The Elk County Advocate

A Pen Picture of Gen. Custer.

Gen. Custer was brave, even to recklessness, as the manner of his death showed. He was a bold, dashing officer, who did not know what fear and not always what discretion, was. His success was a rule without exception, and his progress an advance almost without pauses. He was the youngest Brigadier and the youngest Major General in the army. "He never lost a gun or a color," and "captured more guns, flags, and prisoners than any other general not an army commander," and these guns and flags "were all taken in action and field service." His personal appearance was singular. Col. Newhall, who wrote "With Sheridan in Lee's Campaign," described him thus: "Custer of the golden locks, his broad sombrero turned up from his hard bronzed face, the ends of his crimson cravat floating over his shoulders, gold galore spangling his jacket sleeves, a pistol in his boot, jangling spurs on his heels, and a ponderous claymore swinging at his side, a wild dare-devil of a general, and a prince of advance guards, quick to see and act." While he fought brilliantly and bravely, he does not seem to have been a soldier capable of real generalship. As a subordinate working under sympathetic direction he did his best. He died as he lived—fighting his hardest and at the head of his men.