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Here are the ten oddest
things about George Armstrong Custer, whose glittering career ended in disaster
at Little Bighorn
One:Baby-Talk Nickname: Family called him “Autie” his whole
life after toddler George mispronounced his middle name “Armstrong.”
Two: West Point’s Worst Cadet: Graduated dead last (the infamous
“goat”) in 1861 after racking up a mountain of demerits for pranks—snowball
fights, stolen chickens, even wearing a wig to hide non-regulation hair.
Three: Cinnamon-Scented Locks: The vain cavalryman drenched his
long golden curls in cinnamon oil so they smelled sweet during charges.
Four: Dandy Uniforms: Rode into battle wearing black
velvet jackets trimmed with gold lace, bright red scarves, and wide-brimmed
sombreros—looking more like a showman than a soldier.
Five: Boy General at 23: Promoted to brigadier general at age
23 after daring charges; newspapers dubbed him the youngest Union general.
Six: Surrender Table Trophy: His wife Libbie received the actual
small table Grant used to draft Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. She loaned the table to the
Smithsonian in 1912. Title to the table was transferred to the Smithsonian
after her death.
Seven: Custer Family Massacre: Five members of his immediate
family—including two brothers, a nephew, and brother-in-law—died with him at
Little Bighorn.
Eight: Court-Martialed for Love: Suspended a year in 1867 for
abandoning his Kansas regiment without permission just to see his beloved
Libbie.
Nine: Custer’s Luck: Eleven horses shot out from under
him during the Civil War; he emerged unscathed every time—until June 25, 1876.
Ten: Last-Minute Haircut: Contrary to legend, he cropped his
famous curls short right before Little Bighorn to beat the summer heat.
Custer’s Last Stand Re-examined
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