Capt. Tom Custer

 

A brother to Lt. Col. George A. Custer, Captain Tom Custer was assigned as Aide-de-camp on Custer's staff.
(LIBI Archives/Library)

Born on March 15, 1845, at New Rumley, Ohio, Tom Custer was more than five years younger than his more famous older brother, George Armstrong. Tom joined the army at the age of sixteen; he was two years under age when he enlisted to fight in the Civil War on September 2, 1861. He participated in the Battle of Stone's River, December 31, 1862 – January 2, 1863. Thereafter, he served on escort duty for a number of generals including Ulysses S. Grant and George Thomas. Tom reenlisted and on October 23, 1864, he was appointed second lieutenant with the 6^th Michigan Cavalry, serving as aide-de-camp to his brother George Custer.

He was awarded two Medals of Honor for his actions at Namozine Church, April 3, 1865, and at Sayler's Creek, April 6, 1865. In these two fights, Tom captured two battle flags and was wounded in the face. He was the first man in American military history and the only Federal soldier in the Civil War to be awarded two Medals of Honor.

Tom Custer joined his brother's command in Texas after the war to restore order and combat French presence in Mexico under Prince Maximilian. He served in Texas until officially mustered out on April 24, 1866. After a brief appointment as second lieutenant, 1^st Cavalry, he accepted an appointment as first lieutenant, 7^th Cavalry, on December 2, 1866, effective July 28, 1866.

Tom Custer's initial experience of Indian campaigning with the 7^th Cavalry took place on the plains of Kansas. General Hancock's summer campaign of 1867 failed to subdue the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Lakota due to superior Plains Indian mobility using hit-and-run tactics. At the Battle of Washita in modern-day Oklahoma on November 27, 1868, Tom received a minor flesh wound in his right hand from a stray bullet as the 7th Cavalry inflicted a devastating defeat to Black Kettle's Southern Cheyenne.

In 1873, the 7^th Cavalry moved to the northern Plains to deal with railroad expansion through Lakota and Northern Cheyenne territory and was stationed at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory. During the summer of 1873, Tom participated in the Yellowstone Expedition, where he was involved in two fights with the Lakota. In 1874, he participated in the Black Hills expedition where gold was confirmed and precipitated a gold rush.

In late December 1874, Tom arrested Rain-in-the–Face, a noted Lakota warrior, for participation in the killing of two civilians, Sutler Augustus Baliran and Dr. John Honsinger, during the Yellowstone Expedition of 1873. Tom led two companies of the 7^th Cavalry to arrest him. Guide Charley Reynolds identified Rain-in-the Face to Custer at the agency store in Standing Rock Agency. Tom drew close, threw his arms around Rain-in-the-Face and, with the help of another soldier, disarmed him. Tom led his prisoner through a shower of threats by Lakota warriors at the agency and successfully returned him to the Fort Abraham Lincoln guardhouse. Rain-in-the Face later escaped from the guardhouse and threatened to kill Tom Custer and eat his heart.

Tom was appointed Captain, 7^th Cavalry, on December 2, 1875. During the Little Bighorn campaign of 1876, Tom was Captain of Company C, but served as aide-de-camp on George Custer's staff at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Tom died with his brother at the 'Last Stand' area of the battlefield. He was 31 years of age. He was found terribly mutilated after the battle, being identified only by the tattoo "TWC" on his right arm. Tom's remains were initially buried on the Battlefield, but were exhumed in July 1877, and reinterred in Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.

Learn more: "Tom Custer: Ride to Glory" by Carl F. Day, Volume 22 of the Frontier Military Series (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2005)