USA > Michigan > Monroe County > History of Monroe County, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests Volume I > Part 32
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The following were afterwards recruited in Monroe County, and mustered in on June 23d and 28th: Frank Babcock, Levi Bomia, Frank- lin Bond,* Charles Boushaw, Leonard Bruerlein, jr., John Clemens, Frank W. Davis,* Henry L. Dusham, Frank Evoe, Ernest Goldfinch, Edward Grovener, Daniel Keegan,* Charles Kopf, William Lazette, George Loose, John F. MeCleary, Jesse W. Navarre, Joseph Pountnie, Joseph Ranville, Charles F. Roberts, John W. Scott, Harry Schultz, Wil- liam J. Steffis, Moses Valiquette, George Waltz, Joseph Weigel, Louis Wilhelm.
* Died in camp or hospital.
GEN. GEORGE A. CUSTER AND MRS. ELIZABETHI B. CUSTER
.
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GEORGE ALFORD, REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER
was one of the early New England settlers in Monroe and lived on Sec- ond street, between Harrison and Cass streets. He was a brother of Mrs. James F. Skinner, whose husband was for some years a register of deeds in Monroe county, and held other public offices. George Alford was a soldier in the war of the revolution, and served under General Putnam, and as such is entitled to honorable mention, though unfor- tunately, there are no records at hand to identify him more particularly in the patriotic service which he rendered to his country. There are no relatives now living in this county, nor any of his co-temporaries from whom any further details can be obtained, but it is an interesting fact that Monroe once had for one of its citizens a soldier who served in Gen- eral Washington's army, and under that intrepid commander, General Putnam. He is the only man so far as is known, who ever lived in Mon- roe, that enjoyed that distinction, which confirms the statement that Monroe is connected with every war in which the United States was engaged. There are not so very many towns which can make good its claim to this patriotic record.
MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER
General Custer was born December 9, 1839. He died June 25, 1876. His birth place was New Rumley, Harrison county, Ohio, near the Pennsylvania line. The scene where his death occurred was on the banks of the Little Big Horn river in Montana. His ashes rest at West Point New York, the site of the Military school where he was taught the art of war and trained in the profession of arms; and where so many officers were educated who brought distinction to the name of the Ameri- can soldier. His parentage was humble, and the place in which he first saw the light is so obscure that it is seen on but few maps. After receiv- ing a common school education, such as could be obtained in the limited educational facilities of the little rural hamlet where he was born, he came with relatives to Monroe, where he was placed in a select boys and young men's academy, under the instruction of Professor Alfred Steh- bins, the principal. The superior facilities of this school and the greatly improved social environments produced a most favorable effect upon the formation of his character. After remaining here about two years, he returned to Ohio and engaged in teaching school, but the yearnings of his ambitious nature for a more eventful life would not permit him to remain here contented, and he is next seen with an appointment from the Congressman for the district, in which he goes to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He entered that institution on the first of July, 1857, and graduated on the 24th of June. 1861, with what was considered one of the best classes that ever left the academy. Im- mediately upon leaving West Point, he was appointed second lieutenant in Company G, Second United States Cavalry, a regiment formerly com- manded by Robert E. Lee. He reported to Lieutenant-General Scott on the 20th of July, the day before the battle of Bull Run, and was at once assigned to duty with his regiment, then under the command of General McDowell. After riding all night through a country filled with people who were, to say the least, not friendly, he reached MeDowell's head- quarters at daybreak on the morning of the 21st. Preparations for the battle had already begun, and, after delivering the dispatches which he bore from General Scott, and taking a hasty lunch, he joined his company. It is not necessary to recount here the disasters of the en- gagement which followed. Suffice it to say, Lieutenant Custer's com-
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pany was among the last to leave the field. It did so in good order, bringing off General Heintzelman, who had been wounded in the battle. The young officer continued to serve with his company, and was engaged in drilling volunteer recruits in and about the defenses of Washington, when, upon the appointment of Phil. Kearney to the position of Briga- dier-General, that lamented officer appointed him as one of his staff. Custer continued in this position until an order was issued from the War Department prohibiting Generals of volunteers from appointing officers of the regular army to staff duty. He then returned to his company, after being warmly complimented by General Kearney upon the prompt and efficient manner in which he had performed the duties assigned him. The General then predicted that Custer would prove one of the most successful officers in the army ; nor were these predictions without a speedy realization. With his company, Lieutenant Custer marched forward with that part of the Army of the Potomac which moved upon Manassas after its evacuation by the Confederates. Our cavalry was in advance under General Stoneman, and encountered the Confederate horsemen, for the first time, near Catlett's Station. The commanding officer made a call for volunteers to charge the enemy's advance post ; Lieutenant Custer was among the first to step to the front, and, in com- mand of his company, he shortly afterwards made his first charge. The enemy did not wait to receive them, but crossed the bridge over Cedar Run, burning the bridge as soon as they had crossed. A few shots were exchanged on the banks, and one of our men was wounded. This was the first blood shed in the campaign under Mcclellan. After this, Custer went with the Army of the Potomac to the Peninsula, and re- mained with his company until the army settled down before York- town, when he was detailed as an assistant engineer of the left wing under Sumner. Acting in this capacity, he planned and erected the earthworks nearest the enemy's lines. He also accompanied the advance under General Hancock in pursuit of the enemy from Yorktown. Shortly afterwards, he captured the first battle-flag ever taken by the Army of the Potomac. From this time forward, he was nearly first in every work of daring. When the army reached the Chickahominy, he was the first man to cross the river; he did so in the midst of the whistling bullets from the enemy's pickets, leading Company A, 4th Michigan Infantry, wading sometimes through deep water. For this brave act, General McClellan promoted him to a Captaincy, and made him one of his personal aids. In this capacity he served during most of the Peninsular campaign, and participated in all its battles, including the seven days' fight. He performed the duty of marking out the position occupied by the Union army at the battle of Gaines' Mills. He also took part in the campaign which ended in the battles of South Mountain and Antie- tam. Upon the retirement of General McClellan from the command of the Army of the Potomac, Custer accompanied him, and for a time was out of active service. He was next engaged in the battle of Chancellors- ville; and, immediately after the fight, was made a personal aid by General Pleasonton, who was then commanding a division of cavalry. Serving in this capacity, he took an active part in a number of hotly contested engagements; and, through them all, bore himself with the same fearlessness and gallantry that marked him as the most dashing officer in the service. When Pleasonton was made Major-General, his first pleasure was to remember the valuable services of his Aid-de-camp. He requested the appointment of four Brigadiers under him ; and, upon his recommendation, indorsed by Generals Meade and Hooker, young Custer was made a Brigadier-General, and was assigned to the command of the 1st, 5th, 6th and 7th Michigan Cavalry, constituting the famous
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Michigan Brigade. He did noble service at the battle of Gettysburg. He held the right of the line, and was obliged to face Hampton's cav- alry division; after a hotly contested fight, he utterly routed the Con- federates, and prevented them from reaching the trains of the Union army, which they had hoped to capture. Custer had two horses shot under him in this encounter. Hardly had the battle commenced, when he was sent to attack the enemy's train, which was trying to force its way to the Potomac. He destroyed more than four hundred wagons. At Hagerstown, Maryland, during a severe engagement, he had another horse shot under him. At Falling Water, shortly after, he attacked with his small command the entire Confederate rear guard. The Con- federate commander, General Pettigrew, was killed, and his command routed, with a loss of thirteen hundred prisoners, two pieces of cannon, and four battle-flags. For some time after this victory, General Custer was constantly engaged in skirmishing with the enemy; and, during the winter which followed, in picketing the Rapidan between the two armies. He participated in the battle of the Wilderness in 1864; and on the 9th of May of the same year, under General Sheridan, he set out on the famous raid towards Richmond. His brigade led the column, captured Beaver Dam, burned the station with a train loaded with sup- plies, and released four hundred Union prisoners. At Ashland more supplies were destroyed and more prisoners released. On the Brooks pike, the cavalry encountered General J. E. B. Stuart and his famous cavalry, who gallantly tried to check the advance, but without avail. General Stuart was here killed by one of Custer's men; after his fall, the enemy gave way, and a complete rout followed. Rejoining Grant's army on the Pamunkey, General Custer was prominent in the battle of Cold Harbor, the close of which was marked by Sheridan's second raid; but in these and in several other engagements, Custer had no oppor- tunity for the display of his peculiar talents, save at Beaver Dam, al- ready mentioned. After the battle of Fisher's Hill, in which he did most important service, he was placed in command of a division, and remained in that position until after Lee's surrender. At the ever memorable battle of Cedar Creek, his division was on the right, and not engaged in the rout of the morning, so that when Sheridan arrived on the ground, after his ride of twenty miles, he found at least one com- mand ready for service. His immediate order was, "Go in, Custer!" The brave young General waited for no further word; he went in, and came not out until the enemy was driven several miles beyond the battle- field. Nearly one thousand prisoners were captured, among them a Major-General; forty-five pieces of artillery were also taken, with sev- eral battle-flags. For this service, Custer was made a brevet Major- General of Volunteers. Sheridan, as a further mark of approbation, detailed him to carry the news of the victory, and the captured battle- flags, to Washington. From this time forward, he continued to steadily advance in the esteem of his superiors and the American people.
When the Confederates fell back to Appomattox, Custer had the ad- vance of Sheridan's command ; his share of the action is well described in a volume entitled "With Sheridan in His Last Campaign." The book in question says : "When the sun was an hour high in the west, ener- getic Custer, in advance, spied the depot and four heavy trains of freight cars; he quickly ordered his leading regiment to circle out to the left through the woods, and, as they gained the railroad beyond the station, he led the rest of his divison pell-mell down the road and enveloped the train as quick as winking." In short, it can be said of General Custer, that he was in every engagement fought by the Army of the Potomac, from the first battle of Bull Run to the surrender of General Lee. His
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career forms a part of the history of the late civil war. Wherever the cavalry was engaged, there was General Custer to be found with his glorious command. Not only was he in all the general engagements, but he was a leading spirit in all the numerous cavalry fights which preceded or followed the great battles. It was his cavalry which scoured the country in advance of the army, driving the enemy into some strong- hold whence they gave battle. It was the cavalry which attacked the Confederates' flank and rear, during those battles; and it was the cav- alry that pursued them on their retreat, capturing their trains of sup- plies and ammunition, and bringing in thousands of prisoners. In all these scenes, the youthful figure of Custer, the youngest General in the army, was always to be seen in the thickest of the fight, taking the brunt of the danger, and directing his command with that skill and success which only comes of and from genius. Personally, he knew no fear-it was always his choice to lead. not to follow, his men; and never to ask them to ineur any danger which he would himself avoid. No officer exercised greater care over his men than did General Custer. In the field he exacted severe duty of them, but they gave it cheerfully, knowing that they could trust him implicitly. Their love for him amounted to intense enthusiasm. It was that hero worship which Americans so willingly accord to successful men.
At the close of the war General Custer was on duty in Texas and Kentucky. He was mustered out of the volunteer service, February 1, 1866, and was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the 7th United States Cavalry, in July, 1866. In 1867, he was ordered, with his regiment, to the plains, and partiepated, with General Hancock, in his expedition against the Indians. He was, during nearly the whole of the period from this time until his last ill-fated expedition, on frontier duty. It was in the discharge of his important duties on the western plains that his services were of the most distinguished character. No man in or out of the army was more directly instrumental in promoting the open- ing and peopling the Great West, when this service was most needed than Custer. In 1873 he was second in command of the Yellowstone expedition, under General Stanley. He subsequently made explora- tions of the Black Hills, and brought back the first authentic reports of the mineral wealth of that hitherto unexplored region. In the expedi- tion organized under the command of Brigadier-General Terry against the Indians, General Custer commanded the 7th Cavalry, which was the advance; and it was while engaged in this expedition that he met his death, June 25, 1876. General Custer cared little for politics and took no part therein, except as a delegate to the Philadelphia Convention in 1866, and to the Soldier's Convention at Cleveland.
In 1864 General Custer married Miss Elizabeth Bacon, only daughter of Hon. Daniel S. Bacon, of Monroe, Michigan. During every campaign thereafter she accompanied her gallant husband, sharing the dangers and discomforts with him and his command. To omit from General Custer's record an emphatic commendation of him as a man, and a genial, warm-hearted friend, would leave untold some of his most strongly marked characteristics. Under the garb of the soldier, and the sometimes austere exterior, there beat the warmest of hearts, and existed the most affectionate of natures. The circle of friends to whom he revealed these gentler qualities was not large; but, even beyond that, he was loved and admired for what he was, and was respected and es- teemed for his achievements. In the field of literature, into which he ventured with the same energy and spirit that characterized his military life, he also won success; and, but for the untimely close of his career, would unquestionably here also have attained distinction. To live in
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history is the fondest dream of the soldier. What are a few years, more or less, of this life, in comparison with enduring fame? The name of Custer is now enrolled with those to be remembered. The peculiarly tragic incidents of his death; the desperate courage which put him and so many of his relations at the head of the assailing troops; the merciless slaughter which closed the scene,-all these may survive in narrative and tradition the removal of the last of the "Redskins" from the face of the earth. The gallant bravery, the spirit, and the patriotism of Custer commended him to public favor; and it is not in the heart of the American people soon to forget those whose blood has been shed in their name.
After many years, since the fearful tragedy of the Little Big Horn, it is gratifying to read the testimony as to his strict performance of duty by General Custer, calmly and forcefully given by such eminent military officers as General Winfield Scott Hancock, and General William Tecumseh Sherman, of the United States Army, themselves familiar with the naked facts and of the circumstances of this fatal engagement, and after a personal visit to the scene which was given out by them, "that Custer's procedure was unavoidable by the law of war, and wholly justified by the situation in which he found himself. The sol- dier's duty, when he meets the enemy is to fight, and from this duty General Custer was never known to shrink."
To the failure of Major Reno and Captain Benteen, in command of the larger portion of the military force to promptly co-operate with Custer, and fly with their commands to his relief as they were ordered to do, lies the solution of this disaster. They remained, passively many miles away in safety, while their comrades, outnumbered five to one by the bloodthirsty, ferocious Sioux fell by the score beneath the tom- ahawk, rifle and the scalping knife-not one of that gallant band re- maining alive.
DOING HONOR TO MONROE'S HERO
Saturday, June 4th, 1910, was a red-letter day in the annals of Mon- roe. While many public occasions and events in the past have been of such a character as to bring the city prominently into close range of public notice, and to enable its citizens each time to add to their gen- erally accorded fame as generous and appreciative hosts, and their ability to conduct public ceremonious events, with becoming dignity and honor, it remained for them to add the crowning wreath of glory and credit, on the notable occasion of dedicating and unveiling of the magnificent bronze equestrian statue which the State of Michigan had erected here to the memory and achievements of her renowned soldier, Major-Gen- eral George Armstrong Custer. It was a graceful and just tribute to a distinguished and remarkable man, and the state, in paying it, added lustre to her own glory as a patriotic and grateful commonwealth, which commanded universal appreciation and praise.
A monument is an outward memory. It is the concrete, objective ex- pression of admiration and reverence. It is a solid, silent, enduring, yet eloquent tongue speaking to all peoples in every language, and under- stood by all. It condenses the eulogies of a nation. The more beautiful it is, the more fitting a mouthpiece it is felt to be. General Custer lost his life, in one of the bravest of all causes,-the conscientious soldier's devotion to duty. So the people of the great state of Michigan, and of the beautiful and historie city of Monroe, which the General loved to call his home, on that eventful June day in 1910, erected this memorial to perpetuate the memory of his gallantry and loyalty by perpetuating the expression of their own appreciation.
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The history of the movement to thus honor one of her bravest and most distinguished sons is of interest and deserves to be preserved. It had its inception in Monroe, in 1876, the year in which the tragedy occurred in the Little Big Horn valley which brought to a sudden ter- mination the brilliant career of the gallant Custer. An association was formed by the citizens of Monroe, to undertake the erection of a suit- able memorial to be national in its character. This was called the Custer National Monument Association, and was organized by the election at a public meeting, of the following officers: Lieut .- Gen. Philip H. Sheri- dan, U. S. A., president.
Vice-presidents : Honorable T. W. Ferry,* vice-president, United States; Honorable John J. Bagley,# governor of Michigan; Honorable I. P. Christiancy,* United States senator, Michigan; General A. S. Wil- liams, * member of Congress, Michigan ; General W. T. Sherman,* United States, America ; General Geo. B. McClellan,* United States, America; General A. J. Pleasanton,* United States, America; General R. A. Alger,* Michigan; General James B. Steedman,* Ohio; General Leslie Combs,* Kentucky; Governor Beveridge, Illinois; Governor Luding- ton,* Wisconsin; Governor R. B. Hayes,* Ohio; Governor McCreery,* Kentucky; Governor S. J. Tilden,* New York; Governor Hartranft,* Pennsylvania ; James Gordon Bennett, New York; Ex-Governor R. Mc- Clelland,* Michigan ; Honorable J. Sterling Morton,* Nebraska ; Honor- able B. H. Bristow,* Kentucky ; Honorable Marshall Jewell,* Connecti- cut ; Honorable W. E. Dodge,* New York; Honorable W. C. Bryant,* New York ; Honorable Chas. F. Adams, * Massachusetts; Richard Henry Lee,* Virginia; President Chadbourne, Williams College, Massachu- setts ; James Armitage,* H. M. Mixer,* F. Walldorf,* Professor E. J. Boyd,* Honorable D. A. Noble,* E. S. Sill,* M. Paulding,* I. E. Ilgen- fritz,* Gouv. Morris,* J. L. C. Godfroy* and John Wahl,* Monroe, Mich- igan ; Col. C. C. Jackson,* pay director U. S. N.
Executive committee: Honorable Edwin Willits,* Honorable C. G. Johnson,* W. H. Boyd,* J. M. Sterling,* J. P. Hogarth,* Colonel I. R. Grosvernor,* Thomas Doyle,* M. D. Hamilton,* J. R. Rauch,* Major S. W. Curtiss,* Doctor A. I. Sawyer,* H. Shaw Noble,* J. B. Newton,* Henry T. Cole, W. A. Noble* and Doctor C. T. Southworth, Monroe, Michigan ; Honorable I. P. Christiancy,* United States senator ; Honor- able T. W. Ferry,* United States senator ; General A. S. Williams* and General R. A. Alger,* Detroit, Michigan; General W. Withington,* Jackson, Michigan; Colonel Raymond,* Bay City, Michigan ; Honorable J. Sterling,* Minton, Nebraska; Benjaman Vernor,* and Emory Wen- dell, Detroit, Michigan; C. L. Blood,* Three Rivers, Michigan; Honor- able Potter Palmer,* Chicago, Illinois; James Gordon Bennett,* New York; L. H. Randall,* Grand Rapids, Michigan ; W. B. McCreery,* Flint, Michigan; General J. B. Steedman,* Toledo, Ohio; Honorable S. S. Walker,* St. Johns, Michigan; Honorable L. D. Dibble,* Battle Creek, Michigan ; Honorable J. Hilton Scribner, New York; Honorable W. H. Waldby,* Adrian, Michigan ; Honorable S. M. Seeley,* Coldwater, Michi- gan ; Honorable William Wood,* Kalamazoo, Michigan ; Honorable Peter White,* Marquette, Michigan ; Colonel S. L. Matthews,* Pontiac, Mich- igan.
Treasurer : T. E. Wing,* cashier First National Bank, Monroe.
Secretaries : J. M. Bulkley, H. A. Conant, R. E. Phinney,* Monroe. Recording Secretary : Major J. G. McBride.
In the same year another movement for a monument to General Custer was started by James Gordon Bennett of the New York Herald. In a few months the funds of the two organizations were united and the sum thus raised was appropriated to erect a monument at West Point
* Of this long list of names, of prominent men, but five are now living.
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a granite pedestal was unveiled on Aug. 29th, 1879. The pedestal of Military Academy, which was accomplished, and a bronze statue upon this monument now marks the spot where were interred the remains of General Custer in the military burial ground at the Point. The first proposal, thirty years later, to erect a statue in Monroe, it is believed originated in the Board of Commerce, of Monroe, contemporaneously with the Third Michigan Cavalry Brigade, and met with a general and hearty response in Monroe and elsewhere. An organization, called the Michigan Custer Memorial Association, was effected and started in motion the machinery which most effectively prosecuted the work. This association in 1910 was composed as follows :
Lieut. F. A. Nims, president; John M. Bulkley, vice-president; Chas. E. Greening, secretary.
Committee : Honorable J. C. Burrows, Kalamazoo; Honorable Wm. Alden Smith, Grand Rapids; Honorable Chas. E. Townsend, Jackson; Honorable James B. Angel, Ann Harbor; Honorable Flagget Trabbic, Erie; General C. W. Harrah, Detroit; General Wm. G. McGurrin. Grand Rapids; Right Reverend John S. Foley, D. D., Detroit; Honorable James V. Barry, Lansing; Honorable H. A. Conant, Reverend M. J. Crowley, F. C. Deinzer, Honorable Burton Parker, John M. Bulkley, Lieutenant F. A. Nims, Captain Irving S. Harrington, Mayor Jacob Martin, A. B. Bragdon, Charles Hoyt, F. G. Strong, Ald. H. C. Orvis, Mrs. W. Van Miller, Mrs. J. J. Hubble, Miss Jenny Sawyer, Monroe.
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