1872 River Raisin Survivors Reunion-- Part 1: Was George Custer At This One As Well?

From the "Custer in Photographs" book by D. Mark Katz.

Evidently, there were no photographs taken at the 1872 Reunion as there had been at the one in 1871 as the book did not have one in it.

However, in the back of the book is a very full Custer Chronology, which for July 4, 1872, says that Custer attended the reunion of the veterans of the War of 1812 in Monroe, Michigan.

He Be There.  --Brock-Perry

River Raisin Survivors 1871 Reunion-- Part 5: Plans for the 1872 Reunion

Peter and Robert Navarre continued to reside in the area until their deaths.  Frank Boroff, the centenarian, was born in Pennsylvania in 1770.  The united ages of the group were 1,168 years, an average of nearly 90 years.

"The pleasure derived  at this assembly  gave rise to extensive preparations for welcoming to the old battle grounds the survivors of the War of 1812."  The date chosen was July 4, 1872.

An amazing number of the old veterans from Harrison's army, serving at Fort Meigs and elsewhere in this section during the War of 1812, 121, responded in person to the invitations.

--Brock-Perry

River Raisin Survivors 1871 Reunion-- Part 4: Attendees

Louis Jacobs, 96
Henry Mason, 79
James B. Nadeau, 77

Peter Navarre, 82
Robert F. Navarre, 81
Joseph Poulke, 80

George Younglove, 77
David Van Pelt, 89
William Walters, 88

Thomas Whelpley,  73

--Brock-Perry

River Raisin Survivors 1871 Reunion-- Part 3: In Attendance

These were those in attendance, followed by their age:

John Beseau, 80
Francis Lazarre, , 82
John Clapper, 76

Jean DeChovin, 77
Hall Deland, 75
Bronson French, 82

Joseph Guyor  The man who organized it and held it at his place.
Charles Hixon, 76
F. Boraff, age 100 yrs, 7 months

--Brock-Perry

River Raisin Veterans 1871 Reunion-- Part 2: Another Reunion in 1872

The occasion was so thoroughly enjoyed by the guests that  a suggestion was made and cordially received that ample preparations for the 60th anniversary of the Battle of the River Raisin should be made the following year (1872), and that general invitations should be extended bu correspondence and published notices in the newspapers of Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, to all the survivors of the Battle of the River Raisin.

It was afterwards determined, as the anniversary would occur at such an inclement of the year (January) that few of the old survivors could attend  from such a distance, to hold a convention on the following 4th of July, 1872.

--Quite a Reunion.  --Brock-Perry

The 1871 Gathering of War of 1812 Veterans in Monroe, Michigan-- Part 1

From Geneaology Trails, Monroe County, Michigan, Military.

*History of the War of 1812*  By Talcott E. Wing, Editor New York Munsell & Company, publishers. 1890.   Submitted by Veneta McKinney.

In early June 1871, a notice appeared in the Monroe City papers of an invitation for War of 1812 veterans from the Battle of the River Raisin to assemble at the residence of Joseph Guyor on what was known as Guyor's Island,

On June 15, nineteen survivors of the battle attended along with prominent citizens of Monroe.

A banquet was prepared for the old heroes and a cordial welcome was tendered by the Honorable Herman J. Redfield, mayor of Monroe.  This was followed by addresses by General George A. Custer, Col.  I.R. Grosven, Col. Lucas and others.

The afternoon was pleasantly passed recounting memories of the war as well as anecdotes of a local character.

A copy of the photograph taken of the gathering was also included.

--Brock-Perry

June 25, 1876, a Particularly Bad Day for the Custer Clan

As long as I am on the subject, a large number of Emmanuel Henry Custer's family died on June 25, 1876, out at the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

George Armstrong Custer  (December 5, 1839-June 25, 1876, age 36)  For the location of these two burials, see the preceding blog entry.

Thomas Ward Custer  (March 15, 1845-June 25, 1876, age 31)

Boston Custer  (October 31, 1848-June 25, 1876, age 27)  Buried Woodland Cemetery, Monroe, Michigan.

James Calhoun  (August 24, 1845-June 25, 1876, age 30)  Married to Emanuel's daughter Margaret Emma Custer Calhoun.  Buried Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Harry Armstrong "Autie" Reed  (April 27, 1858-June 25, 1876, age 18)  Buried Woodland Cemetery, Monroe, Wisconsin.

That had to be a hard time in Monroe, Michigan, when the family found out about the battle.

Poor Emanuel Custer.  --Brock-Perry

Where George and Tom Custer Are Buried

As long as I am on burials, two other of the Custer boys are buried elsewhere from Woodland Cemetery.

Thomas Ward Custer, younger brother of George Custer is buried at the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  His gravestone says he was awarded two Medals of Honor during the Civil War and he died with his brother at the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

George Armstrong Custer was killed at the Battle  of the Little Big Horn and his body initially buried in a shallow grave on the site.  A year later, he was dug up and reburied with full military honors at the West Point Cemetery on October  10, 1877.

--Brock-Perry

Custer and the Civil War, His Confederate Friend and George Washington

Besides in this blog, with George Custer's connection to the War of 1812, I have been writing about George Custer in the Civil War, primarily at this point on his running into a friend of his from his USMA at West Point, Lt. James Worrell Washington during the war.

Only, his friend was now in the Confederate Army.  And now, a Union prisoner after the Battle of Seven Pines.  A picture was taken of the two friends, now adversaries.

You can find out about this "reunion" as well as its connection to John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry and the George Washington relics at my Saw the Elephant Civil War blog.

Click on the My Blogs slot to the right of this.

--Brock-Perry

Woodland Cemetery in Monroe, Michigan: Famous Burials

From Find-A-Grave.

George Armstrong Custer's father, Emanuel Henry Custer is buried in this cemetery.  Other persons of note buried there:

Several U.S. and Michigan legislators including Isaac Peckham Christiancy, David Noble, Edwin Willits and Austin Wing.

Civil War:

Col. George W. Spalding, 12th Tennessee Cavalry
Brevet Brig. General , US Regular Army Joseph Rowe Smith, Sr.

Also, from the Civil War:

Boston Custer, son of Emanuel Henry Custer and brother of George Armstrong Custer.  Killed at the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

Also died at Battle of Little Big Horn:

Harry Armstrong "Autie" Reed, nephew of George Armstrong Custer and Boston Custer.  Killed at the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

--Brock-Perry

Emanuel Henry Custer: George A. Custer's Father

In the last post, I mentioned that one of the War of 1812 veterans in the 1871 photograph with Lt.Col. Custer was an Emmanuel Custer.  I wondered whether he might be a relative of Custer.

He was.

Emanual, spelled with one "m" was George A. Custer's father.

From Find-A-Grave.

Born 10 December 1806 in Cresaptown , Maryland  (It is doubtful then, at ages 6 to 9,  that he was War of 1812 veteran.)

Death 29 November 1892 in Monroe, Michigan.

Buried in Woodland Cemetery in Monroe, Michigan.

--Brock-Perry

Lt.Col. Custer and War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 5: The Front Tow

Age is shown after the name.  The photograph is dated July 4, 1871.

Peter Navarre, 82
James B. Nadeau, 77
Emmanual Custer,

Robert F. Navarre, 80
Joseph Foulke, 80
Bronson French, 82

I wonder if Emmanuel Custer was a relation of George A. Custer?

--Brock-Perrt

Lt.Col. Custer and War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 4: The Men In the Photo

CENTER ROW (from left with ages):

John B. Beaseau, 80
George Younglove, 77
Fred Boroff, 100, 7 months

David Van Pelt, 89
Louis Jacobs, 96
Charles Hixon, 76

Henry Mason, 79
Thomas Whelpley, 73
Joseph Guyor, 88

--Brock-Perry

Lt. Colonel Custer and the War of 1812-- Part 3: War of 1812 Veterans

K-106 --  Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer and veterans of the War of 1812, July 4, 1871, by Simon Wing, Monroe, Michigan.  Copied from the unique, original, direct-contact albumen print, courtesy of the Monroe County Historical Commission.

Taken at the residence of Joseph Guyor, Guyonr's Island, two miles east of Monroe, Michigan.

TOP ROW:  John Beshear, John Clapper, age 76; Lieutenant Colonel George A, Custer; Francis Lazarre, age 82;  Jean DeChovin, age 72.

--Btock-Perry

Lt.Col. Custer and War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 2: Custer in 1871

The photograph was taken July 4, 1871.  The book has a timeline of Custer's life in the back of it.

The end of 1870 found Custer and his regiment at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

JAN. 11--  Custer is given 120 days leave to consider resigning from the Army.  Custer and his wife Libbie return to Monroe, Michigan.

From there, Custer travels to New York to investigate a financial career.

FEBRUARY--  Custer is in New York, hoping to sell some mining stock.

SUMMER--  Custer travels between Monroe, Michigan, and New York City.

JULY--  While in New York and Saratoga, Custer asks for and receives a 30-day extension on his leave.

JULY 4--  Custer is in Monroe, Michigan, for a reunion of the veterans of the War of 1812.

SEPTEMBER 3--  Custer is ordered to report to his new post at Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

NOVEMBER 20--  Custer and Libbie are in Lexington, Kentucky.  For two weeks they visit in Louisville and Cincinnati, Ohio.

--Brock-Perry

For Some More On Custer

I have also been writing about George Armstrong Custer in my Saw the Elephant Civil War blog.

He went to the USMA at West Point with James Barroll Washington from Baltimore and the two became great friends.  But, Washington (a distant relative of George Washington, joined the Confederacy in the Civil War.  he was captured at the Battle of Seven Pines and encountered Custer while a prisoner.

The two relived old days and sat for photographs.

--Brock-Perry

Custer and the War of 1812-- Part 2: Custer and River Raisin Massacres

George Armstrong Custer remembered the Raisin as well.  He spent much of his youth in Monroe, Michigan, the city that grew up along the River Raisin.

In 1871, he was photographed with War of 1812 veterans beside a monument to Americans slaughtered during and especially after the battle.

Five years later, George A, Custer also died fighting Indians, in one of the most lopsided defeats for U.S. forces since the River Raisin Battle 63 years before his massacre.

--Brock-Perry

Sept. 14, 1814: By the Dawn's Early Light, "The Star-Spangled Banner"

On this date in 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote his poem "The Defence of Fort McHenry" after witnessing the British bombardment of Baltimore's McHenry in Maryland during the War of 1812.

It was later set to music and renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner" and, you know the rest.

--Brock-Perry

Custer and the War of 1812-- Part 1: The River Raisin Massacre

From the Smithsonian Magazine  "The Ten Things You Didn't Know About the War of 1812" by Tony Horwitz and Brian Wolly.

Yesterday I wrote about a photograph of George Armstrong Custer and War of 1812 veterans taken in 1871.

7.  The Ill-fated  General Custer had his start in this war.

In 1813, by the River Raisin in Michigan, British and their Indian allies dealt the U.S. its most stinging defeat in the War of 1812, and the battle was followed by  an Indian attack on the wounded prisoners, often referred to as a massacre.  The incident sparked the American battle cry, "Remember the Raisin."

William Henry Harrison, who later led the U.S. to victory  against the British and Indians, is remembered on his tomb as the "Avenger of the Massacre of the River Raisin."

George Armstrong Custer grew up in Monroe, Michigan, located by the River Raisin.

Brock-Perry

Lt.Col. George Armstrong Custer and War of 1812 Veterans

From the book "Custer in Photographs" by D. Mark Katz.

Yesterday I bought this book at the Friends of the Woodstock (Illinois) Library book sale room.  It contains every known photograph of the man, at least up until the publish date in 1985.

Quite an accomplishment, but you can only look at so many pictures of Custer and it gets boring.

However, on page 90, I found a picture of him posing with War of 1812 veterans on July 4, 1871.  These were quite some elderly gentlemen back then.

Custer stands in the back row in one of his classic, but not in a military uniform, poses looking to his right whereas all the rest are looking forwards.

Could this be one of the largest gatherings of War of 1812 veterans ever photographed?    There are 19 of them in the picture.

--Brock-Perry