General Custer

Birth

Dec 5, 1839

General George Armstrong Custer was born on 12-5-1839.

Graduated

Jun 6, 1861

He attended the Military Academy at West Point but he was a poor student and when he finally graduated in 1861 he was placed 34th out of a class of 34.

Stopped Pickett's Charge

Jul 3, 1863

The climax of the fight came when Custer led a mounted charge of the 1st Michigan nicknamed the "Wolverines,” which stopped the Confederate attack.

Married

Feb 9, 1864

Custer married Elizabeth Clift Bacon on February 9, 1864.

Overwhelmed CSA

Apr 1, 1864

On 1st April, Philip Sheridan, William Sherman and Custer attacked at Five Forks. The Confederates, led by Major General George Pickett, were overwhelmed and lost 5,200 men.

Joined Campaign

Aug 1, 1864

In August, 1864, Custer joined Major General Philip Sheridan in the final Shenandoah Valley campaign. Sheridan and 40,000 soldiers entered the valley and soon encountered troops led by Jubal Early who had just returned from Washington. After a series of minor defeats the Union Army eventually gained the upper hand. His men now burnt and destroyed anything of value in the area and after defeating Early in another large-scale battle on 19th October, the Union Army took control of the Shenandoah Va

Premoted

Jan 1, 1866

However, in July, 1866, he was commissioned lieutenant colonel (he was also given the honorary rank of major general) and made second in command of the newly created Seventh Cavalry

Demoted

Jun 1, 1866

In January 1866, his commission as major-general expired and he reverted to his 1862 rank of captain in the Regular Army.

Destroyed at Little Big Horn

Period: Jul 22, 1876 to Jul 23, 1876

Custer and his men rode north on the east side of the Little Big Horn River. The Sioux and Cheyenne saw Custer's men and swarmed out of the village. Custer was forced to retreat into the bluffs to the east where he was attacked by about 4,000 warriors. At the battle of the Little Bighorn Custer and all his 231 men were killed. This included his two brothers, Tom and Boston, his brother-in-law, James Calhoun, and his nephew, Autie Reed.
Custer and his men rode north on the east side of the Little Big Horn River. The Sioux and Cheyenne saw Custer's men and swarmed out of the village. Custer was forced to retreat into the bluffs to the east where he was attacked by about 4,000 warriors. At the battle of the Little Bighorn Custer and all his 231 men were killed. This included his two brothers, Tom and Boston, his brother-in-law, James Calhoun, and his nephew, Autie Reed.