History Contest - G. A. Custer
I met my husband at a dance. After a few dances we sat down to talk and he told me all about the conspiracy to steal Abraham Lincoln's body in 1876. How the grave robbers were thwarted and what Lincoln's body looked like when they opened his coffin to make sure he was still in there – that some of his skin had turned copper, like the copper penny that bears his likeness.
I remember thinking it was a fascinating story and at the same time wondering, “Do you use this line with all the girls? Pretty weird, dude.” But it worked for this girl and a short time later we were married.
I love history, we both do, and over the years I've learned more about the Civil War and the Indian Wars than anyone probably needs to know. My husband is a huge Custer fan and I've learned a lot about him too. Here are some lesser-known facts about the "Boy General".
This post is my entry to @deliberator's contest on hidden history. (https://steemit.com/conspiracy/@deliberator/winner-pay-it-foward-time-with-a-vote-for-life-for-you-x-10-winners)
#1 Custer was a Civil War hero
After Lee's surrender to Grant the desk used for the signing of the documents was purchased by General Philip Sheridan who then gave it to Custer's wife with a note:
Permit me to say, Madam, that there is scarcely an individual in our service who has contributed more to bring about this desirable result than your gallant husband.
He had 11 horses shot from under him during the Civil War and escaped harm so often that the term “Custer's Luck” became well known.
#2 “Little Big Man” got it wrong
At the Battle of The Little Big Horn Custer didn't wear his Major General's uniform, as is often depicted, instead he wore a plain buckskin jacket. His locks weren't 'long and flowing', he'd had his hair cropped short before the battle.
Far from hating the Native Americans, Custer respected them and did what was in his power to protect them. (see #3) The character assigned to him in the movie is actually that of Col. John Chivington, the man responsible for the Sand Creek Massacre. His well-known quote:
Damn any man who sympathizes with Indians! ... I have come to kill Indians, and believe it is right and honorable to use any means under God's heaven to kill Indians. ... Kill and scalp all, big and little; nits make lice.
#3 Custer's honesty gets him in trouble with President Grant
President Grant's administration was rife with scandal and corruption. One notable one was the Trading Post Scandal where his Secretary of War, William Belknap sold the rights to trade with the Indians and received kickbacks from the traders. Custer was involved with setting up trading posts in the Black Hills and was aware of this.
It angered him that the traders were cheating the Indians and prospering themselves by it. He wrote anonymous articles for newspapers and testified before Congress during their investigation. He publicly implicated Orvil Grant, president Grant's brother, in the scandal. For this Grant never forgave him and stripped him of his command. It was only with the support of several generals who admired Custer (Alfred Terry, Philip Sheridan, and William Sherman) that Grant reluctantly allowed Custer retake command the 7th Cavalry.
Photo credits https://en.wikipedia.org
There are many good books and articles taken from contemporary accounts that show Custer was a brave and honorable soldier, not the Indian-hating 'glory hunter' as he is depicted in modern times. It is similar to how people think of Napoleon Bonaparte as a short crazy man, when in fact he was of normal height for his time and because crazy people thought they were Napoleon!