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    George Armstrong Custer

    Birth: 12-5-1839

    Death: 6-25-1876

Biography

George Armstrong Custer was born on December 5, 1839, in New Rumley, Ohio. He graduated at the bottom (33rd) of the second West Point Class of 1861. On June 29th 1863 he was promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers and the age of 23 and given command of the Michigan Cavalry Brigade in the Army of Potomac's Third Cavalry Division. He and his brigade distinguished themselves at the Battle of Gettysburg and in subsequent campaigns. At the age of 25 in 1865 he was promoted to Major General of Volunteers making him the youngest Major General in U.S. History. Custer commanding the Third Cavalry Division played a prominent role in Philip Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign and in the Appomattox Campaign. On July 28th 1866 after reconstruction duty in Louisiana and Texas he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel of the 7th Cavalry. Ever a magnet of controversy, on June 25th 1876 he led the 7th Cavalry into action on the Little Bighorn River in Montana against a large Indian village of Sioux and Cheyenne, and was killed along with all the men in companies C,E,F,I,L under his direct command. The remainder of the regiment, 7 companies strong, were besieged several miles away until the afternoon of June 26. On June 27 the remainder of the regiment was rescued by Brigadier General Alfred Terry's force. 

Citations

Biography and Citation Information:
Biography: 
George Armstrong Custer was born on December 5, 1839, in New Rumley, Ohio. He graduated at the bottom (33rd) of the second West Point Class of 1861. On June 29th 1863 he was promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers and the age of 23 and given command of the Michigan Cavalry Brigade in the Army of Potomac's Third Cavalry Division. He and his brigade distinguished themselves at the Battle of Gettysburg and in subsequent campaigns. At the age of 25 in 1865 he was promoted to Major General of Volunteers making him the youngest Major General in U.S. History. Custer commanding the Third Cavalry Division played a prominent role in Philip Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign and in the Appomattox Campaign. On July 28th 1866 after reconstruction duty in Louisiana and Texas he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel of the 7th Cavalry. Ever a magnet of controversy, on June 25th 1876 he led the 7th Cavalry into action on the Little Bighorn River in Montana against a large Indian village of Sioux and Cheyenne, and was killed along with all the men in companies C,E,F,I,L under his direct command. The remainder of the regiment, 7 companies strong, were besieged several miles away until the afternoon of June 26. On June 27 the remainder of the regiment was rescued by Brigadier General Alfred Terry's force.
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Armstrong_Custer
Title of Webpage: 
wikipedia
Website Viewing Date: 
Wednesday, February 10, 2016 - 16:00
Website's Last Modified Date: 
Wednesday, February 10, 2016 - 16:00
Citation Notes: 
http://www.biography.com/people/george-custer-9264128 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Armstrong_Custer
Citation for Birth Info:
Citation Notes: 
http://www.biography.com/people/george-custer-9264128
Citation for Death Info:
Citation Notes: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Armstrong_Custer