when we spoke in camera, you shared a vignette with me about an incident that happened at Ft. Lincoln,” Clymer said. “I wonder if you could share that with the committee.”
“Yes, sir, I would be glad to,” Custer replied. “Because the post trader was charging soldiers so much money just for the bare necessities, I and some of the officers of the Seventh pooled our resources and bought goods from suppliers in Bismarck. We could get a soldier’s needs for almost half of what the post trader charged, and we sold it to the men at cost. But Secretary Belknap sent direct orders prohibiting us from doing that, saying that members of the military could buy only from the post trader.”
“Colonel Custer,” Baker said, purposely eschewing the use of his brevet rank. “Isn’t this order designed to specifically prohibit civilian merchants from taking advantage of the soldier?”
“Meaning it is better for the post sutler to take advantage of the soldier?” Custer responded.
“Mr. Chairman, I request that you inform the witness that he is to show proper respect to the members of this committee, or face contempt of congress charges,” Baker said.
“General, you will be respectful at all times, sir,” Clymer instructed Custer.
“I beg your pardon, gentlemen of the committee,” Custer said. “I meant no disrespect. It was merely my—admittedly awkward—attempt to explain the situation. I apologize.”
“Apology accepted,” Clymer replied.
Later, the discussion turned to arms, and Custer complained that while his troops were equipped with old, single shot weapons, the Indians were being sold repeating rifles.
“Are you saying, General, that the United States Army is not being supplied with the finest weapons available?” Democrat Congressman Davis of West Virgina asked.
“That is exactly what I’m saying, Congressman,” Custer replied.
“May I ask the colonel what is wrong with the weapons your soldiers are carrying?” Baker asked.
It did not escape Falcon’s notice that those congressman who were supporting Belknap addressed Custer by his actual rank, lieutenant colonel, whereas those who were supporting Custer’s charges addressed him by his brevet rank, general.
“In comparison to the newest, repeating rifles, Congressman Baker, the shortfalls are almost too numerous to mention,” Custer said. “But I will tell you the most egregious fault.”
Custer took a shell and a bent nail from his pocket and held them up for all to see. “This, gentlemen, is the biggest problem with the Sharps Carbine.”
“I don’t understand, Colonel,” Baker said. “What are you telling us?”
“This is a forty-five-caliber cartridge,” Custer said, holding up the shell. “The shell casing is made of copper. At least half the time, after the weapon is fired, the cartridge swells up in the chamber and the ejector, instead of withdrawing the empty casing, merely cuts through the flange, leaving the casing tightly lodged in the chamber.” He held up the bent nail. “That leaves the soldier with no alternative, but to use a bent nail to dig the cartridge out.” He pantomimed a demonstration, then put the shell and the nail on the table before him. “In the meantime, the Indian, who is armed with a repeater rifle, can get off four or five more shots.”
“And you blame Secretary Belknap for that?” Clymer asked.
“I do indeed, sir,” Custer said. Then he added, “And I also blame the president’s brother, Orville Grant.”
At the mention of President Grant’s brother’s name, there was such an outcry that Clymer had to gavel the meeting back to order.
Once order was restored, Custer continued his testimony, naming names and pointing out specific incidents of corruption.
May 1, 1876
Willard Hotel
The hearings had been going on for two days now, and so far Custer had been unable to arrange a meeting with Secretary of War Taft. He was beginning to think about chucking the whole thing and just going back to Colorado. What difference did it really make whether he had a government commission or not? If the governor didn’t like it, he could appoint someone else in his place.
Buying a newspaper, Falcon settled in a comfortable leather chair in the lobby of the hotel and began reading an account of Custer’s appearance. Unlike the article Custer had shown Falcon in New York, this newspaper, which was a supporter of President Grant and his administration, was particularly harsh in its appraisal of Custer’s latest appearance before congress.
Custer’s Testimony
INUENDO AND VILIFICATION.
Shocks Fellow Officers.
Custer, a well-known self-aggrandizer, has gone to great lengths to disparage his fellow officers by means of innuendo, hearsay, and, some believe, perjury. According to Colonel James Forsyth, an aide to General Sherman, “Not a single officer of the army approves Custer’s testimony, which is largely made up of frontier gossip and stories.”
“Mr. MacCallister?”
Looking up from the paper, Falcon saw a woman who appeared to be in her late twenties or early thirties. She was blond, wearing a dress of dark blue silk and a white hat trimmed with an ostrich feather that was dyed the same shade of blue as her dress. She was, Falcon observed, an exceptionally pretty woman.
“I’m Falcon MacCallister,” Falcon said, standing quickly.
“Mr. MacCallister, my name is Lorena Wood,” the young woman said. “I’m from Secretary Taft’s office. His carriage is outside, and if you would care to accompany me, I’ll take you to him.”
“Thank you, I’d be glad to,” Falcon said.
When they reached the open carriage, the driver started to climb down to help Lorena into the conveyance, but Falcon held up his hand to stop the driver while offering his own assistance to Miss Wood.
Lorena proved to be a delightful companion, pointing out various landmarks and sites as the carriage rolled through the streets of Washington. She also had a good sense of humor, and a rich, throaty laugh.
“Oh, my,” the driver said as he drew the team to a stop.
“What is it, Mr. Bailey?” Lorena asked.
“There are two wagons drawn across the road, miss,” the driver said “And I have the uncomfortable feeling that they were put there purposely in order to prevent our passage.”
“Can you back out?” Lorena asked.
“I intend to try,” Bailey said, hauling back on the reins.
The horses began to back up, and the carriage started rolling slowly in reverse. Before they had gone very far, three men suddenly appeared from behind the blockading wagons, and they ran up the street toward the carriage, brandishing knives. One of them cut the reins to the team, and the horses stopped.
“Stay where you are, driver,” one of the men said gruffly.
