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George Armstrong Custer Facts

George Armstrong Custer Facts
George Custer was an important nineteenth century American military officer who fought in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Custer was known for being a brash and charismatic cavalry commander who was often willing to take great risks, which many times paid off in impressive battlefield victories. Custer is best known, though, for being on the losing end of the Battle of Little Bighorn on June 25-26, 1876 in what is now the state of Montana. Custer lost his life in that battle, which became known as "Custer's Last Stand," but in many ways the controversy and legend of his life was born. Custer was born George Armstrong Custer in New Rumley, Ohio on December 5, 1839 to Emanuel and Marie Custer. He grew up primarily in Michigan and attended the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, graduating last in his class in 1861. Despite his poor academic performance, the Civil War allowed him to enter the Army as an officer in the 2nd U.S. Cavalry Regiment.
Interesting George Armstrong Custer Facts:
Custer's family often referred to him as "Autie." The name was the result of George being unable to pronounce his middle name when he was a child.
Custer married Elizabeth "Libbie" Bacon in 1864. The couple had no children.
Custer came to the attention of the Union high command when he led several successful engagements during the Peninsula Campaign in 1862.
Custer was promoted to major general of the U.S. volunteers in 1863.
Although he is often portrayed as reckless, Custer's troops generally respected him because he led from the front and was not afraid to lead his troops in deadly charges.
He commanded the 7th Michigan Cavalry at the Battle of Gettysburg, shouting "Come on, you Wolverines!" as he led the charge.
It is alleged that Custer could not have children because he was sterile as the result of a venereal disease he contracted while in college, although this has never been confirmed.
After the war, Custer traveled and considered entering politics, but he accepted the position of lieutenant colonel of the 7th Cavalry Regiment in the western territories.
The events that led to the Battle of Little Bighorn began when gold was discovered in the Black Hills of Dakota Territory in 1873. Custer was then tasked with removing the Lakota and their allies from the region in 1876.
Custer was killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn, although the details of his death remain somewhat of a mystery. He was shot twice, but it is unknown if he was captured first. The cavalry column that arrived at the battle site two days later buried Custer in a shallow grave. His body was retrieved a year later and reinterred at West Point cemetery.
Custer's brother Tom served and died with him at Little Bighorn.
Another allegation is that Custer Mo-nah-se-tah, the daughter of a Cheyenne chief, in an Indian ceremony in late 1868. It is also alleged that Mo-nah-se-tah gave birth to Custer's child in 1869, although this cannot be confirmed.
Custer promoted his own legend during his lifetime by giving numerous interviews to the press and writing a book titled My Life on the Plains, which was published in 1874.


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