This is the second report on Thomas Custer that I've watched over the years. From the first, I was impressed that this Custer performed his exploits in the shadow of his more famous brother. I get the sense that Tom was loyal to George - if not in awe of his older brother. Yet, If George had not been his contemporary, Tom would be more remembered today. Another thing about learning Tom's story is that it made George a bit more accessible to me. G.A. Custer had a family who loved him and stood by him - and died with him. That kind of strips all the pomp and circumstance away.
I visited his grave recently. It sits by a main cemetery road at Fort Leavenworth. His brother-in-law, James Calhoun is beside him. So many in the 'Custer Clan' died that day. Ask anybody about Custer. Nobody remembers. I had relatives in the Michigan 4th cavalry. Thank you for your hard work compiling these videos. Your work is appreciated. Eaglegards 🦅... P.S. Thomas' stone appears to have been replaced with a newer stone.
Amazing. I have read George A. Custer's bio in several different books about him. I love history, I do not recall ever reading even the slightest mention of his brothers, and the heroic Tom Custer. Thank you so much for teaching us "History That Deserves To Be Remembered".
This is truly history that should not only be remembered but it should be taught. I have never heard of Thomas Custer. The story of a courageous man like that should be part of everyday American history.
While I make no superior claims- I note these few things about the Custers, the US Civil War and what people choose as a narrative to gaslight. We get fed tidbits of info about stuff and because they get popularized- we swallow them as the definitive account of the events. You stated the battle of Sayler's Creek as the deathnell of General Lee and the cause of his surrender a few days later. (Necessary Side Bar- Kenneth ans Sarah Ramsey of horseracing fame raced a horse named Sayler's Creek which among its wins, is the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup race🇧🇧) Back to US Civil War- why then is Gettysburg given more focus? I hear words and phrases like "bloody Omaha" and yet more US soldiers died in the engagements of your Civil War, than on the beaches of Normandy😮...Grant was the top General but TWCuster did the heroics- We hear of his more famous brother GACuster. Fast fwd to JFK and his brother Robert. We know JFK was a PT Boat WW2 vet- did Robert serve also, or we are too busy spotlighting one brother over another? The current WNBA discourse about Caitlin Clark vs the rest is also an example of tunnel vision vs stepping back and seeing the bigger picture. Is she the only player putting up numbers and stats and is she the sole performer for the Indiana Fever? Who else is lighting up the games and earning their fans and giving game winning performances? Nope- let us gaslight individual Rookie Of The Year stats and not team performances. Has anybody even measured her personal stats with or against her high school/college stats? Do not suggest that those are different or easier levels than the WNBA- I debunk that with 2 points. 1. She did not emerge at birth shooting 3pointers and handling the rock with such visionary excellence so at each stage she was growing and developing her craft. 2. The same people she plew (slay slew, play plew), in those various levels are now in the WNBA also- not only Angel Reese😂... In conclusion- We watch Hollywood versions of things and because they caption them as "this movies is BASED on a true story", doesn't mean they are entirely factual. Let me give examples- The 10 Commamdments, Exodus 20 has the 10 Thou shalts- God speaking to Moses- giving him instructions for his preparation to deal with the hardheaded stuck in their old ways Hebrews...later in Exodus you can find what is written on those two stone tablets- rendering first fruits and 3 times a year the menfolk should appear in church etc- none of the Thou Shalts- yet Hollywood has a finger out of a cloud with lightning etching the 10 thou shalts...do not take my word. Read it for yourselves. Also Noah's ark... If each of us use the measurement between our elbow and wrist as a cubit, using the Old Testament blueprint, we can build a similar ark. Hollywood had a few WW2 landing craft knocking around, with front loading ramps, so despite the Bible version are being side loading, they make use of the landing craft and presto zappo, a front loading ark...but why let the facts get in the way of a good story. They erroneously kill off PTSD temporarily blind pvt Blithe in Band of Brothers- the man survived WW2 and Korean War- but didn't live out the HBO Band of Brothers series😂 I rest my case and I am thankfull for these documentaries. The truth may never always be popular but it is never wrong🤓 Like the lad who pointed out the Emperor was naked- calling a spade a shovel is just a matter of perspective😂 Somebody will now kill the messenger while not reading the message🎯
One wonders what wisdom and advice that Auggie tried to give George on that fateful day..as others have noted, i,too, did not know of the Custer clan all dying together...great report...you are one of the best in this genre....
The day I found this channel was pure gold for me as a history buff. I knew of Toms demise at Little Big Horn but never knew the rest of his history until you told the world. This winter when I'm snowed in I plan a whole day of hot chocolate and binge watching your posts. I have a good idea how much goes into making, editing a video and I want to thank you in advance for all your hard work that will make a snow day very enjoyable.
Wow, just WOW !!! I doesn’t matter what side a soldier is on, but more about who they are inside. To have courage and be driven to fight as Thomas Custer is truly amazing.
I love how you become more and more energetic as you give narrative to the actions that happened. It imparts a level of importance that many professors cannot.
Daniel Daly was a US Marine Corps double Medal of Honor recipient. The first award was in 1901 when he was a Private with the international relief column during the Boxer Rebellion in China, and the second award was when he was a Gunnery Sergeant during the United States invasion and occupation of Haiti in 1915.
I just found out about my Great Great Grandfather who served in the 89th PA calvalry. I want to find out what his life was like during the war and his contributions to that Great effort. I still am revolutionary war fanatic regarding its history living in the crossroads of the revolution. But I find myself now drawn so much more into civil war history. Great shows, well done sir!!
I love how much information you put into such a short segment. But in a way that is not like taking a drink from a fire hose but that I can feel what it would be like to be there with them. Which is what I love about history, to FEEL the time of those people and what it would be like to be there at that time.
Hell yeah. That's really a huge thing that a lot of history teachers and professors miss. If you can give people even a small taste of what it was like then you can really shift perspectives
@thehistoryguychannel Always very interesting and informative work! Thank you. Also, thank you for covering the Battle of Stones River. The Stones River National Battlefield is my favorite place on Earth. Also, it is pronounced Mur-FRees-boro (not Murphysboro) and it’s in Middle Tennessee. (not “Central” Tennessee).
Sir once again thank you for this great presentation. Thomas Custer was a great warrior deserves to be remembered! I really like your recounting of thomas grabbing the second battle standard. It had great passion well told.
My ancestors were the ones that owned the area where that final battle took place. In fact my Mom's maiden name is Saylors and she looked into our family history and found all that out...neat to find some info about who was in that battle on this channel
Hi Amos,yes family history is indeed neat.At the battle of Chickamauga two of my GGGF fought in the battle,one for the 1st Miss.and one for the 7th GA.(KIA) 70 years later in 1934 their great grandchildren would marry.Of their 7 children 1 is my mother. Blessings from Texas
Yes the story is that Rain in the Face killed Tom and took a bite out of his heart. Fact is we have no idea who killed Tom, or George for that matter. It was chaos on that hillside, the air filled with smoke and dust, screaming horses and shouting men, lots of gunfire. No one had any idea what was going on, but many men and horses were killed.
This is the the kind of information that would make history in schools so much more interesting. Great job with highlighting someone who deserves to be remembered...
When news of the battle finally reached Fort Abraham Lincoln where the families of the slain were living it was unconsolable saddness. They painted the windows black. People thought that Libby would go crazy. Custer's sister, the wife of Calhoun, was devistated. It was a sadness that is impossible to describe. Visiting the site it seemed to me that I could feel at least a vestige of it. It haunts.
Thomas Custer, 1st double MOH recipient, only 18 other men in over 130+ years of the MOH have shown that fearlessness. To any man or woman that has been under live fire to have a true understanding of what may go thru your mind at that time (or for some all goes blank) my utmost and never-ending respect, OOH-RAH and AIRBORNE!
I love your channel, Mister History Guy. I also appreciate how you use it to continue your own learning and often publicly revise. My mother is very concerned about the state of our country. I try to keep her somewhat positive and have used your channel as an example of what can be right in the world! Thank you.
Wow, wow & WOW, you make my day so often with incredible untold stories such as this. Thanks for the ride down the trail of "history to be remembered".
CHRISLJ........"we" don't already know this because "we" rely on hollywood for their history.....try reading a book. That's how i learned about Tom Custer about 60 years ago.......Word to the wise, do NOT, i repeat, do not get your history from hollywood unless you don't care about facts..........
@@verticallogic5909 Man is that ever the truth. Anytime they tell you the movie is "based on a true story" you know it's going to be packed with what ever the writers think will sell more tickets and nothing near the real story.
What a fantastic story!! I've never heard of Thomas Ward Custer.. How is it possible for such a story to exist in relative obscurity regardless of the notoriety of his famous older brother, George Armstrong Custer.. I try to learn something new every day and HG this is todays New Thing!! Really enjoying your channel HG particularly due to the fact that you occasionally examine things outside of the crowded US-o-sphere.. I gave you an 11 out of 10 on a recent video so this post gets a 12 out of 10.. Terrific stuff..
WELL DONE ! Thanks for taking the time to make an updated version ! I'm always looking forward to your next release ! As far as Gen, Custer's feelings about his brother being the general and he the lieutenant... weellllll, looking at their last battle, maybe he was correct in his analysis. Still what a blow that family suffered that day ! It must have been terrible for them. The Custers gave a preview of what the Sullivan would taste 70 years later.. Losing one relative in battle is horrible. Losing two at once in battle is almost an unspeakable tragedy. So how does one even describe the loss of 5 family members in the same battle. I don't think our language even has the proper word to describe such a loss by a family, other than "devastating". PS - Liked and Shared !
G'day, Well, perhaps the overall/underlying purpose of War is to cull the Human-Killer/Warrior Gene from the Global DNA-Pool...; by providing those who carry one or two copies with an environment whereinat such Genes may be best "switched-on, and expressed ? Y'see, as it turns out, according to the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare Statistics' 1998 & 2000 Papers on, "Morbidity & Mortality in (Vietnam & other Conflicts )Combat Veterans & their Children...." ; while they found that Combat Veterans displayed 2 times the annual Suicide Deathrate of their own Age-Cohort within the general population (of not Combat-Veterans), the Children of Combat Veterans display 3 times the annual Suicide deathrate...., plus 1.8 times the annual Accidental deathrate...., as well as 1.2 times the annual deathrate from Illness..., as compared to their Age-Cohort among the Children of "Normal" People (who have never been in Combat). They initially discovered the phenomenon when studying Vietnam Combat Vet's & their Children, but upon further investigation they found the same phenomenon among Combat Veterans from Malaya, Korea, WW-2, Spain & WW-1, and their Children..; describing it as, "a Generic effect of exposure to Combat, regardless of when, where, or against whom one has fought, and regardless of what weapons one had used - or had used against one....". Seen in this light, the notable Battlefield-performance of Armed Forces composed entirely of Volunteers (the Waffen SS and the 1st & 2nd Australian Imperial Forces, for example...), may be down to their having 3 times the rate personel of carrying the HK/W-G as compared to the General Population and as found within Armies composed of Conscripts (15% with 2 Copies & 30% with 1 Copy...; versus 5% & 10%...). Therefore, perforce, the All-Volunteer Units fight harder & more effectively, because they are "Genetically well adapted" to survive in an environment where killing other people is rewarded & applauded, but they have a high deathrate in Combat - because they "get right into it", and they actively TRY to kill their Enemy ("Any Me" ?) rather than prioritising their own "keeping behind cover..." ; and they often, after a War, prefer to stay in the Military, and they often make traumatic and/or toxic parents, self-medicating heavily while blundering in and out of a trail of marital/relationship disasters, as they attempt to bottle up their accumulated Stress. If their Children survive long enough, sadly, many of them then go on to enlist in the Military, seeking Combat Exposure ; specifically in the hope of returning in a condition to be perhaps able to finally establish some emotional bond, with their Combat Veteran Parent/s. Egglettes and Oms, y'see ; y' jist cain't have any kind o' decent Shootin' War without killin' people, woundin' people, scramblin' they Brains, and makin' th' whole rest o' they Lives nuthin' but a Shitpotful o' Misery, and they'll tip it all over 'emselves and anybody unlucky enough t' be inside Spatterin' Range.... Lest we Forget (THE HORRORS OF WAR...). {Strangely, most people forget to finish the invocation when they half-quote that line...}. By the reading of the Service Records of all the members of the Custer Clan who died at the Battle of the Little Big-Horn (all while happily trying to commit Genocide, on what they thought of as "Barbaric Heathen Tribes of Bloodthirsty Murderous Godless Indians...", or words to that effect ; were all in that place, at that time, having volunteered to be paid to be there, and thereinat to do precisely what they all LOVED Doing.... (Playing at "War !", while using actual real Weapons, all at Taxpayer Expense - and all fully expecting that sombody-else, entirely, would do whatever dying had to be done there on the day...). And honestly, they all decided to make those choices, freely, because of what their Parents & Family & Friends & Teachers & Preachers & Wives & Girlfriends and the writers of all the Books, Magazines, Newspapers and Pamplets they ever read..., had collectively raised them up and taught them to think of as being "Normal", in such a hypocritically hubristically arrogantly murderous and blasphemously apostatic fashion (they all professed their "Faith" in the Godtheory of "Thou Shalt NOT Kill...", y'see - hence the Apostasy & Blasphemy indictments on the Bill...). Or, as the old saying used to put it, when regarding the Military personel in a Unit which had been over-run and defeated, their Ship sunk, or their Aircraft shot down..., "Well, if they couldn't take a bloody Joke..., they should never have joined the Army !". Such is Life... Have a good one, (Top tip..; stay out of ALL Armed Farces, and your Children will likely live to breed as a consequence - your CHOICE....!). ;-p Ciao !
G'day, Well, perhaps the overall/underlying purpose of War is to cull the Human-Killer/Warrior Gene from the Global DNA-Pool...; by providing those who carry one or two copies with an environment whereinat such Genes may be best "switched-on, and expressed ? Y'see, as it turns out, according to the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare Statistics' 1998 & 2000 Papers on, "Morbidity & Mortality in (Vietnam & other Conflicts )Combat Veterans & their Children...." ; while they found that Combat Veterans displayed 2 times the annual Suicide Deathrate of their own Age-Cohort within the general population (of not Combat-Veterans), the Children of Combat Veterans display 3 times the annual Suicide deathrate...., plus 1.8 times the annual Accidental deathrate...., as well as 1.2 times the annual deathrate from Illness..., as compared to their Age-Cohort among the Children of "Normal" People (who have never been in Combat). They initially discovered the phenomenon when studying Vietnam Combat Vet's & their Children, but upon further investigation they found the same phenomenon among Combat Veterans from Malaya, Korea, WW-2, Spain & WW-1, and their Children..; describing it as, "a Generic effect of exposure to Combat, regardless of when, where, or against whom one has fought, and regardless of what weapons one had used - or had used against one....". Seen in this light, the notable Battlefield-performance of Armed Forces composed entirely of Volunteers (the Waffen SS and the 1st & 2nd Australian Imperial Forces, for example...), may be down to their having 3 times the rate personel of carrying the HK/W-G as compared to the General Population and as found within Armies composed of Conscripts (15% with 2 Copies & 30% with 1 Copy...; versus 5% & 10%...). Therefore, perforce, the All-Volunteer Units fight harder & more effectively, because they are "Genetically well adapted" to survive in an environment where killing other people is rewarded & applauded, but they have a high deathrate in Combat - because they "get right into it", and they actively TRY to kill their Enemy ("Any Me" ?) rather than prioritising their own "keeping behind cover..." ; and they often, after a War, prefer to stay in the Military, and they often make traumatic and/or toxic parents, self-medicating heavily while blundering in and out of a trail of marital/relationship disasters, as they attempt to bottle up their accumulated Stress. If their Children survive long enough, sadly, many of them then go on to enlist in the Military, seeking Combat Exposure ; specifically in the hope of returning in a condition to be perhaps able to finally establish some emotional bond, with their Combat Veteran Parent/s. Egglettes and Oms, y'see ; y' jist cain't have any kind o' decent Shootin' War without killin' people, woundin' people, scramblin' they Brains, and makin' th' whole rest o' they Lives nuthin' but a Shitpotful o' Misery, and they'll tip it all over 'emselves and anybody unlucky enough t' be inside Spatterin' Range.... Lest we Forget (THE HORRORS OF WAR...). {Strangely, most people forget to finish the invocation when they half-quote that line...}. By the reading of the Service Records of all the members of the Custer Clan who died at the Battle of the Little Big-Horn (all while happily trying to commit Genocide, on what they thought of as "Barbaric Heathen Tribes of Bloodthirsty Murderous Godless Indians...", or words to that effect ; were all in that place, at that time, having volunteered to be paid to be there, and thereinat to do precisely what they all LOVED Doing.... (Playing at "War !", while using actual real Weapons, all at Taxpayer Expense - and all fully expecting that sombody-else, entirely, would do whatever dying had to be done there on the day...). And honestly, they all decided to make those choices, freely, because of what their Parents & Family & Friends & Teachers & Preachers & Wives & Girlfriends and the writers of all the Books, Magazines, Newspapers and Pamplets they ever read..., had collectively raised them up and taught them to think of as being "Normal", in such a hypocritically hubristically arrogantly murderous and blasphemously apostatic fashion (they all professed their "Faith" in the Godtheory of "Thou Shalt NOT Kill...", y'see - hence the Apostasy & Blasphemy indictments on the Bill...). Or, as the old saying used to put it, when regarding the Military personel in a Unit which had been over-run and defeated, their Ship sunk, or their Aircraft shot down..., "Well, if they couldn't take a bloody Joke..., they should never have joined the Army !". Such is Life... Have a good one, (Top tip..; stay out of ALL Armed Farces, and your Children will likely live to breed as a consequence - your CHOICE....!). ;-p Ciao !
@@roberthudson1959 I'm sure that and funerals kept her busy for awhile. As the commander's wife she was the leader of the wives, so she had to take care of them. Such a burden for one who never signed up for it !
Mark Daniele I just recently purchased a Winchester 1897 shotgun, made in 1907, and when you think of that, a civil war vet could have bought that gun.
Fascinating! Thank you History Guy! I had never heard much about Thomas, other than that he died with his more famous brother at the Little Big Horn. Thanks for this very engaging account!
I was just reading about the battle of the Little Bighorn and about how George got himself, his two brothers, and half his family scalped along with his whole army, but I never knew about the two medals of honor.
@@roberthudson1959 That's absolutely correct. Most of Custer's regiment survived after another two days of heavy fighting against devastating Indian attacks. It's amazing that fact is never mentioned!
I just came upon this channel and I Love It!Subscribed Instantly!I've always loved history and this channel looks like it has so many interesting stories that will be enjoyable to watch!Thank You!
This is fascinating to me, I doubt if I would have learned this if I hadn't been subscribed to your channel. I have a lot of RUclipsrs I subscribe to that apparently republish archival footage of significant events in history that do not explain the significance of that event, nor the lead up to it or the lingering results. In this case I'm referring to the US rebuilding of Japan after World War Two. Thanks very much for your videos, they are very appreciated.
They don't teach in school anymore , I learned this back in Jr. High . It's surprises me at how many people don't know about this . Willie Johnson got his at age 13 , Two years after he held on to his drum and equipment during a retreat , most of the had dropped theirs and ran . He was the drummer for the 3rd Vermont alongside his father it's Commander . Or how about the youngest in the 20th century , Jack Lucas 17 , died as a Marine on Iwo Jima when he dove on a grenade to sheild his fellow Marines .
incredible piece of history thanks few today regard the Indian Wars in a positive light but that doesn't change the heroism of those who fought likewise some of the conflicts around the turn of the century but the heroes still deserve to be remembered thanks again for doing so
At the beginning of the War, there were no decorations for bravery. The Navy introduced the Medal of Honor in 1861, the Army in 1862, and Congress made it permanent in 1863. No other decorations for bravery were created during the War.
Though I knew of George Custers brother I didn’t know so many of the family dying at little big horn. I know George Custer saying he would give up his rank just to receive the Medal of Honor.
@@bentnickel7487 In Ranger Sumner's defense, he was much better versed in the Sharps rifle, why Gatling guns wouldn't have helped Custer and what happened to Reno and Benteen.
@@bentnickel7487 A: Custer had 210 riflemen firing 6 shots per minute. Not noticeably different from a Gatling gun, and the Native American combatants were not deterred. B: The Gatlings (Custer had three) were horse drawn and so slow off road that bringing them would have delayed Custer greatly. And history would likely tell us of Terry's Last Stand.
Suggestion for your examination - From the General Electric Theater 11/25/1962, "A Mile-Long Shot to Kill". An extraordinary Civil War sniper shot done using mathematical calculation and a telescopic sight, done by Union officer Lt. John T. Metcalf.
Purportedly, he only gained an appointment to West Point because an influential republican was trying to keep him away from his daughter. He was a notorious prankster at West Point, and always on the verge of expulsion.
I don't think that I've head of Tom Custer. I did hear of his older brother going into the Academy. The Battle of the Little Big Horn was mentioned. Besides George getting killed, along with most of his men, was the fact that his regiment (?) had three or four Gatling guns. But did not take these guns as they were considered to be, at the time, artillery, and George was a Calvary person. As in a Calvary charge. Heard about this in ROTC, which was cited as example to consider your enemy and your tools.
I think there were several reasons for not taking the gatling guns, which, before the advent of smokeless powder, tended to jam. I think the most direct concern was that the guns would slow the column down, but a sign at Fort Laramie suggests that they were also prone to break down and often in disrepair.
I had no idea that George had a younger brother nor that they died together. My mother was a technical publications editor for the Army at Ft Leavenworth before she retired, we both explored the deap and rich history to be found there but managed to miss this piece of forgotten history. Perhaps you could do a piece about Quindaro Kansas and Cantrell's raiders. Though they are not directly connected they are significant to each other.
George Armstrong Custer was a gentleman. And I'm not surprised that he said that his brother should have been the General. But when it came to actual combat, while he wasn't a coward, he *was* an idiot. The only thing he knew was charge straight at the enemy. He acquired 726 demerits at West Point (one of the worst conduct records in the history of the Academy) and Graduated 34th in his class. The problem was there were only 34 cadets in his final graduating class. If not for the so called Civil War (I call it 'The War for Secession) he would have received an obscure posting, probably never to be heard from again. Seems George Custer believed there were only 2 places in a class of any note. The head and the foot. Since he knew he couldn't be the head of the class, he decided to secure his place as the foot.
Custer's acts of bravery deserved recognition -- and since the MOH was the only medal for bravery at the time -- that was what he got. Those acts today would receive, at best, a Silver Star. Compare his actions to those of John Basilone at Guadalcanal where he won the MOH and Iwo Jima where he won the Navy Cross (postumously) for the difference.
Ed Tolliver his medals very much fit the standards of the Civil War, but, as you say, the standards were quite different even by the time of the great war.
Thankyou for responding. Yes, seizing the unit colors were a big deal then. It would be interesting to do five minutes on Ensign Ewart of the Royal Scots Greys seizing the Eagle of the 45th at Waterloo. His act was memorialized on the cap badge of the Royal Scots Greys and the Eagle has the place of honor in the mess. I was particularly interested in how things changed over time because I served with 2 MOH winners and was partners with a guy who was awarded the DSC. He earned the MOH, but because he was serving with a Vietnamese airborne battalion at the time and there were no US witnesses besides the FAC overhead and other Americans with whom he was in radio communications, he received the DSC.
Ed, slight correction. No one "wins" a MOH, they are awarded. They arent prizes to be sought out but honors of recognition that most never knew they were worthy of as they died in the act of.
This is the second report on Thomas Custer that I've watched over the years. From the first, I was impressed that this Custer performed his exploits in the shadow of his more famous brother. I get the sense that Tom was loyal to George - if not in awe of his older brother. Yet, If George had not been his contemporary, Tom would be more remembered today.
Another thing about learning Tom's story is that it made George a bit more accessible to me. G.A. Custer had a family who loved him and stood by him - and died with him. That kind of strips all the pomp and circumstance away.
Amen would be nice to talk to them in heaven😊
You’re right. This soldier deserves to be remembered. 🇺🇸
I visited his grave recently. It sits by a main cemetery road at Fort Leavenworth. His brother-in-law, James Calhoun is beside him. So many in the 'Custer Clan' died that day. Ask anybody about Custer. Nobody remembers. I had relatives in the Michigan 4th cavalry. Thank you for your hard work compiling these videos. Your work is appreciated. Eaglegards 🦅... P.S. Thomas' stone appears to have been replaced with a newer stone.
George Custer rests at West Point.
Amazing. I have read George A. Custer's bio in several different books about him. I love history, I do not recall ever reading even the slightest mention of his brothers, and the heroic Tom Custer. Thank you so much for teaching us "History That Deserves To Be Remembered".
This is truly history that should not only be remembered but it should be taught. I have never heard of Thomas Custer. The story of a courageous man like that should be part of everyday American history.
While I make no superior claims- I note these few things about the Custers, the US Civil War and what people choose as a narrative to gaslight.
We get fed tidbits of info about stuff and because they get popularized- we swallow them as the definitive account of the events.
You stated the battle of Sayler's Creek as the deathnell of General Lee and the cause of his surrender a few days later.
(Necessary Side Bar- Kenneth ans Sarah Ramsey of horseracing fame raced a horse named Sayler's Creek which among its wins, is the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup race🇧🇧)
Back to US Civil War- why then is Gettysburg given more focus?
I hear words and phrases like "bloody Omaha" and yet more US soldiers died in the engagements of your Civil War, than on the beaches of Normandy😮...Grant was the top General but TWCuster did the heroics- We hear of his more famous brother GACuster.
Fast fwd to JFK and his brother Robert. We know JFK was a PT Boat WW2 vet- did Robert serve also, or we are too busy spotlighting one brother over another?
The current WNBA discourse about Caitlin Clark vs the rest is also an example of tunnel vision vs stepping back and seeing the bigger picture. Is she the only player putting up numbers and stats and is she the sole performer for the Indiana Fever?
Who else is lighting up the games and earning their fans and giving game winning performances?
Nope- let us gaslight individual Rookie Of The Year stats and not team performances.
Has anybody even measured her personal stats with or against her high school/college stats?
Do not suggest that those are different or easier levels than the WNBA- I debunk that with 2 points.
1. She did not emerge at birth shooting 3pointers and handling the rock with such visionary excellence so at each stage she was growing and developing her craft.
2. The same people she plew (slay slew, play plew), in those various levels are now in the WNBA also- not only Angel Reese😂...
In conclusion-
We watch Hollywood versions of things and because they caption them as "this movies is BASED on a true story", doesn't mean they are entirely factual.
Let me give examples-
The 10 Commamdments, Exodus 20 has the 10 Thou shalts- God speaking to Moses- giving him instructions for his preparation to deal with the hardheaded stuck in their old ways Hebrews...later in Exodus you can find what is written on those two stone tablets- rendering first fruits and 3 times a year the menfolk should appear in church etc- none of the Thou Shalts- yet Hollywood has a finger out of a cloud with lightning etching the 10 thou shalts...do not take my word. Read it for yourselves.
Also Noah's ark...
If each of us use the measurement between our elbow and wrist as a cubit, using the Old Testament blueprint, we can build a similar ark.
Hollywood had a few WW2 landing craft knocking around, with front loading ramps, so despite the Bible version are being side loading, they make use of the landing craft and presto zappo, a front loading ark...but why let the facts get in the way of a good story.
They erroneously kill off PTSD temporarily blind pvt Blithe in Band of Brothers- the man survived WW2 and Korean War- but didn't live out the HBO Band of Brothers series😂
I rest my case and I am thankfull for these documentaries.
The truth may never always be popular but it is never wrong🤓
Like the lad who pointed out the Emperor was naked- calling a spade a shovel is just a matter of perspective😂
Somebody will now kill the messenger while not reading the message🎯
Roger, that, Pilgrims!
It can only be remembered if it is taught, it can only be taught if remembered.
Neither have I ever heard of this person!
One wonders what wisdom and advice that Auggie tried to give George on that fateful day..as others have noted, i,too, did not know of the Custer clan all dying together...great report...you are one of the best in this genre....
I didn't know about this either!
The day I found this channel was pure gold for me as a history buff. I knew of Toms demise at Little Big Horn but never knew the rest of his history until you told the world. This winter when I'm snowed in I plan a whole day of hot chocolate and binge watching your posts. I have a good idea how much goes into making, editing a video and I want to thank you in advance for all your hard work that will make a snow day very enjoyable.
Wow, just WOW !!!
I doesn’t matter what side a soldier is on, but more about who they are inside. To have courage and be driven to fight as Thomas Custer is truly amazing.
I love how you become more and more energetic as you give narrative to the actions that happened. It imparts a level of importance that many professors cannot.
I watch a lot of RUclips videos, but I like nothing better than your material.
Daniel Daly was a US Marine Corps double Medal of Honor recipient. The first award was in 1901 when he was a Private with the international relief column during the Boxer Rebellion in China, and the second award was when he was a Gunnery Sergeant during the United States invasion and occupation of Haiti in 1915.
The story of Tom Custer is unparalleled. Please do a presentation on the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Thank you.
Your best episode ever! This story deserves the enthusiasm you bring to it.
I just found out about my Great Great Grandfather who served in the 89th PA calvalry. I want to find out what his life was like during the war and his contributions to that Great effort. I still am revolutionary war fanatic regarding its history living in the crossroads of the revolution. But I find myself now drawn so much more into civil war history. Great shows, well done sir!!
That was just astounding. I thought I knew quite a bit about the Civil War and its campaigns, but I knew nothing about Thomas Custer.
I love how much information you put into such a short segment. But in a way that is not like taking a drink from a fire hose but that I can feel what it would be like to be there with them. Which is what I love about history, to FEEL the time of those people and what it would be like to be there at that time.
David Coleman Exactly.
Hell yeah. That's really a huge thing that a lot of history teachers and professors miss. If you can give people even a small taste of what it was like then you can really shift perspectives
@thehistoryguychannel Always very interesting and informative work! Thank you.
Also, thank you for covering the Battle of Stones River. The Stones River National Battlefield is my favorite place on Earth.
Also, it is pronounced Mur-FRees-boro (not Murphysboro) and it’s in Middle Tennessee. (not “Central” Tennessee).
That is a serious amount of family lost in one day.
I now remember Thomas W Custard, and im grateful!
I LOVE EATING CUSTARD.
Sir once again thank you for this great presentation. Thomas Custer was a great warrior deserves to be remembered! I really like your recounting of thomas grabbing the second battle standard. It had great passion well told.
My ancestors were the ones that owned the area where that final battle took place. In fact my Mom's maiden name is Saylors and she looked into our family history and found all that out...neat to find some info about who was in that battle on this channel
Hi Amos,yes family history is indeed neat.At the battle of Chickamauga two of my GGGF fought in the battle,one for the 1st Miss.and one for the 7th GA.(KIA) 70 years later in 1934 their great grandchildren would marry.Of their 7 children 1 is my mother.
Blessings from Texas
Wow
I. Am coming to your land with my metal detector to get rich.
I've never seen you so emotional and you've related some incredible stories.
Tom Custer was slain at the Little Bighorn by the Hunkpapa Lakota warrior Rain in the Face, who was previously arrested and imprisoned by Tom Custer.
Yes the story is that Rain in the Face killed Tom and took a bite out of his heart. Fact is we have no idea who killed Tom, or George for that matter. It was chaos on that hillside, the air filled with smoke and dust, screaming horses and shouting men, lots of gunfire. No one had any idea what was going on, but many men and horses were killed.
This is the the kind of information that would make history in schools so much more interesting. Great job with highlighting someone who deserves to be remembered...
another great story. I had no idea there were so many Custer family members lost at the Little Big Horn
When news of the battle finally reached Fort Abraham Lincoln where the families of the slain were living it was unconsolable saddness. They painted the windows black. People thought that Libby would go crazy. Custer's sister, the wife of Calhoun, was devistated. It was a sadness that is impossible to describe. Visiting the site it seemed to me that I could feel at least a vestige of it. It haunts.
I would have majored in history in college if you were my professor!! Keep it alive my friend.
Thomas Custer, 1st double MOH recipient, only 18 other men in over 130+ years of the MOH have shown that fearlessness. To any man or woman that has been under live fire to have a true understanding of what may go thru your mind at that time (or for some all goes blank) my utmost and never-ending respect, OOH-RAH and AIRBORNE!
I also had no knowledge of this. Thank You History Guy.
I have never known of this great gentleman before now, I thank you for your tribute. Keep up the magnificent work, Sir.
I love your channel, Mister History Guy. I also appreciate how you use it to continue your own learning and often publicly revise.
My mother is very concerned about the state of our country. I try to keep her somewhat positive and have used your channel as an example of what can be right in the world!
Thank you.
Read a book on battle of little bighorn and Tom Custer was a BEAST
I've been there but you brought it all into clarity. Thanks so much.
Thanks!
@@robertbertagna1672 thank you.
Thank you for this great presentation of history that deserves be remembered. Your loyal students eagerly await many more to come!
Discovered your channel three hours ago; binge watching since then. You have a gift for telling these little known stories that is spellbinding.
Wow, wow & WOW, you make my day so often with incredible untold stories such as this. Thanks for the ride down the trail of "history to be remembered".
How amazing, and why do we not already know this? Even Hollywood never picked up on this.
Exactly! I'd watch this! But they can't make a sequel, so......
CHRISLJ........"we" don't already know this because "we" rely on hollywood for their history.....try reading a book. That's how i learned about Tom Custer about 60 years ago.......Word to the wise, do NOT, i repeat, do not get your history from hollywood unless you don't care about facts..........
That is cause of who his brother was
@@verticallogic5909 Man is that ever the truth. Anytime they tell you the movie is "based on a true story" you know it's going to be packed with what ever the writers think will sell more tickets and nothing near the real story.
What a fantastic story!! I've never heard of Thomas Ward Custer.. How is it possible for such a story to exist in relative obscurity regardless of the notoriety of his famous older brother, George Armstrong Custer.. I try to learn something new every day and HG this is todays New Thing!! Really enjoying your channel HG particularly due to the fact that you occasionally examine things outside of the crowded US-o-sphere.. I gave you an 11 out of 10 on a recent video so this post gets a 12 out of 10.. Terrific stuff..
Outstanding! Thank you!
I like your videos learn more every time I see one. Please do not stop
Fantastic presentation. I love this channel and watch every one you do. Thank you.
WELL DONE ! Thanks for taking the time to make an updated version ! I'm always looking forward to your next release !
As far as Gen, Custer's feelings about his brother being the general and he the lieutenant... weellllll, looking at their last battle, maybe he was correct in his analysis. Still what a blow that family suffered that day ! It must have been terrible for them. The Custers gave a preview of what the Sullivan would taste 70 years later.. Losing one relative in battle is horrible. Losing two at once in battle is almost an unspeakable tragedy. So how does one even describe the loss of 5 family members in the same battle. I don't think our language even has the proper word to describe such a loss by a family, other than "devastating".
PS - Liked and Shared !
G'day,
Well, perhaps the overall/underlying purpose of War is to cull the Human-Killer/Warrior Gene from the Global DNA-Pool...; by providing those who carry one or two copies with an environment whereinat such Genes may be best "switched-on, and expressed ?
Y'see, as it turns out, according to the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare Statistics' 1998 & 2000 Papers on,
"Morbidity & Mortality in (Vietnam & other Conflicts )Combat Veterans & their Children...."
; while they found that Combat Veterans displayed 2 times the annual Suicide Deathrate of their own Age-Cohort within the general population (of not Combat-Veterans), the Children of Combat Veterans display 3 times the annual Suicide deathrate...., plus 1.8 times the annual Accidental deathrate...., as well as 1.2 times the annual deathrate from Illness..., as compared to their Age-Cohort among the Children of "Normal" People (who have never been in Combat).
They initially discovered the phenomenon when studying Vietnam Combat Vet's & their Children, but upon further investigation they found the same phenomenon among Combat Veterans from Malaya, Korea, WW-2, Spain & WW-1, and their Children..; describing it as,
"a Generic effect of exposure to Combat, regardless of when, where, or against whom one has fought, and regardless of what weapons one had used - or had used against one....".
Seen in this light, the notable Battlefield-performance of Armed Forces composed entirely of Volunteers (the Waffen SS and the 1st & 2nd Australian Imperial Forces, for example...), may be down to their having 3 times the rate personel of carrying the HK/W-G as compared to the General Population and as found within Armies composed of Conscripts (15% with 2 Copies & 30% with 1 Copy...; versus 5% & 10%...).
Therefore, perforce, the All-Volunteer Units fight harder & more effectively, because they are "Genetically well adapted" to survive in an environment where killing other people is rewarded & applauded, but they have a high deathrate in Combat - because they "get right into it", and they actively TRY to kill their Enemy ("Any Me" ?) rather than prioritising their own "keeping behind cover..." ; and they often, after a War, prefer to stay in the Military, and they often make traumatic and/or toxic parents, self-medicating heavily while blundering in and out of a trail of marital/relationship disasters, as they attempt to bottle up their accumulated Stress.
If their Children survive long enough, sadly, many of them then go on to enlist in the Military, seeking Combat Exposure ; specifically in the hope of returning in a condition to be perhaps able to finally establish some emotional bond, with their Combat Veteran Parent/s.
Egglettes and Oms, y'see ; y' jist cain't have any kind o' decent Shootin' War without killin' people, woundin' people, scramblin' they Brains, and makin' th' whole rest o' they Lives nuthin' but a Shitpotful o' Misery, and they'll tip it all over 'emselves and anybody unlucky enough t' be inside Spatterin' Range....
Lest we Forget (THE HORRORS OF WAR...).
{Strangely, most people forget to finish the invocation when they half-quote that line...}.
By the reading of the Service Records of all the members of the Custer Clan who died at the Battle of the Little Big-Horn (all while happily trying to commit Genocide, on what they thought of as "Barbaric Heathen Tribes of Bloodthirsty Murderous Godless Indians...", or words to that effect ; were all in that place, at that time, having volunteered to be paid to be there, and thereinat to do precisely what they all LOVED Doing.... (Playing at "War !", while using actual real Weapons, all at Taxpayer Expense - and all fully expecting that sombody-else, entirely, would do whatever dying had to be done there on the day...).
And honestly, they all decided to make those choices, freely, because of what their Parents & Family & Friends & Teachers & Preachers & Wives & Girlfriends and the writers of all the Books, Magazines, Newspapers and Pamplets they ever read..., had collectively raised them up and taught them to think of as being "Normal", in such a hypocritically hubristically arrogantly murderous and blasphemously apostatic fashion (they all professed their "Faith" in the Godtheory of "Thou Shalt NOT Kill...", y'see - hence the Apostasy & Blasphemy indictments on the Bill...).
Or, as the old saying used to put it, when regarding the Military personel in a Unit which had been over-run and defeated, their Ship sunk, or their Aircraft shot down...,
"Well, if they couldn't take a bloody Joke..., they should never have joined the Army !".
Such is Life...
Have a good one,
(Top tip..; stay out of ALL Armed Farces, and your Children will likely live to breed as a consequence - your CHOICE....!).
;-p
Ciao !
G'day,
Well, perhaps the overall/underlying purpose of War is to cull the Human-Killer/Warrior Gene from the Global DNA-Pool...; by providing those who carry one or two copies with an environment whereinat such Genes may be best "switched-on, and expressed ?
Y'see, as it turns out, according to the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare Statistics' 1998 & 2000 Papers on,
"Morbidity & Mortality in (Vietnam & other Conflicts )Combat Veterans & their Children...."
; while they found that Combat Veterans displayed 2 times the annual Suicide Deathrate of their own Age-Cohort within the general population (of not Combat-Veterans), the Children of Combat Veterans display 3 times the annual Suicide deathrate...., plus 1.8 times the annual Accidental deathrate...., as well as 1.2 times the annual deathrate from Illness..., as compared to their Age-Cohort among the Children of "Normal" People (who have never been in Combat).
They initially discovered the phenomenon when studying Vietnam Combat Vet's & their Children, but upon further investigation they found the same phenomenon among Combat Veterans from Malaya, Korea, WW-2, Spain & WW-1, and their Children..; describing it as,
"a Generic effect of exposure to Combat, regardless of when, where, or against whom one has fought, and regardless of what weapons one had used - or had used against one....".
Seen in this light, the notable Battlefield-performance of Armed Forces composed entirely of Volunteers (the Waffen SS and the 1st & 2nd Australian Imperial Forces, for example...), may be down to their having 3 times the rate personel of carrying the HK/W-G as compared to the General Population and as found within Armies composed of Conscripts (15% with 2 Copies & 30% with 1 Copy...; versus 5% & 10%...).
Therefore, perforce, the All-Volunteer Units fight harder & more effectively, because they are "Genetically well adapted" to survive in an environment where killing other people is rewarded & applauded, but they have a high deathrate in Combat - because they "get right into it", and they actively TRY to kill their Enemy ("Any Me" ?) rather than prioritising their own "keeping behind cover..." ; and they often, after a War, prefer to stay in the Military, and they often make traumatic and/or toxic parents, self-medicating heavily while blundering in and out of a trail of marital/relationship disasters, as they attempt to bottle up their accumulated Stress.
If their Children survive long enough, sadly, many of them then go on to enlist in the Military, seeking Combat Exposure ; specifically in the hope of returning in a condition to be perhaps able to finally establish some emotional bond, with their Combat Veteran Parent/s.
Egglettes and Oms, y'see ; y' jist cain't have any kind o' decent Shootin' War without killin' people, woundin' people, scramblin' they Brains, and makin' th' whole rest o' they Lives nuthin' but a Shitpotful o' Misery, and they'll tip it all over 'emselves and anybody unlucky enough t' be inside Spatterin' Range....
Lest we Forget (THE HORRORS OF WAR...).
{Strangely, most people forget to finish the invocation when they half-quote that line...}.
By the reading of the Service Records of all the members of the Custer Clan who died at the Battle of the Little Big-Horn (all while happily trying to commit Genocide, on what they thought of as "Barbaric Heathen Tribes of Bloodthirsty Murderous Godless Indians...", or words to that effect ; were all in that place, at that time, having volunteered to be paid to be there, and thereinat to do precisely what they all LOVED Doing.... (Playing at "War !", while using actual real Weapons, all at Taxpayer Expense - and all fully expecting that sombody-else, entirely, would do whatever dying had to be done there on the day...).
And honestly, they all decided to make those choices, freely, because of what their Parents & Family & Friends & Teachers & Preachers & Wives & Girlfriends and the writers of all the Books, Magazines, Newspapers and Pamplets they ever read..., had collectively raised them up and taught them to think of as being "Normal", in such a hypocritically hubristically arrogantly murderous and blasphemously apostatic fashion (they all professed their "Faith" in the Godtheory of "Thou Shalt NOT Kill...", y'see - hence the Apostasy & Blasphemy indictments on the Bill...).
Or, as the old saying used to put it, when regarding the Military personel in a Unit which had been over-run and defeated, their Ship sunk, or their Aircraft shot down...,
"Well, if they couldn't take a bloody Joke..., they should never have joined the Army !".
Such is Life...
Have a good one,
(Top tip..; stay out of ALL Armed Farces, and your Children will likely live to breed as a consequence - your CHOICE....!).
;-p
Ciao !
That was karma on the Custer clan.
Elizabeth Custer had little time to mourn. The day she was notified, she spent the rest of the day notifying the other 20+ widows.
@@roberthudson1959 I'm sure that and funerals kept her busy for awhile. As the commander's wife she was the leader of the wives, so she had to take care of them. Such a burden for one who never signed up for it !
Great video a must see for any civil war buff 😊😊😊😊
Thank you for this video. I have never heard of Thomas, one hell of a soldier.
Fascinating and thank you. Love this era more then any. To think it was only yesterday is crazy.
Mark Daniele I just recently purchased a Winchester 1897 shotgun, made in 1907, and when you think of that, a civil war vet could have bought that gun.
Amazing. Thank you!
Fascinating! Thank you History Guy! I had never heard much about Thomas, other than that he died with his more famous brother at the Little Big Horn. Thanks for this very engaging account!
Another amazing story, thanks. I've been enjoying your channel for awhile now and look forward to the next one. Keep up the great work.
History Lesson. That deserves to be remembered...
I was just reading about the battle of the Little Bighorn and about how George got himself, his two brothers, and half his family scalped along with his whole army, but I never knew about the two medals of honor.
n0gulag one of George Custers letters indicated a little resentment. "Thomas came to dinner wearing his baubles " While they were stationed out West
Seventh Cavalry lost 253 of 597 troopers at Little BigHorn, hardly the "whole army."
@@roberthudson1959 That's absolutely correct. Most of Custer's regiment survived after another two days of heavy fighting against devastating Indian attacks. It's amazing that fact is never mentioned!
@@TheCrusmon6
And upon arrival of General Terry and US reinforcements, Sitting Bull threw up them deuces.
That was awesome!
Great work History Guy! Keep it up.
I love the variety of historical subjects and eras you cover. I never know where you will take us next. Thank you.
Well done. Your delivery of this was animated and engaging. Keep up the good work.
Ty History-Guy!
I learn so much from you. Thank you for sharing your passion.
Much Much better description of brevet ranks.
Dimes On His Eyes thank you!
I agree. A bout explanation of brevet excellent
He was remember in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" a John Wayne, Ford film
Well done Sir.....if you are ever in Ottawa, Canada, I will stand you a beer and we can talk history. Cheers!
Cheers!
Always excellent. Thanks!
The way you presented this gave me goosebumps. Wow.
WOW I did not know that , thanks very very much you are the best....! I are a Civil War buff my self.....Your friend Steve
My god I love this channel!!!
MY GOD THIS CHANNEL IS SHEDDING TOO MUCH BLOOD.LET THERE BE PEACE.😮😊😊😊
I just came upon this channel and I Love It!Subscribed Instantly!I've always loved history and this channel looks like it has so many interesting stories that will be enjoyable to watch!Thank You!
Malcolm Cossar Ive been subbed about a month now and I keep liking every video more and more.
Respect for you making video 9 min 46 seconds. 10 min would have gotten you more money
Really great stuff. Thank you.
outstanding!
Oh my word!!! Did not know a thing about this!!! Thanks so much for the knowledge. U are great!!!
Another fine presentation! Well Done!
This is fascinating to me, I doubt if I would have learned this if I hadn't been subscribed to your channel. I have a lot of RUclipsrs I subscribe to that apparently republish archival footage of significant events in history that do not explain the significance of that event, nor the lead up to it or the lingering results. In this case I'm referring to the US rebuilding of Japan after World War Two. Thanks very much for your videos, they are very appreciated.
They don't teach in school anymore , I learned this back in Jr. High . It's surprises me at how many people don't know about this . Willie Johnson got his at age 13 , Two years after he held on to his drum and equipment during a retreat , most of the had dropped theirs and ran . He was the drummer for the 3rd Vermont alongside his father it's Commander . Or how about the youngest in the 20th century , Jack Lucas 17 , died as a Marine on Iwo Jima when he dove on a grenade to sheild his fellow Marines .
incredible piece of history thanks few today regard the Indian Wars in a positive light but that doesn't change the heroism of those who fought likewise some of the conflicts around the turn of the century but the heroes still deserve to be remembered thanks again for doing so
Why do you not have more subscribers! Thank you for posting these videos.
Thank you! Wow, I had no idea the family was so devastated at Little Big Horn!
I have just recently found your channel and must say I'm hooked, lol. Very good job on the presentation and topics.
Excellent Work! The best film representation of Tom is "Son of the Morning Star". Thank you!
thanks for correcting history......
This I did not know! Thank you for this great, forgotten story!
really enjoy your tidbits. thank you
Great setup and story.
There was a man who won two VCs in combat actions as well, Charles Upham.
Splendid! To be truthful, I'd never even heard of him.
This channel has to have crack cocaine in it!! Very addictive!
That's funny. I think youre right. LOL
Agreed. Is there a intervention coming, or am I allowed to keep watching?😉
Amazing, and perhaps the battle of the little big horn may not have happened. I never knew this. Thank you.
Great information " if we only knew", thanks for the history.
During the Civil War, capturing the enemies colors, or defending your own was considered bravery enough to warrant the CMOH
korbell correct- capturing an enemy standard was almost always rewarded with the MoH. I
At the beginning of the War, there were no decorations for bravery. The Navy introduced the Medal of Honor in 1861, the Army in 1862, and Congress made it permanent in 1863. No other decorations for bravery were created during the War.
6:54 poor horse having to haul Tom Custer and his huge brass balls.
Though I knew of George Custers brother I didn’t know so many of the family dying at little big horn. I know George Custer saying he would give up his rank just to receive the Medal of Honor.
Terry Grossmann At the Little Big Horn Battlefield, the ranger only mentioned Boston Custer during my 1985 visit.
sillyone52062 Even the park ranger didn't know about "Tommy Custer".
@@bentnickel7487 In Ranger Sumner's defense, he was much better versed in the Sharps rifle, why Gatling guns wouldn't have helped Custer and what happened to Reno and Benteen.
sillyone52062 Do you recall why the Gatling gun wouldn't have helped Custer?
@@bentnickel7487 A: Custer had 210 riflemen firing 6 shots per minute. Not noticeably different from a Gatling gun, and the Native American combatants were not deterred.
B: The Gatlings (Custer had three) were horse drawn and so slow off road that bringing them would have delayed Custer greatly. And history would likely tell us of Terry's Last Stand.
Well we know him. And you have to wonder how things would have been had he, as his more famous brother had said, been the general instead.
Sounds like Tommy was doing a good job for his big brother !! 17 y/o and standing toe to toe with the best !!
I would be very interested in a video on the Battle off Samar. Thanks!
Suggestion for your examination - From the General Electric Theater 11/25/1962, "A Mile-Long Shot to Kill". An extraordinary Civil War sniper shot done using mathematical calculation and a telescopic sight, done by Union officer Lt. John T. Metcalf.
Wow! Never heard of this guy. And I never knew how many Custers and kin died at Little Big Horn.
George graduated last in his class.
Purportedly, he only gained an appointment to West Point because an influential republican was trying to keep him away from his daughter. He was a notorious prankster at West Point, and always on the verge of expulsion.
I don't think that I've head of Tom Custer. I did hear of his older brother going into the Academy. The Battle of the Little Big Horn was mentioned. Besides George getting killed, along with most of his men, was the fact that his regiment (?) had three or four Gatling guns. But did not take these guns as they were considered to be, at the time, artillery, and George was a Calvary person. As in a Calvary charge. Heard about this in ROTC, which was cited as example to consider your enemy and your tools.
I think there were several reasons for not taking the gatling guns, which, before the advent of smokeless powder, tended to jam. I think the most direct concern was that the guns would slow the column down, but a sign at Fort Laramie suggests that they were also prone to break down and often in disrepair.
I had no idea that George had a younger brother nor that they died together. My mother was a technical publications editor for the Army at Ft Leavenworth before she retired, we both explored the deap and rich history to be found there but managed to miss this piece of forgotten history. Perhaps you could do a piece about Quindaro Kansas and Cantrell's raiders. Though they are not directly connected they are significant to each other.
Am I wrong or this a redo of one of your earlier videos? Not that it really matters.. great history lesson by an excellent Teacher! Thanks again.
Yes, it is. there is a list of what was changed in the description.
well, it is labelled "updated"
Great description
George Armstrong Custer was a gentleman. And I'm not surprised that he said that his brother should have been the General. But when it came to actual combat, while he wasn't a coward, he *was* an idiot. The only thing he knew was charge straight at the enemy.
He acquired 726 demerits at West Point (one of the worst conduct records in the history of the Academy) and Graduated 34th in his class. The problem was there were only 34 cadets in his final graduating class. If not for the so called Civil War (I call it 'The War for Secession) he would have received an obscure posting, probably never to be heard from again.
Seems George Custer believed there were only 2 places in a class of any note. The head and the foot. Since he knew he couldn't be the head of the class, he decided to secure his place as the foot.
Custer's acts of bravery deserved recognition -- and since the MOH was the only medal for bravery at the time -- that was what he got. Those acts today would receive, at best, a Silver Star. Compare his actions to those of John Basilone at Guadalcanal where he won the MOH and Iwo Jima where he won the Navy Cross (postumously) for the difference.
Ed Tolliver his medals very much fit the standards of the Civil War, but, as you say, the standards were quite different even by the time of the great war.
Thankyou for responding. Yes, seizing the unit colors were a big deal then. It would be interesting to do five minutes on Ensign Ewart of the Royal Scots Greys seizing the Eagle of the 45th at Waterloo. His act was memorialized on the cap badge of the Royal Scots Greys and the Eagle has the place of honor in the mess.
I was particularly interested in how things changed over time because I served with 2 MOH winners and was partners with a guy who was awarded the DSC. He earned the MOH, but because he was serving with a Vietnamese airborne battalion at the time and there were no US witnesses besides the FAC overhead and other Americans with whom he was in radio communications, he received the DSC.
Ed, slight correction. No one "wins" a MOH, they are awarded. They arent prizes to be sought out but honors of recognition that most never knew they were worthy of as they died in the act of.
Point taken...I have personally known and served with 2 MOH and 3 DSC awardees -- that's a big awkward and the reason for the use of 'win'.
Ed Tolliver *recipients
Wow great story and great video.
Congratulations on fixing the general's name! Learn Chick-a-maw-ga. This is fun. Good show.