Clusters of Custers: Making It “Hard for Mother”

Many remember the 1998 movie “Saving Private Ryan.” Set in World War II, it follows a squadron sent to find a family’s last remaining son out of four who enlisted. It was loosely based on real accounts of families believed to have lost most or all of their sons in the war. These include the Sullivan and Niland brothers.

During America’s Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln learned that a Boston widow was thought to have lost five sons. His classic, heartfelt letter to her stated, in part, “. . . I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the republic they died to save. . .”

At Gettysburg, Colonel Joshua Chamberlain faced that specter as well. His brothers John and Thomas belonged to his regiment; Thomas served as his aide. Assigned to man and hold a crucial-but-unguarded prominence called Little Round Top, they rode urgently together, leading the 20^th Maine. (Thankfully, they survived and heroically held that crucial ground.)

On the Cleveland Civil War Round Table site, a William Vodrey quotes Geoffrey C. Ward: “As Chamberlain and his two brothers, Tom and John, rode abreast together toward the hill, a Confederate shell narrowly missed them. ‘Boys,’ the colonel said, ‘another such shot might make it hard for Mother. Tom, go to the rear of the regiment and see that it is well closed up! John, pass up ahead and look out a place for our wounded.”

June 25, 1876 would make it hard for the Custers’ mother.

Family Ties

The Custers’ blended family had always been tight-knit. The father, Emmanuel Custer is described as a fun-loving dad who romped with his kids and traded practical jokes with them. A widower with two surviving sons, he married the recently widowed Maria Kirkpatrick, who brought a son and daughter to the family. The couple added five more children of their own to the lively family.

Maria must have at least tolerated the rambunctiousness, if she did not join in. Custer later wrote, “I never wanted for anything necessary. . .” In response to a different letter his mother wrote, “. . . I was note fortunate enough to have wealth to make home beautiful, always my desire. So I tried to fill the empty spaces with little acts of kindness. . .”

For some reason Custer left his family’s farm and went to live with his step-sister Lydia Reed and her husband in Monroe, Michigan – perhaps for better educational opportunities. Over time Emmanuel Custer bought a farm and lived closer to his son Nevin in northern Ohio, but then he moved on to Monroe as well (after George had gone off to West Point.) This may have been so his frail and ailing wife could live closer to her adult daughter.

Following in Brother’s Footsteps

As George graduated West Point into the Civil War’s cauldron, his younger brother Tom enlisted too. Tom would advance through the enlisted ranks while George rose rapidly as a commissioned officer. Tom Custer would eventually serve as his brother’s aide, just as Joshua Chamberlain’s brother Thomas had. He would survive the war and enlist in the post-Civil War cavalry, remaining close to the older brother he idolized.

Paternalistic Pattern

After the Civil War ended, George was assigned in Texas during Reconstruction. Brother Tom was there as well. History is spotty, but it is known that Emmanuel spent time there working as a “forage master” for the 7^th Cavalry. A pattern of nepotism continued thereafter – one that would lead to “clusters of Custers.” It would end in widespread loss for the family.

After assignments on the remote Kansas/Oklahoma plains, the 7th Cavalry would be sent north to Fort Abraham Lincoln near Bismarck, Dakota Territory. Not only would Custer’s wife, Libby, go with him there, brother Tom would accompany them too. Sister Margaret, or “Maggie,” often joined them at their posts as well. She met and married infantry lieutenant James Calhoun along the way. Fatefully, George would arrange Calhoun’s transfer to the 7th Cavalry.

Custer’s father, Emmanuel, had mortgaged his farm to pay for George’s entrance into West Point. In similar fashion, George had paid for younger sister Maggie’s schooling at the Young Ladies’ Seminary and Collegiate Institute. He also paid for her voice and music lessons. She would become accomplished in both fields and was later much in demand.

Social Magnets, Nepotistic Networking

The Custers’ quarters quickly became a social center, at least for officers and their wives. The close-knit Custer cadre was soon called the Custer “Royal Family.” By 1874 they were joined by younger brother Boston Custer. He accompanied the Black Hills expedition as a “forage master,” just as his father had done in Texas. He would remain with the regiment as a civilian employee into 1876. Apparently he was paid $100/month as a guide for the column despite his scant skill or experience.

By 1876 the Custer cluster was joined by 18-year-old Autie Reed. He was the son of older step-sister Lydia Kirkpatrick Reed, with whom George had boarded while attending school in Monroe, Michigan. Young Autie would accompany the 7^th cavalry as a civilian employee as well. He served as a beef herder until he rode out with George, Tom, Boston and their brother-in-law James Calhoun June 22, 1876.

Three days later, those 12 cavalry companies would make their famous attack the large, combined village of Sioux and Cheyenne bands on the Little Bighorn River. George would divide his command four ways. The five troops with him included Tom Custer’s C Company and Calhoun’s L Company. Boston and Autie Reed went with them too. None survived.

Too Many In One Basket

At one point Boston Custer left his brother’s command as it rode toward its Little Bighorn fate. Accounts speak of a number of horses faltering as Custer’s battalion advanced. Some say Boston’s mount was among them, so he went back to the pack train to secure a replacement. Others say he was detailed to the pack train but hurried to join George when action appeared imminent.

Either way, Boston encountered trumpeter John Martin, who had been sent with a message to hurry the ammunition packs forward. Boston managed to reach George, apparently before Indian forces did.

While much remains a mystery, it is known the bodies of George, Tom and Boston Custer and Autie Reed were all found fairly close (clustered?) together after the battle. James Calhoun’s body was found within view, where his company had been deployed in skirmish formation. They had “made it hard” for “mother Custer.”

The Custers’ close-knit tendencies, combined with over-confidence, had caused Maria tremendous loss and grief. Thankfully, some of her sons and step-sons were not enlisted. Already frail, though, she exclaimed, “How can I bear it? All my boys gone.” She lost three sons, a grandson and a son-in-law when they clustered together once too often.