Both the American Civil War and the American Indian Wars were waged by ‘US Army’ officer George Armstrong Custer. He was raised in both Ohio and Michigan after being born into a farming family in Ohio. He enrolled in the “United States Military Academy” after graduating from high school. Throughout the Civil War, he amassed a sizable following and a solid reputation as a military leader. Since the First Battle of Bull Run, George had served under a variety of commanders and gained experience in military operations, which he used to his advantage once he had his own cavalry. During the battles of Gettysburg and Culpeper Court House, he rose to fame by obliterating his adversaries. He was promoted to major general in 1864. Then, he was in his mid-20s. Despite the many conflicts he engaged in throughout his life, he is best remembered for the Battle of the Little Bighorn, when he bravely gave his life while fighting. In what was previously known as a suicide expedition, he attacked the Native Americans and perished. Since then, the US government has recognized him by renaming several counties and municipalities in his name.
Early Childhood & Life
On December 5, 1839, George Armstrong Custer was born into a middle-class family in New Rumley, Ohio. Emanuel Henry Custer, his father, was a farmer and a blacksmith. Marie Ward Kirkpatrick, his mother, was a housewife. George had four younger siblings and was the family’s eldest child. In addition, he shared his father with three half-siblings from a prior union.
George was brought up to be a fervent democrat. The family’s other children were all brought up to be resilient people as well. George owed a lot of his amazing bravery to his stern father, who had raised him from a young age.
In Michigan, one of George’s half-sisters was wed to a successful businessman. At his sister’s home in Michigan, George attended school for the majority of those years. He was a student at “McNeely Normal School.” George worked a variety of odd jobs to acquire enough money to pay for his studies, such as lugging coal.
George graduated from high school and immediately went into teaching. He then considered enrolling in the “United States Military Academy.” He lacked the credentials required to enroll in the military academy because he was a teacher at a grammar school.
A lawmaker he met saw to it that he was admitted to the academy. George enrolled in the military academy in 1857, but once the ‘Civil War’ started in 1861, the program’s length was reduced to four years. On the list of graduates, he was the last.
Many of his classmates afterward remarked that they believed George was the very last individual to be able to earn a degree from the institution. He lacked discipline, was uninterested, and was sluggish. Additionally, he was nearly ejected several times. However, because so many academy students had already left, the government required trained soldiers on the front lines. George was therefore permitted to graduate.
Military Service of George Armstrong Custer
George first experienced battle in July 1861 while serving as a second lieutenant at the renowned Battle of Bull Run. He was tasked with relaying information between top officers. Major General George B. McClellan, a leader of the “Union Army,” praised him for showing great bravery and presence of mind.
George established relationships with several commanders as a result of his appointment to work closely with several senior officers. As a result, he was promoted. At the youthful age of 23, he was promoted to brigadier general of US volunteers. Four battalions from his native state of Michigan made up the ‘Michigan Cavalry Brigade,’ which he was to command.
He established himself over the course of the following several years as a highly effective military commander, earning the moniker “Boy General” in recognition of his youth. He rose to fame by commanding his cavalry in the epic battles of Yellow Tavern and Gettysburg. His actions on the battlefield were praised in articles published by media outlets including the “New York Tribune,” which also asserted that he will go down in history as a “first-class hero.”
When the ‘Civil War’ was over, he received the incredibly coveted position of major general. One of the significant events that signaled the end of the Civil War in 1865 was the capture of “Confederate Army” General Robert E. Lee by his cavalries.
He received a number of distinctions. The desk where the peace treaty was signed was given to him. General Philip Sheridan wrote George’s wife a letter of congratulations. George, in the opinion of General Sheridan, was instrumental in ending the war.
George considered leaving the service soon after the war was done and made the decision to start his own business. He considered going into politics as well. The American army was being attacked by Indians at this period, causing problems on the western front.
To face off against the Native American forces in the west, the “7th Cavalry Regiment” was formed. George was promoted to lieutenant colonel and assigned to command the army during the conflict. Late in 1866, he arrived in Kansas. He had already begun carrying out assaults on the Indians by the spring of 1867. He oversaw multiple assaults against the Sioux and Cheyenne clans, which were the American forces’ main adversaries.
His adversaries brutally massacred his cavalry units. This had negative effects since numerous troops alleged that George had abandoned his army after losing. He was also investigated for going to see his wife in the midst of the conflict. He also had to appear in a court martial. By the end of 1868, nevertheless, he had returned, and Phil Sheridan himself had argued that the army required him.
George led numerous assaults on the Indians over the following few years while engaging in valiant combat. His wartime stories were published in a number of media outlets. He was rumored to have nearly escaped multiple deadly blows during the fights. As a result, the phrase “Custer’s Luck” was created.
But in 1876, at the famed Battle of the Little Bighorn, his luck ran out. In June, the US government gave the order to assault the Cheyenne and Lakota tribes. The idea was to simultaneously attack and subdue the tribes from three directions with three American cavalries. George, however, misinterpreted the warning and attacked the tribes more quickly. His cavalry suffered a severe loss because of the lack of adequate backup.
With only 210 soldiers, George ordered a brutal assault on a sizable Indian town on June 25. This operation was essentially a suicide mission. The “Sitting Bull” warrior and chief of the Indian tribe was well-known and feared. His peace deal at Bighorn had already been rejected by the American administration, which was his fault. Attacked, encircled, and murdered were George’s troops. In the assault, George and two of his brothers perished.
Individual Life of George Armstrong Custer
Elizabeth Bacon was George’s wife, and he remained faithful to her throughout his life. When George was gone fighting battles, they would write each other long, impassioned letters to show how completely dedicated they were to one another.
He had a reputation for being dramatic. He was well known for paying close attention to his looks and using scented oil to keep his golden hair and his magnificent mustache in top condition.
He passed away when he was 36 years old. Elizabeth, his wife, wrote extensively about his bravery and their marriage after he passed away.
Legacy of George Armstrong Custer
He has several counties named after him in the six American states of Oklahoma, Colorado, Idaho, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Montana. A number of municipalities have also been given his name.
Net Worth of George Armstrong Custer
The estimated net worth of George Armstrong Custer is around $1 million.