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Brevet Major General George Armstrong Custer was one of the more colorful characters in U.S. military history. Appointed Brigadier General of Volunteer Forces at age 23 during the Civil War, he is most often remembered for his "last stand" at Little Bighorn. A lieutenant colonel at the time, Custer and his 200 men were wipped out by a superior force of Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne Indians.
Custer, as he appeared at the Battle of Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876, was described by the last white people to see him alive as "prematurely bald at age 36." His famous blond locks had been cropped short (one reason why he may not have been scalped).
He wore buckskin breeches and had his buckskin coat strapped to his saddle. His shirt was a version of a "fireman's shirt" made of lightweight wool and trimmed on the collar and cuffs with white tape. Crossed cavalry sabers with a seven above were embroidered in silver on his collar; and the shirt had mother-of-pearl buttons. Custer wore his trademark red silk cravat, which was also worn by most of the officers and men in imitation of their commander.
At his waist, he wore a canvas cartridge belt, containing rounds for his Remington Sporting rifle, a knife in a beaded scabbard, and a holstered Webley's Royal Irish Constabulary revolver with white handles and a lanyard ring. A binocular case hung from a strap around his neck. Also with him was the buckskin coat he wore at the Battle of the Washita and his personal campaign banner.
Biography: George Armstrong, Lieutenant Colonel-Staff
Born on December 5,1839, in New Rumley, Ohio, the son of Emanuel Henry (born
December 10, 1806-died November 17,1892), and Maria Ward Kirkpatrick Custer
(born May 31, 1807-died January 13, 1882). He attended the Military Academy
from July 1, 1857 to June 24, 1861, graduating 34 in his class of 34 as
the 1966th academy graduate.Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, Company G,
2nd Cavalry to rank from his date of graduation. Promoted to 1st Lieutenant,
5th Cavalry, to rank from July 17, 1862. Promoted to Captain, Staff and
AADC to General George McClellan to rank from June 5, 1862. On June 29,
1863, upon the recommendation of General Alfred Pleasonton, he was promoted
to Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers. Brevetted Major to rank from July
3, 1863, for gallant and meritorious services at the Battle of Gettysburg.
On February 9, 1864, while on leave, he married Elizabeth Clift Bacon (born
April 3, 1842-died April 1, 1933), daughter of Judge Daniel Stanton and
Eleanor Sophia Page Bacon in Monroe, Michigan. Promoted to Captain, 5th
Cavalry, May 8, 1864. Brevetted Lieutenanat Colonel to rank from May 11,
1864, for his meritorious services in capturing a battery at Yellow Tavern.
Brevetted Colonel to rank from September 19, 1864, for gallant and meritorious
services at the Battle of Winchester. Brevetted Brigadier General, to rank
from March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services at the Battle
of Five Forks. Promoted to Major General, U.S. Volunteers, on April 15,
1865. Appointed Lieutenant Colonel, 7th Cavalry, to rank from July 28, 1866,
the date the regiment was organized. Brevetted Major General, on July 28,
1866, to rank from March 13, 1865. Court-martialed, suspended from pay and
rand for one year in 1867. Engaged in the Washita River fight November 28,
1868. In command of the 7th Cavalry on the Yellowstone expedition in 1873,
and the Black Hills expedition of 1874. Killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn,
Montana Territory June 25, 1876. Interred on the battlefield on June 28,
1876. Exhumed in July, 1877, and re-interred in the Post Cemetery at the
Military Academy on October 10, 1877. Fort Custer, Montana, was named in
his honor, as well as many place names throughout the United States.
Updated: May, 2000