Tom Custer

Tom Custer
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Name	Tom Custer
Birth date	March 15, 1845
Birth place	New Rumley, Ohio
Death date	June 25, 1876
Death place	Little Bighorn River, Montana Territory
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Army
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	7th Cavalry Regiment
Battles	American Civil War, Battle of Appomattox Court House, Battle of Washita, Battle of Little Bighorn

Tom Custer was a United States Army officer and the younger brother of George Armstrong Custer. He is best known for his service in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars, particularly the Battle of Little Bighorn, where he fought alongside his brother George Armstrong Custer and other notable figures such as Marcus Reno and Frederick Benteen. Tom Custer's military career was marked by his bravery and distinguished service, earning him the Medal of Honor twice, for his actions at Namozine Church and Sayler's Creek. He was also associated with other prominent military leaders, including Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, and Philip Sheridan.

● Early Life

Tom Custer was born in New Rumley, Ohio, to Emanuel Custer and Marie Ward Kirkpatrick Custer. He grew up with his brothers, George Armstrong Custer and Boston Custer, and was educated at McNeely Normal School in Hopedale, Ohio. Tom Custer's early life was influenced by his family's strong Presbyterian Church roots and his father's work as a farmer and blacksmith, similar to other notable figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee. He was also familiar with the Ohio River Valley and the surrounding areas, including Cincinnati, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

● Military Career

Tom Custer enlisted in the United States Army in 1861, at the start of the American Civil War, and served in the 6th Ohio Cavalry Regiment and the 35th Ohio Infantry Regiment. He fought in several battles, including the Battle of Appomattox Court House, where he was present at the surrender of Robert E. Lee to Ulysses S. Grant. Tom Custer also served in the Indian Wars, participating in the Battle of Washita and other campaigns against the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, alongside other notable military leaders such as Nelson A. Miles and Ranald S. Mackenzie. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and became the commander of the 7th Cavalry Regiment's C Company, which was part of the Dakota Territory's military presence, including Fort Abraham Lincoln and Fort Rice.

● Battle of Little Bighorn

Tom Custer fought in the Battle of Little Bighorn, where he was part of the 7th Cavalry Regiment's ill-fated campaign against the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes. The battle, which took place on June 25, 1876, was a decisive defeat for the United States Army, and Tom Custer was killed in action, along with his brother George Armstrong Custer and many other soldiers, including Myles Keogh and James Calhoun. The battle was a significant turning point in the Great Sioux War of 1876, which involved other notable military leaders such as Nelson A. Miles and George Crook. The Battle of Little Bighorn was also closely tied to the Fort Laramie Treaty and the Dawes Act, which had significant impacts on the Native American tribes of the Great Plains.

● Awards and Legacy

Tom Custer was awarded the Medal of Honor twice, for his actions at Namozine Church and Sayler's Creek, making him one of the few soldiers to receive the award twice. He was also recognized for his bravery and distinguished service in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars, and was mentioned in the dispatches of several notable military leaders, including Ulysses S. Grant and Philip Sheridan. Tom Custer's legacy is closely tied to that of his brother George Armstrong Custer, and he is remembered as a hero of the United States Army, alongside other notable figures such as Robert E. Lee and William Tecumseh Sherman. He is buried at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery in Kansas, and his grave is marked with a Medal of Honor headstone, similar to those of other notable military leaders such as John Buford and Joshua Chamberlain.

● Personal Life

Tom Custer was married to Elizabeth Bacon Custer's sister, Maggie Custer, and had a close relationship with his brother George Armstrong Custer and his wife Elizabeth Bacon Custer. He was also friends with several other notable military leaders, including Marcus Reno and Frederick Benteen, and was known for his bravery and sense of humor, similar to other notable figures such as Jeb Stuart and George Pickett. Tom Custer's personal life was marked by his strong sense of duty and loyalty to his family and the United States Army, and he is remembered as a devoted husband, brother, and soldier, alongside other notable figures such as Ambrose Burnside and Joseph Hooker.

Category:American Civil War Category:Indian Wars Category:Medal of Honor recipients Category:United States Army officers Category:People from Ohio Category:People of the American Old West