Lt Col George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was born in New Rumley, Ohio on December 5, 1839. After his early education he became a teacher but soon accepted an appointment as a cadet at the United StatesMilitaryAcademy, West Point, New York. He graduated from the Academy in June of 1861 just as the Civil War was breaking out. He chose the Cavalry as the Branch he wished to serve with. Initially Custer was assigned staff duty with the Army of the Potomac.
On June 29, 1863 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General of Volunteers, commanding the Michigan Cavalry Brigade. During the war he steadily advanced in responsibility and rank. By the end of the war Custer commanded a Cavalry Division with the rank of Major General. In the majority of the battles he engaged in with Confederate forces he was victorious. He escaped harm in battle having 11 horses shot from under him and incurring only one wound from a Confederate artillery shell during the Battle of Culpepper Courthouse. As a result he became known for his legendary “Custer Luck.” After the Civil War ended on April 9, 1865, the huge Volunteer Army was demobilized and Custer assumed his regular army rank of captain of Cavalry.
During 1866 when the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment was created at Fort Riley Kansas, Custer was promoted to the position of Lt. Colonel of the regiment. The first Colonel of the 7th was Col. Andrew Smith, (1866-1869) and the second Colonel was Col. Samuel Sturgis (1869-1886). Col. Smith and Col. Sturgis were usually on detached service which placed Custer in command of the Regiment until his death on June 25, 1876. Custer’s post Civil War service included duty in the South during the Reconstruction period and postings on the Southern and Northern Plains. Custer and the 7th Cavalry was assigned to accompany General Terry and the Dakota column in the summer campaign of 1876. In compliance with Gen. Terry’s strategy and orders, he and 262 men met their death at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, June 25, 1876.
