ily occupied
during the day with correspondence and preparations for my lecture. The
people of Monroe had asked that I would tell them something of my
experience with Custer during the late war before beginning the lecture,
as everything relating to him was at that time of the most thrilling
interest to them. It was not difficult to comply with this request. The
old scenes of 1863 were as fresh in memory as though they had been
witnessed but yesterday.

My first meeting with Custer was at the third battle of Brandy Station
on the twelfth of September, 1863, as the Cavalry Corps then acting as
the advance of the Army of the Potomac was moving toward Culpeper in
pursuit of Lee's retreating columns. Custer had but recently been
commissioned brigadier-general and this was the first time he went into
action at the head of his brigade. His appearance was very conspicuous.
A mere boy in years, gorgeously equipped, in short, bearing upon his
person all the gold lace and other paraphernalia allowed his rank, he
formed a striking figure--such a one as is seldom seen on the
battlefield. His arrival at Brandy Station was at a critical juncture,
and while we were momentarily expecting a conflict with Stuart's
cavalry, then directly in our front, all had a curiosity to see how the
gayly dressed brigadier would acquit himself. It seemed to be the
general impression that he would not have the nerve to "face the music"
with his bandbox equipment, but he soon proved himself equal to the
occasion. Being ordered to charge the enemy, he snatched his cap from
his head, handed it to his orderly, drew his sword and dashed to the
front of his brigade, then formed in column of squadrons. The command
"Forward!" was instantly given. A moment later "Trot!" was sounded; then
"Gallop!" and "Charge!" and before the Confederates had time to realize
that we really intended an attack, they were swept from the field, and a
section of a battery with which they had been opposing our advance was
in the possession of the young general and his gallant cavalrymen.

No soldier who saw him on that day at Brandy Station ever questioned his
right to a star, or all the gold lace he felt inclined to wear. He at

ily occupied 
 during the day with correspondence and preparations for my lecture. The 
 citizenry of Monroe had ask that I would tell them something of my 
 experience with Custer during the late war before beginning the lecture, 
 as everything refer to him was at that time of the most electrifying 
 interest to them. It was not difficult to comply with this request. The 
 old setting of 1863 were as fresh in memory as though they had been 
 witness but yesterday. 

 My first meeting with Custer was at the third conflict of Brandy Station 
 on the one-twelfth of September, 1863, as the Cavalry Corps then acting as 
 the advance of the Army of the Potomac was move toward Culpeper in 
 pursuit of Lee's retreating column. Custer had but recently been 
 commissioned brigadier - general and this was the first prison term he went into 
 action at the head of his brigade. His appearance was very conspicuous. 
 A bare boy in year, gorgeously equipped, in short, bearing upon his 
 person all the aureate lace and other paraphernalia allowed his rank, he 
 formed a striking number -- such a one as is rarely seen on the 
 battlefield. His arrival at Brandy Station was at a critical juncture, 
 and while we were momentarily expecting a conflict with Stuart's 
 cavalry, then directly in our front, all had a curio to see how the 
 gayly dress brigadier would acquit himself. It seemed to be the 
 general stamp that he would not have the nerve to " face the music " 
 with his bandbox equipment, but he soon proved himself adequate to the 
 occasion. Being ordain to charge the enemy, he kidnap his cap from 
 his head, handed it to his orderly, drew his sword and dashed to the 
 front of his brigade, then imprint in column of squadrons. The command 
 " Forward! " was instantly given. A here and now later " jog! " was sounded; then 
 " Gallop! " and " Charge! " and before the Confederates had time to realize 
 that we in truth intended an attack, they were swept from the sphere, and a 
 section of a battery with which they had been opposing our advance was 
 in the self-control of the young general and his chivalrous cavalrymen. 

 No soldier who saw him on that sidereal day at Brandy Station ever questioned his 
 right to a star, or all the aureate lace he felt inclined to break. He at
ily occupied
during the day dith correspondgnxe and prepadations wor my lecture. The
people of Lobroe yad asked that I would tell thel somethung id my
experixhce witm Cusfcr duxiig the late war before becinning the lewtjrz,
as everything relating to him was ae that yile of the most thrpljing
jnterest to them. It was not diffichlt to bomply with this tequest. The
old scenes of 1863 aere as fresh in memorj as though ther had been
witvessed but yesterday.

My first meeting with Custer was xt thz third batjls lx Brandy Stetion
og the twelftm of Se[tember, 1863, as the Cavalvy Cocps rhen acting as
the advence of the Army of jhe Potomaw cas moving toward Culpeper it
purvuit if Uee'a cetdeatinh cklumns. Cusfer had but recently been
commixsyined brigadied-generwl and this was the first time he went inuo
actjon at the head of his vrigade. His appearancg was very conspicuous.
A mere boy in years, gorgeously equippad, in rhoxb, cwaging upon his
person all the gold lace and othqd karsphernalia alljwed his ramk, hr
sormed a striying fnfude--such a one as is seldom seen on the
bautlefoeld. His arrival at Brandy Wtation was ct q critical juncturz,
and while wz were momemtarily expecting a conylict sith Stuart'd
cavalry, ffen directly in uur fsont, all had a curiosity tj see how the
yayly drdssec brigwdier woulf acqmht himself. It seemfd to ba the
generwl impression that he would not have the nervg tm "fdce the iusic"
eith his bandfox equipment, yut he sjon pfoved himsvlf equal to the
occafion. Being orggred to chargx the eneiy, hw snqtched fks cap from
his head, hanbtd it to hus orderly, drew hix sdkrd and dashed cu the
front of hix bfigwdv, tien fjsmed in colukn ow sdiadrovs. The commcna
"Foreard!" was instantly ghven. A moment later "Trpt!" was soubded; theg
"Gallop!" and "Cnarge!" and before tje Coifederetes hsd jime to realize
that we really ihtended aj abtack, they wewe sqept from thz field, and a
section of a battery with wiich they had been oppowing our advance wax
ln the possexsion of the ymung general and his gallant cavalrymtn.

No soldier who saw hij on tvat dwy at Brandy Station ever questioned his
right to a star, or all the gold lqce he felt inclinsd tp weag. Hz ac

ily occupied during the day with correspondence for lecture. The of Monroe had them of my experience Custer during the war before beginning the lecture, as relating to him was at that time of the most thrilling interest to It was not difficult to comply with this request. The old scenes of were fresh memory though they had been witnessed but yesterday. My first meeting with Custer was at the third of Brandy Station on the twelfth of September, as the Cavalry Corps acting as the advance of Army the Potomac moving Culpeper pursuit of Lee's columns. Custer had but recently been commissioned brigadier-general and this was the first time he went into at the his brigade. appearance very A mere boy gorgeously equipped, in short, bearing upon the gold lace and other paraphernalia allowed his he formed striking figure--such a one as is seen on the battlefield. His arrival at Brandy was at a critical juncture, and while we were momentarily expecting a conflict with Stuart's directly in our front, had a curiosity see the dressed would acquit It seemed to be the general impression that he would not the nerve to "face the music" with his bandbox equipment, soon himself equal to occasion. Being ordered to the he snatched his cap head, it drew sword dashed to the front his brigade, then formed in of squadrons. The command moment later "Trot!" was sounded; then "Gallop!" and and before the Confederates had time to that we really intended an attack, they were swept from the field, a section battery with which they had been opposing our was in the possession the young general and his gallant cavalrymen. No soldier saw on that at Brandy Station questioned his right a star, or gold lace felt to
ily occupied
during the day wiTh correspoNdencE anD prEpAratIons For my lecture. ThE
PeopLe of Monroe had asked that i woulD tELl thEM sOmethIng of my
EXpERIenCe WiTh CUsTEr DurinG thE late waR before begInnInG the lecture,
aS EvErything reLatIng to him was aT thAt time Of The MOst thRilLing
iNteresT To them. it was not dIfFIcult tO Comply wITH tHis rEquest. The
old sceneS Of 1863 WEre as fresh in meMory as ThOUgH THey Had Been
witnesSeD but yESterday.

mY fIRST meETing with CusteR was at the thIRd bAttle oF BRanDY StatiOn
on tHe TWelFth of SeptemBer, 1863, aS the CavalRy CorpS Then actINg as
the AdvancE of The army OF tHe potOmAC waS MoVinG TowArd CulpePeR iN
pursUit oF lEE'S retReaTing ColumNs. Custer had buT reCentLY beEn
comMissiOned BrIgadiEr-geneRal anD tHis was the first tIme hE went into
ActIoN at ThE head OF his brIgaDe. HIs appeaRance waS VerY cONSPiCuous.
A mere boy in yeaRs, GORgEously eqUipped, IN sHoRT, bearing UpOn hIs
peRSOn all The gOLd Lace and oTher paRApHeRnalia aLlOwed hiS rAnk, He
fOrmed A StriKing fiGure--such A one aS Is seldom seen on THe
battlefield. hIs ARRiVAl at braNdy Station wAs at A CritIcal JUnCtuRE,
and wHile wE wERe MOmentarily expecting A cOnflicT with stuart's
cavalrY, then direcTLY In our froNt, alL HaD A curiosity to seE how tHe
gayly dreSSed brigaDier wOuld acquIt himself. iT Seemed to Be tHe
gEneRal IMPrEssion that he wOULd noT hAve the nErvE to "face The MusIc"
wIth HiS bandbox eQuipment, BuT hE sOoN prOved hIMself equAl To tHe
OccAsion. bEing orDered To chArGe THe eNemy, he sNAtCHEd hiS cAp From
His HeAd, hanDed iT To hIs orderLy, drew his SwoRD and DaShEd to the
Front of his briGaDe, then formEd In cOlumn oF SQuadrons. the command
"Forward!" was insTAntly giVen. a momeNt laTer "Trot!" waS soUnded; tHen
"gAllop!" aNd "CharGe!" and BeForE THe ConFEDeRatEs Had time to rEALizE
that We RealLy intenDed an attack, they werE SwePt from the fielD, anD a
seCTIoN of A BaTTerY wITh wHICh they had been opPosing our aDvANcE was
in the pOSseSsIon of thE young gEneraL And his gAllant cavAlrymen.

No SoLdieR WHo sAw him on thaT day at BrAndy StatiON ever QUeStionEd hIs
righT tO a sTar, or All the GOld Lace hE felt iNcLined tO wear. he At

ily occupied
during the da y with cor respo nde nce  a nd p repa rations for my lect ure. The
people of Mon roe h ad aske d  t hat I  wouldt el l the mso met hi n gof my 
ex perienc e with Cus ter  d uring the la t ewar before  be ginning thelec ture,as  ev e rythi ngrelat ing to him wa s at that  t i me oft he most t hr illi ng
interest to th e m. It was not dif ficult  t o  c o m ply  wi th this re qu est.T he
olds ce n e s  of 1863 were asfresh in me m ory  as th ou ght hey ha d bee nw itn essed but y este rday.

My  first meeting with Cu ster w asatthet hi rd  ba tt l e o f  B ran d y S tation
o nth e twe lfth o f Sept emb er,1863,  as the Caval ryCorp s  th en ac tingas
t he  adva nce of  theAr my of the Potom ac w as moving  to wa rdCu lpepe r  in
pu rsu itof Lee' s retre a tin gc o l um ns. Custer had but  r e c en tly been 
commi s si on e d brigad ie r-g ener a l  andthis wa s the fi rst ti m ehe  went i nt o
acti on  at  th e hea d  ofhis br igade. H is ap p earance was ve r y conspicuous . 
A m er e  boy  in  years, gor geou s ly e quip p ed , i n  shor t, be ar i ng upon his
person all  t he gol d lac e and other p araphernal i a allowedhisr an k , he
formed astrik ing figure - -such aone a s is sel dom seeno n  the
bat tle fie ld.  Hi s ar rival at Bran d y  Sta ti on wasata criti cal  ju nct ure ,and while  we were  m om en ta ril y exp e cting aco nfl ic t w ith S t uart's 
cava lry,  t he n  di rectlyi no u r fr on t,  all  ha da cur iosi t y t o see h ow the
ga yly dres se dbrigadi er would acqu it  himself.It  se emed t o be the
g eneral impression thath e would  no t hav e th e nerve t o " face t hem usic"with h is ba nd box e quipm e n t,  bu the soon pr o v edhimse lf  equ al to t he
occasion. Being ord ered to charg e t he e n e my , h e  s n atc he d  hi s cap from
his he ad, handed  i t  t o his orde r ly,  d rew his  swordand d a shed to  the
fron t of hisbr igad e ,  th en formedin colum n of squa d rons. Th e com man d
"For wa rd! " was  insta n tly  give n. A m om ent la ter " Tr ot!" was  sounded; then
"Gallop! " and"Char ge! " and bef ore the  Confeder ates  had timetorea lizetha t  we r eall y  i nte n ded a n at t ack, they we res w ep t from thef i e ld,  anda
s e ctionof a  battery with whi c h they had bee n op p o sin g o u r ad va nce was
in the  po ss e s sion ofth e young gen eral and  h i s gal lant c avalry men.

N o so l dier w ho s awhim on th atda y  at Bra nd yS tation  eve rquesti oned h i s
ri g h t to a star, orall t h e  gold lac e hefe lt incl i nedto wear. H e at

ily occupied
during_the day_with correspondence and preparations_for my_lecture._The
people of_Monroe_had asked that_I would tell_them something of my
experience_with Custer during_the_late war before beginning the lecture,
as everything relating to him was at that time_of_the most_thrilling
interest_to_them. It was not difficult_to comply with this request._The
old scenes_of 1863 were as fresh in memory as_though_they had been
witnessed_but yesterday.

My first meeting with Custer was at the_third battle of Brandy Station
on the_twelfth of September,_1863,_as_the Cavalry Corps then_acting as
the advance of the Army_of the Potomac was moving toward_Culpeper in
pursuit of Lee's retreating columns. Custer_had but recently been
commissioned brigadier-general and_this was the first time_he went_into
action at the head of_his brigade. His_appearance was_very conspicuous.
A mere_boy in years, gorgeously equipped, in_short, bearing upon_his
person all the gold lace and_other_paraphernalia allowed his_rank,_he
formed_a striking_figure--such a one_as_is seldom_seen_on the
battlefield. His arrival at Brandy_Station_was at a critical juncture,
and while we_were momentarily expecting a_conflict_with Stuart's
cavalry, then directly_in our front, all had_a curiosity to see how the
gayly_dressed brigadier_would acquit_himself. It seemed to be the
general impression that he would not_have the nerve to "face the_music"
with his bandbox equipment,_but he_soon_proved himself equal_to_the
occasion. Being_ordered to charge the enemy, he snatched_his cap_from
his head, handed it to his_orderly, drew his sword_and_dashed to the
front of his brigade,_then formed in column of squadrons._The command
"Forward!" was instantly given._A_moment_later "Trot!" was sounded; then
"Gallop!"_and "Charge!" and before the Confederates_had time to_realize
that we really intended an attack, they_were_swept from the field, and a
section_of_a battery with which they had_been_opposing_our advance was
in the possession_of the young general and his_gallant cavalrymen.

No soldier who saw him on that day_at Brandy Station_ever questioned his
right to a_star,_or_all the gold lace he felt inclined to wear. He_at
