George Armstrong Custer and his wife Libbie, recalled in Monroe this week.
CUSTER WEEK:
Famed Boy General Gets His Due in Monroe This Week
September 30, 2012
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By: Dave Rogers
Maj. Gen. George Armstrong Custer, who led Civil War cavalrymen from the Bay City area to victory at Gettysburg, soon. will get the lavish plaudits he always craved.
The New Custer Brass Band of Los Angeles, California will perform a free concert at the museum on Thursday, October 4th at 7:30 p.m. at the Monroe County Historical Museum that features a special Custer Exhibit.
Steve Charpie, band leader remarked, "We'll talk about his red ties and his brass band's white horses and play his famous theme song Gary Owen. The stories are addicting!"
NOT THE "BEST" GENERAL, BUT THE BEST MAN: A CURIOUS INCIDENT IN THE CIVIL WAR CAREER OF GEORGE A. CUSTER
This presentation, by lifelong Custer student Vincent A. Heier, retired Catholic priest from St. Louis, Missouri, will take place on Saturday, October 6th, 10:30 a.m. at the Monroe County Historical Museum.
Father Heier, a member of the Little Big Horn Association, has visited Monroe many times and shared his collection of memorabilia about Custer and the media. In fact some of his items are on display at the museum.
Following Father Heier, Lorne Langley will speak on CAPTAIN CUSTER IN '62. Mr. Langley will be discussing George Custer's Civil war experience in 1862, including both administrative and combat duties, which ultimately led to his promotion to general. Included will be the generals on whose staffs he served and their influences on the young captain, and his courtship and budding romance with Monroe's Elizabeth Clift Bacon.
A special display will include Elizabeth Custer's personal Michigan 7th Cavalry Regimental badge designed by General Custer for members of the Michigan Brigade. The brigade was comprised of Michigan's First, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Cavalry units. The smallest was the Seventh, comprised of Lt. James G. Birney IV and many men from this area.
This badge, made by Tiffany's of New York exclusively for Mrs. Custer, was thought to be lost. It is a Maltese Cross with top vertical bar as bottom point of a five-point General's Star, the borders of both are etched and outlined with blue enamel. The curved horizontal portion of the Maltese Cross with CUSTER, surrounding in blue enamel, TUEBOR (I will defend) at bottom of cross in blue enamel. Freshwater pearls are arranged in the General's Star and inside the Maltese Cross. This badge was among items given by Mrs. Custer to Margaret Flood, her personal assistant. There are few known existing "Custer Badges" and the smaller size made Mrs. Custer's badge unique.
"The museum is very pleased to be able to showcase this exquisite item," Curator Chris Kull reports. "This is truly a one-of-a-kind piece and we are glad it is back in Libbie's hometown."
For further information contact Chris Kull at 240-7787.
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Dave Rogers
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Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read, respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City. (Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)
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