Stationed in Hempstead and Austin around 1865. His father and his brother were there also.
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General Custer in Texas
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Last: 3 yr ago by BQ78
Spent most of it in Austin. Loved taking Libbie and the band up to Mt. Bonnell for concerts. Moved his men north of town in tents near today's 38th St on Shoal Creek so they wouldn't mix with the civilians, kept them out of town. He loved partying with the local bigwigs at his headquarters in the still standing Nowatny Building next to the Erwin Center on the tu campus. At the time it was north of town.
The Neil Cochrane House was used as the hospital for his troops. Austin loved him for his velvet glove and mourned him when he died 10 years later. It was in Austin where the post-war troops began to hate him because he viewed them as trash and kept them out of town.
The Neil Cochrane House was used as the hospital for his troops. Austin loved him for his velvet glove and mourned him when he died 10 years later. It was in Austin where the post-war troops began to hate him because he viewed them as trash and kept them out of town.
Having just finished Empire of the Summer Moon, I'm struck by the relative glory of Custer vs. the obscurity of Ranald S. McKenzie, who was a much more effective officer and Indian fighter.
Canyon - Custer had much better PR. Sort of like the difference between a rat and a squirrel. The squirrel has a better PR agent.
Better PR? That would be his wife Libby, right? Wasn't she the big factor behind his legacy?
Custer got better PR during the war between the states and then wrote a book or two that got a lot of press.
Libby carried on.
Agree McKenzie was a lot more effective.
When I was in grad school at UT I saw a picture of Custer and staff standing on the steps of a building in Austin that was part of the "Old Campus;" It was built before the school got started but incorporated into it later. It was on 19th street if memory serves.
Also, while in Texas Custer executed one of his own men for stealing from a local.
Libby carried on.
Agree McKenzie was a lot more effective.
When I was in grad school at UT I saw a picture of Custer and staff standing on the steps of a building in Austin that was part of the "Old Campus;" It was built before the school got started but incorporated into it later. It was on 19th street if memory serves.
Also, while in Texas Custer executed one of his own men for stealing from a local.
I'm convinced, lets change tu from the longhorns to the tu custer's.
[This message has been edited by 4ZORRO (edited 1/10/2011 4:09p).]
[This message has been edited by 4ZORRO (edited 1/10/2011 4:09p).]
Custer on the steps of the Arno Nowotny House which is restored and is on the UT campus. As mentioned it was the Blind Asylum and his HQ during his time in Austin.
http://www.nchmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/The-Custer-Photo.jpg
http://www.nchmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/The-Custer-Photo.jpg
So G.A. Custer was a teasip - go figure....
Custer is largely famous because in the end he was a failure and got butchered. I'm sure McKenzie is just fine with less notoriety and a full life.
It reminds me of a scene in Lonesome Dove when Gus discusses this very topic with Call and says people forgot who they were because they never got killed. He says if some indians had wiped them out like the Souix did Custer they would be writing songs about them for a hundred years.
It reminds me of a scene in Lonesome Dove when Gus discusses this very topic with Call and says people forgot who they were because they never got killed. He says if some indians had wiped them out like the Souix did Custer they would be writing songs about them for a hundred years.
quote:Said the guy who doesn't know McKenzie's life story.
I'm sure McKenzie is just fine with less notoriety and a full life.
quote:
Said the guy who doesn't know McKenzie's life story.
You are largely correct, I was just guessing he must have had a better ending than Custer. Being from Shackelford County I am familar with him and his role in the Indian wars but not much more than that. I will have to add him to my list of topics to read up on.
yep, not a pleasant way to go....
He had some sort of mental illness at the end of his life. As Canyon said reach "Empire of the Summer Moon" for much more on McKenzie's life.
[This message has been edited by WestAustinAg (edited 1/14/2011 1:48p).]
[This message has been edited by WestAustinAg (edited 1/14/2011 1:48p).]
Likely SyphilisWestAustinAg said:
He had some sort of mental illness at the end of his life. As Canyon said reach "Empire of the Summer Moon" for much more on McKenzie's life.
[This message has been edited by WestAustinAg (edited 1/14/2011 1:48p).]
I believe G.A.Custer also stayed at Liendo Ranch near Hempstead for a spell. I've been to one of the Civil War reinactments there and that one of their claims to fame.
Heard the same thing. I was told the only reason it wasn't torched after he moved in was because he liked it so much
-the Custer's and about 4000 troops resided at Liendo Plantation for 4 months in late 1865. The grounds also served as as a Union army POW camp during the war.
Elizabeth 'Libbie' Bacon Custer
Not bad at all.
Here is his Cheyenne wife, Monahsetah.