominem Hunkpapa Sioux of their cots. [George1ArmslrOng Sheridan, commander of lhe Division of warrior, boast ttwt he had killed three wrote libbie aU aboul il. He also Missouri which included the Department white men on Ihe Yell~one River two described tbe good hunting. of Dakota, determined "to eslabtish a summen earlier. This referred to lhe Blucher killed a wolf. Maida military pa>l in lhe country knOwn as the slaying of John Honsinger, lhe ~lerinary caught a jack rabbit alone. Blaek Hills . . . so lhal bf holding an surgeon of the 5evenl.h Cavalry, AUgustWl Together they toot hold of a interior point in the hes" of Ihe Indian Baliran, the regimenlal sutler, and Trooper 1S buffalo. country we could threaten the villages and John H. Ball, after their capture bf lhe stock of the Indians, if lhey made raids on Sioux in the latter's engagement with 'The oewty resLored General Custcr our settlements." There was another Custer's column on August 4, 1873. DJI disappoint Sheridan. Almost purpose, never officially aeknowledged, for ReynOlds reported whal he had heard 10 .ediaLeIy be campaigned agail15t !he the Brack Hills Expedition. ""at purpose George Cusler. The latter decided lhal :lDL On Ncwember 27, 1868, Tom was gold." An aUlhority has written, "In Rain-in-the-Face must be brought LO a :d unlk.r him at !he Battle of lhe view of [he clamor aboul gold in the civil rourt for trial for murder. hila in Indian Territory. Tom received Black HilLs, no mililary expedition rould General Custer dispalChed Caplain .. MJUods. In that encounler, have enlered the hills for anr pul'JX* George Yates and ueuteoaol Tom CtJSler rdin& to an aulilority, lIle rommaDder wilhoUl also looking for gold:! wilh a rompany of cavalry 10 taplure Ic:l deall the Cheyennes a severe blow Sheridan ordered George Cusler 10 Rain·in·the·Face. They rode fifty miles in iOOd and treaM1re."16 lead his Seventh Cavalry into the Black. deep snow in temperalures reaching fifty In tile spring of 1873 Ihe War Hills. The expedition began its march on degrees below zero. AJ: Slanding Rcx:i. IttIDent Bll8igned George and Tom July 2, 1874. Tom Custer went along on Tom tooi. Charles Reynolds and five :cr to Fort Abrntwm uncoln in special duty as commander of Company L pitk-ed lroopers into a trader's store. CIa Territory, jU5l acrOllll (he Missouri Present also was a third Custer brother, There Tom (ound a bunch of heavily r from. Bi.smarct. During the follcw.ring 14 blanketed Indians. When one or tbem headql13Jters at Fan Unroln.21 lowered his blankel, Reynolds poinled to Tom Clt,lllter was also a person him as Rain·in-lhe-Fate. Thereupon Tom sensitive to &lights to bill honor. This pounced on him and after a brief )CUffle related to his ODe viot.. Hi.\ craving for overpowered him. Tom then brought the liquor would lead to remorse and 10 prisoner 10 Fan Unroln. Rain-in-the-Face pledges Of :lbstinenct:. An obl;el"o'er, confeMed to George Custer Ihal he had "lJbbie," Tom's admiring ~ter-in-law, led thc party lhal killed Ihe three Whites. noted: However, in April 181S, Rain-in·the-Face ... in one of limes of pledge, escaped from the guardhouse. According his when the noble fellow [Tom] had 10 legend, he swore IAat someday he his word (0 l&le would cut Tom's heart OUI. Allegedly Ihis gr.en not a drop for a certain seQ.'Kln if a vow would hear fruit when Rain-in-the man he loved, and about whom Face killed Tom in the Battle of the LJWe he was anxious, would do the Bighorn, and then mutilated hi~ body. This same, he was snceral ilt by a Story inspired Hcnl")' WarJswortn brother officer, wilh jibes of his longfellOw's ~e Revenge of Rain-in supposed or attempled Ihe·Faa:.~ HCNreVer, longfellow invol:;ed superiority. Tom leape , .) B' " 15 11 lquartefS III Fort UncoIn. Cheyenne, Lame While Man, fe:ipooded cut open and b:is enlnJiill Tom Custer was also 8 per!iOn with an 8nack that CJ·...erran lhe company protruded... y~ ithc to 5ligh1s to his hooor. This aDd scattered the survivors back ta ted to his one vice. Hi& craving for Calhoun Hill. Curley, a Crow &oCOU! with Upon viewing Tom's remain.\, captain ... would kad to remorse and to the Seventh cavalry, claimed [nat Tom Frederick W. Benteen and Dr. Henry R. I.. 01 at.linence. An observer, Custer suggested that Ihe regiment's Porter amcluded lhal Tom'. hean Ilad _,- Tom's admiring sister-in-law, scou15 had beller save themseJves if lbey not been retDCYed. All who vieWed Tom's .. could. On Custer Hill, at the north eOO of body agreed that it was extensively Bailie Ridge, the three Custer broLhers- mutilated. A IChoIar hal written: .•. in one of his times of pledge, George, Tom and Boston, a forage . . . lbe mutilalions were so wben the lK'IbIe fellow [rom] had ma'iler-foughl until they were killed, along extensive ,hat lhey led to the pen his word not to taste 8 with their brother·ill-Law, First Lieutenant drop for a certain 5e3SOn if a James Calhoun, and their nephew, slory thai Rain-in·the·Face had vow man he 1OYed, and about whom eighleen-year-Q\d, Henry Annstrong not only carried out his to be was 3llXious, would do lhe CUi the Captain's heart OUI but ("Autie"~ Reed, a herder wiLh the Seventh was had eaten a part of it in lhe same, he slleered at by a Ca\lalry.;,'3 belief that to eat the heart of a brolher officer, with jibes of his Tom's body was round behind a supposed or allempted brave man imparted some or its breao>lWOrk of dead h0rse5 on CUSler Hill. virtues to the eater.2-4 8lJperioriry. Tom leaped across It wao; twenty feet back from George the in table the tem where they Custer's corpse. Tom's body 1iJ)' face lat at dinner, and shook up his "ubbie" Custer wrote pa55ionately of down. 'Tom Cusler was mutilated, horribly llli&8ilant ill a emphatic the vow of Rain-in-the·Face. Ibe very mutilated." Lieutenant (later General) vengeance of that incarnate fiend was ""Y." Edward S. GOOfrey wrole: concentrated on the man who had N(llWitMl8nding heroism, promotion When r went to Tom Cu~ter's effected his capture. It was found on the the pou-Ovil War anny was slow. body it had not been dislurbed banlefield that he had cut out lhe brave jeen wOO had held medium or high from its original pa;ition. II was heart of the gallant, 1~I, and loveable k: in Ihe onc:e large Federal foree now lying face downward, aU the scalp man, our brother Tom." 10 be conlenl with lower rank. On was remCNed, leaving only tufts Mrs. CUS1.er's story once received ::ember 2, 1875, Tom received of his fair hair on the nape of his confirmation from Rain-in-the-Face. In ancemem to captain. Thj) would be his neck_ The skull was smashed in 1894, al Coney Island where he was on adYc!.nce because tragedy :;o:;;Jn came. and a number of af'TO\ll5 had exhibition, he "confe.w.d,~ aa:ording 10 On June 2.'i, 1876--at the lillIe been shot inlo Ihe baek of the two journalists who Ilad primed him with born-Tom Custer,lhe usual daredevil, head and body. I remarked Illat firewaler: /Cd a conspicuous rote. AbOut 9:00 I believed it was Tom, and he The long sword's blood and I. be informed hj) brother George ~that and J had often gone S\\imming brains splashed in my face. It fell :rgeant had taken a detail on thc bact. togcther and thc fonn seemed hot, and blood ran in my mouth_ I to retrieYe a box of hardtack dropped familiar. We rolled the body [ could tasle it. I W3S mad.... n 8 pack mule during the night march. aver; the features wherc they had I saw uUle Hair [Tom Custer]. : troopeR Ilad come upon several touched the ground were pressed I remembered my vow. I was III opening lhe box and had exChanged OUI of shap:: and were somcwhat crazy; I feared nothing. . . . I "'lith them." General Custer now decomposed. In turning the body, don't know how many I killed ided 10 find the Indian village and one arm which had been shOt trying (Q get at him. I saw his ke 8t it B& liOOO as possible. Tom also and broken, remained under the moulh move, but Ihere was so nmunicated orde]'"$ from brother body; this was pulled out and on much noise l couldn't hear his IYgt to Captain Thomas M. it we saw 'T.W.c." and the voice. He was afraid. When I got ~Dougall. Furthermore, Tom goddess of libeny and flag_ This, near enough I shot him with my nmanded his Company C in an advance of cou~, completed our revolver. My gun Irinel was gone, the Illdiam in a ravine. However, the identification. His belly had been 16 I don't know where. r leaped di&cretioo is lbe belleT side of life when from 111)' pony and cut OUt bis one lives among one'l oonqueronl. heart and bit a piece out of it Tam'lJ remainS eventually were 2lS and spit it in his face. interred in the Fort l...caYelIWOtlh National Cemetery, l...caYenwonb, Kansas.. Perhaps However, in 1904, a 80ber Rain-in be would baYC preferred burial near his the-Face told a reporter another story: iOIlgtime beloYed commander. Had he Many lies have been wid of me. gradualed at West Point his mutilated mighl blM: been placed beside h.ia Some say thaI I tilled the chief, rorpse brolher George and sir.ter-in-Iaw "Ubbie." and Olhers say that I cut the captain bean oul of his brOtller, Tom. Thoma& Ward Custer exemplified wlor thtoughout his voluntary Cusler, because he caused me to $ervice in the Civil War and Indian Wars. be imprboned. Why in that Jighl Twice winner of lhe Medal of Honor in tbe excitement w& so great thaL we scarcely recognized our the Civil War, he was the first person in I nearest friends. Everything was history and one of only three persons during Ihe Civil War 10 receive twO done like lightning. After the I Medals oJ HonOf; the other two recipients battle we young men were had hailed from the Navy. He and one ehasing hones all over the prairie; and if any mutilating was other person have been the only soldieT$ 10 win two army Medals of Honor, the done, it was by the old men.V other ten double winners were from the Did Rain-in-ltle·Face's first story Stem Navy. Major General George Armstrong from his alcoholie fog? Did his second Custer pronounced the intriguing story, in his sober rondition, rise from fear judgment on btolher Tom: "To prove to that his life might be in jeopardy from you how I wlue and admire my brOlher thase who 'WOuld avenge the Cuslers? I Perhaps an observer may conclude that as a soldier, think that he should be the general and I lhe captain."28 ENDNOTE'S 1. Charles B. Wallace, Cwter's Ohio Boyhood, 2nd ed. (Cadiz, Ohio: Harrison County Historical Society, 1987), pp.30-31. 2. Thomas Ward Custer, leuer \0 Jooeph B. Campbell, Monroe, Michigan, December 14, 1865, John A. Campbell Collection, Cadiz, Ohio. 3. Ibid. 4. MajOf John A Reichley, Il\e 'Unknown' Cusler," Milumy Review, Vol. LXIV, I NO.5 (May 1984), p_ 73. 5. Elizabeth B. Custer, "A Beau sabreur," in Thea. F. Rodenbaugh, ed., Uncle ! Sam'! Medal o[ Honor (New York and London: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1886), p. 226. 6. Gregory J.W. Urv.in, (:'uster VlCtorWw; 1M Civil War Banles o[ General George ArmJlrorIg Cwler (Rutherford: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1983) pp. 246-48. 7. Ibid., p. 248; Roben M. Utley, Cavalier in Burbkin: George Amulrorlg Cwler and the Weslem Mililary Frontier (Norman and London: Univerlity of Oklahoma PreM, 1988), p. 32; Jay Monaghan, Cwler: The Life o[ General Gtorgt ArmJtrong Cwter (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1959), p. 238. J ------~ 17 rakIl .. tbc beUer lIide of life when 8. Thomas Ward Custer, letLer 10 Joseph B. Campbell. Austin, TCllaS., January 11, Ihoa amenl ooe'j a:nquerors.. 1866, Campbell Collection. Tom" ranai..l:I!o eventually were 9. These recognitions were 811peMsed by B~I Brigadier General 1llomas M. md in the Fori I....eaWil1WQ"'lh Nalional Vmcent who, like the Custer&, was a nalive of Hani50u County, Oltio. DtItry, I..eaveDauth, KaMas. Perhaps 10. Edgar I. Stewart, Custer's Lw:k (Norman: Univenlity of Ollahoma Preu;, 1971), 'MIUk1 blfte preferred burial oear his p. 171; Monaghan, Custer, pp. 267-68. _ beIl:Md oomlD8llder, Had he 11. Cusler, "A Beau Sabreur,· pp. 230-31. 2uated al Wesc Point his mutilated 12. Elizabeth B. Custer, "Boots and Saddles" or Life in /JQJwIQ with GenuaJ Custer :IIC migbl blfte been placed beside his (New York: Harper and Brothen, 1885), p, 233. lbcr Geagc sod sister-in-JBw "Ubbie." 13. Ibid. CaptaiD Thomas Ward Cusler 14. Monaghan, Custer, pp. 300-03. mplified v.llor throughout his voluntary 15. Ibid., p. 307. >icc in the Civil War and Indian Wars. 16. ULley, Cavalier in Buckskin, p. 70. ce winner of the Medal of Honor in 17. Donald Jackson, Custer's Gold: The Uniled SltUfi Ca",alry Erpedition of 1874 CMI War, he W8li the firu person in (New Haven and London: Yale University Presli, 1966). p. 14; Utley, Cavalier in Dr)' and ooe of only lhree persol105 Buckskin, pp. 133, 135. ing the Civil War to receive two 18. Jack.'lOn, Custer's Gold, p. 120; ULley, Cavalier in Bw:kJJdJ1, p. 137. I1aIs of Honor; the other two recipienlS ]9. Custer, Boots and Saddles, p. 250. bailed rrom the Na\oY_ He and one 20. Henry WadsVo'Orlh Longfellow, "'The Revenge of Rain-in-lhe-Face,~Th£ Complete ~ persoo have been the only soldiers Poetical Woria' ofHenry Wadrl(.lOrth Longfellow (Boston and New York: Houghton Mimin, win two army Medals of Honor, the 1920), p. 337. cr len double ""';nnerl were from the 21. Custer, Boou and SaddleJ, p. 257. ~. 12. Elizabeth B. Custer, Tel1!ing on the Plaim or General Cwter in Km!stu and TOW" Major General George Armslrong (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1895), p. 252. lIer pronounced the inlriguing 2.1. Ulley, Cavalier in Bw:kskin, p. 181; Kenneth Hammer, ed., Custer in '16..- Walter pnent on broIher Tom: rro prcwe to Comp'r Notes on the Curter FighJ (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1976), bow I value and admite my brother pp. 159, 165. IlIOIdier, I think lhar he should be the 24. Richard G. Hardorff, Th£ Cwter Balile Ctuua]lies: Burials, ExlwmoJions and c::aptain.~28 enIl and I the ReinJermenJs (El Segundo, California: Upton and Sons, 1989), pp. 23·24, 33, 98, 103, 104; Hammer, ed., Cwter in '76: Walter Comp'r Noles on the Cwter FighJ, p. 77; Douglas , D. Scott, Richard A Fox, Jr., Melissa A Connor, and Diek Hannon, ArchD1!oJogkal Perr~ctives on the Ba1tle of the UJ.lle Bighorn (Norman and London: University of ood, 2nd ed. (Cadiz, Ohio: Harrison Oklahoma Press, 1989), p. 247; Stewart, Cwter's Lw:k, p. 472; Lawrence A Fr~t, Cwter ugeNb (Bowling Green, Ohio: Bowling Green Stale University Popular Press, 1981), ItI B. Campbell, Monroe, Michigan, p.22L .. Cadiz, Ohio. 25. Custer, Boots and Saddles, p. 215. 26. Robert M. Utley, "'The Enduring Custer Legend," American Hiftory fllurlraud, , Custer,' MiJiJary Review, Vol. LXN, Vol. Xl, No.3 (June 1976), p. 9. I 27. Ibid. in Thea. F. Rodenbaugh, ed., UN:le 28. Custer, Boots and Saddles, p. 2:n. G.P. PUlnam's Sam, 1886), p. 226. I fat Civil War Battles of General George " :I UniYeiliity Press, 1983) pp. 246-48. in &lcbkin.: George Armstrong Cwter ondon: UniYerlity of Oklahoma Press, of GtN!1TJl George Armstrong Curter 238. •