JULY 25: Herald Raises Money for Memorial
In its July 25, 1876 issue, The New York Herald reports on its effort to raise money to construct a memorial for slain military hero George Armstrong Custer. A headline blared, “THE CUSTER MEMORIAL: Subscriptions Going Up as the Temperature Goes Down; Some Handsome Subscriptions from the South; Reminiscence of the Dead.”
The article reads: “As the thermometer goes down the enthusiasm of the people in respect to the Custer monument goes up. Below will be found a few of the many eloquent and feeling letters addressed to the HERALD on the subject. The writers emphasize their professions of honor and veneration for Custer’s memory by donations ranging in accordance with the means of the donors, from $100 to five cents.”
In confirming a $100 contribution from the Mobile (Ala.) Cadets, Capt. W.J. Brainard wrote:
“In common with the universal sentiment of admiration for the gallantry and valor of the late General Custer we beg to enclose sight draft on Importers’ and National Bank, New York, for $100 as our contribution to the Memorial Fund. Such courage and such manhood belong not only to his fellow citizens but to the immortality of history.”
Here’s “another characteristic reminiscence,” this time from Harvey M. Ramseur of Charlotte, N.C.:
“Enclosed please fine $5, which I hope will help defray the expenses of the Custer monument. General Custer was a classmate of my brother, General S.D. Ramseur, at West Point. After a pleasant college life together they parted to take opposite sides in the war between the States. They met on several hard-fought battle fields, each striving to ‘cut down’ the other. But when General Ramseur was mortally wounded at ‘Cedar Creek’ and fell into the hands of the enemy, General Custer was the first to recognize him. He stayed by him administering to his wants until he breathed his last, and after death had his body sent home. Though determined and unrelenting in battle, he proved a noble friend when called upon to relieve a dying classmate. Would that I were able to give more toward the erection of a monument to the memory of so noble, brave and true a soldier!”
And, finally, this from Edward Morrissey, President, and Thomas Mathews, Secretary, of The West Side Chowder Club:
“The West Side Chowder Club held their annual picnic on Sunday the 23d inst., at Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island. After paying the expenses of the excursion a balance of $27.39 remained to the credit of the club, and it was unanimously agreed that the sum be appropriated to the custer monument fund. The members of the club feel that they are discharging a sacred duty in paying this tribute to the memory of as brave an officer as ever wielded a sword.”
An illustration of a statue memorializing George Armstrong Custer was skewered in this Puck cartoon drawn when plans were being discussed for a new statue honoring Ulysses Grant. (Credit: Library of Congress)
Architect Stanford White. (Credit: Library of Congress)
It is unclear what happened to the money raised by the New York Herald for the Custer Memorial. About the same time, Congress approved a Custer statue and wanted it to be created using 20 condemned bronze cannons. The cost was $10,000 and it appears Congress appropriated $4,000 and the balance was “subscribed from citizens of New York.” There is no mention of any of that funding coming from the New York Herald.
The statue was unveiled in 1879, but it was not a big hit with Libbie Custer and the military brass. The statue did not adequately reflect the General’s likeness, as remembered by his wife. After five years, the statue was removed from the pedestal, which remained at West Point. The statue was then sent to New York to the noted and flamboyant architect Stanford White. White wasn’t able to do much with it since he was shot to death by the mentally unstable husband of a woman companion while watching a performance at Madison Square Garden on June 25, 1906. Eerily, White’s death fell 30 years to the day after Custer died at Little Bighorn. There was no sign of the statue after that date.
