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On June 29, 1863, George Armstrong Custer, aged 23, was appointed Union (Brevet) Brigadier General.
From the article:
"Custer developed a strong reputation during the Civil War. He participated in the first major engagement, the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861, near Washington, D.C. His association with several important officers helped his career as did his success as a highly effective cavalry commander. Custer was brevetted to brigadier general at age 23, less than a week before the Battle of Gettysburg, where he personally led cavalry charges that prevented Confederate cavalry from attacking the Union rear in support of Pickett's Charge. He was wounded in the Battle of Culpeper Court House in Virginia on September 13, 1863. In 1864, Custer was awarded another star and brevetted to major general rank. At the conclusion of the Appomattox Campaign, in which he and his troops played a decisive role, Custer was present at General Robert E. Lee's surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant, on April 9, 1865.
...Promotions and ranks
Custer's promotions and ranks including his six brevet [temporary] promotions which were all for gallant and meritorious services at five different battles and one campaign:[41]
Second Lieutenant, 2nd Cavalry: June 24, 1861
First Lieutenant, 5th Cavalry: July 17, 1862
Captain Staff, Additional Aide-De-Camp: June 5, 1862
Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers: June 29, 1863
Brevet Major, July 3, 1863 (Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
Captain, 5th Cavalry: May 8, 1864
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel: May 11, 1864 (Battle of Yellow Tavern - Combat at Meadow)
Brevet Colonel: September 19, 1864 (Battle of Winchester, Virginia)
Brevet Major General, U.S. Volunteers: October 19, 1864 (Battle of Winchester and Fisher's Hill, Virginia)
Brevet Brigadier General, U.S. Army, March 13, 1865 (Battle of Five Forks, Virginia)
Brevet Major General, U.S. Army: March 13, 1865 (The campaign ending in the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia)
Major General, U.S. Volunteers: April 15, 1865
Mustered out of Volunteer Service: February 1, 1866
Lieutenant Colonel, 7th Cavalry: July 28, 1866 (killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, June 25, 1876)"
From the article:
"Custer developed a strong reputation during the Civil War. He participated in the first major engagement, the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861, near Washington, D.C. His association with several important officers helped his career as did his success as a highly effective cavalry commander. Custer was brevetted to brigadier general at age 23, less than a week before the Battle of Gettysburg, where he personally led cavalry charges that prevented Confederate cavalry from attacking the Union rear in support of Pickett's Charge. He was wounded in the Battle of Culpeper Court House in Virginia on September 13, 1863. In 1864, Custer was awarded another star and brevetted to major general rank. At the conclusion of the Appomattox Campaign, in which he and his troops played a decisive role, Custer was present at General Robert E. Lee's surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant, on April 9, 1865.
...Promotions and ranks
Custer's promotions and ranks including his six brevet [temporary] promotions which were all for gallant and meritorious services at five different battles and one campaign:[41]
Second Lieutenant, 2nd Cavalry: June 24, 1861
First Lieutenant, 5th Cavalry: July 17, 1862
Captain Staff, Additional Aide-De-Camp: June 5, 1862
Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers: June 29, 1863
Brevet Major, July 3, 1863 (Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
Captain, 5th Cavalry: May 8, 1864
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel: May 11, 1864 (Battle of Yellow Tavern - Combat at Meadow)
Brevet Colonel: September 19, 1864 (Battle of Winchester, Virginia)
Brevet Major General, U.S. Volunteers: October 19, 1864 (Battle of Winchester and Fisher's Hill, Virginia)
Brevet Brigadier General, U.S. Army, March 13, 1865 (Battle of Five Forks, Virginia)
Brevet Major General, U.S. Army: March 13, 1865 (The campaign ending in the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia)
Major General, U.S. Volunteers: April 15, 1865
Mustered out of Volunteer Service: February 1, 1866
Lieutenant Colonel, 7th Cavalry: July 28, 1866 (killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, June 25, 1876)"
George Armstrong Custer - Wikipedia
Posted from en.m.wikipedia.org
Military History
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Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 10
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Great history share. Always got a chuckle from the highway sign in North Dakota just before the Montana state line that said something like Custer was alive when he left North Dakota.
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Good share! I guess it used to be common for military officers to be appointed as Brigade or higher officers temporarily; noting that Brevet MG Custer had been reverted back to his normal rank of Captain, after earlier appointments to lead a brigade.
They should have certainly had more battlefield surveillance/scouts out before the Battle of Little Bighorn, aka "Custer's Last Stand. Lack of awareness of the size of the Indian forces that were encamped at Little Bighorn proved fatal for all the men under Custer's Command.
It is interesting to note the 1000s of American Indian warriors and scouts that also served under the various US Commanders. Did these Indian's not warn the U.S. Cavalry about the size of the force arrayed against them? Did some of these warriors turn against their leaders, after seeing the opponent's size and disposition? I will have to do more research on this interesting topic.
They should have certainly had more battlefield surveillance/scouts out before the Battle of Little Bighorn, aka "Custer's Last Stand. Lack of awareness of the size of the Indian forces that were encamped at Little Bighorn proved fatal for all the men under Custer's Command.
It is interesting to note the 1000s of American Indian warriors and scouts that also served under the various US Commanders. Did these Indian's not warn the U.S. Cavalry about the size of the force arrayed against them? Did some of these warriors turn against their leaders, after seeing the opponent's size and disposition? I will have to do more research on this interesting topic.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Strategic Air Command had a similar system for many years, they called them Spot Promotions, any little hiccup would make them go away though.
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SGT (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) the army had a crazy rank structure like that in WWII. In addition to Regular Army, a service component was the Army of the United States.
“The first commissioned officers serving in the Army of the United States were appointed from the Regular Army. The standard practice that these officers held a "permanent rank" within the Regular Army as well as a higher "temporary rank" while serving in the Army of the United States. A typical situation might be a colonel in the AUS holding the permanent rank of captain in the Regular Army. Another term for rank held in the Army of the United States was "theater rank."
Promotions within the Army of the United States were sometimes very rapid, and some officers were promoted as many as four to five times in the space of just three to four years. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who served as General of the Army, rose from a colonel to five-star general in three years. However, rank in the AUS could be revoked just as easily, with senior commanders who were relieved reverting to their permanent Regular Army rank. This was known as "loss of theater rank", with some instances of generals returning to the United States in disgrace or at least under a cloud, as only colonels or majors”.
Taking a look at some of the permanent rank vs theater rank for senior commanders in WWII is actually pretty interesting.
“The first commissioned officers serving in the Army of the United States were appointed from the Regular Army. The standard practice that these officers held a "permanent rank" within the Regular Army as well as a higher "temporary rank" while serving in the Army of the United States. A typical situation might be a colonel in the AUS holding the permanent rank of captain in the Regular Army. Another term for rank held in the Army of the United States was "theater rank."
Promotions within the Army of the United States were sometimes very rapid, and some officers were promoted as many as four to five times in the space of just three to four years. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who served as General of the Army, rose from a colonel to five-star general in three years. However, rank in the AUS could be revoked just as easily, with senior commanders who were relieved reverting to their permanent Regular Army rank. This was known as "loss of theater rank", with some instances of generals returning to the United States in disgrace or at least under a cloud, as only colonels or majors”.
Taking a look at some of the permanent rank vs theater rank for senior commanders in WWII is actually pretty interesting.
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MSgt George Cater
LTC (Join to see)
A couple of things about Custer and the Little Big Horn battle. Custer’s Crow scouts advised him of the large Sioux (& allies) camp about 15 miles west, visible from a hilltop lookout known as the Crow’s Nest. About that time, Custer discovered that the Sioux had spotted them from Indians rummaging through Army supplies left staged on the back trail. Tactical experience said attack before the Sioux could scatter and escape.
Custer’s tactical approach to the camp was sound enough, but her had the bad luck to run into the largest bunch of warriors in one place ever experienced on the plains (some 1500-2000). After the Reno flanking attack turned back and recrossed the LBH, that left everyone to attack Custer’s battalion.
One more thing- the Springfield Trapdoor the troopers had could put out a good volume of fire. (I had one, I know) Unfortunately, the bean counters in Army Ordnance opted for cheaper copper cases for the .45/70 ammo. That caused verdigris from contact with ammo belts with subsequent failure to extract, leaving you with a club.
A couple of things about Custer and the Little Big Horn battle. Custer’s Crow scouts advised him of the large Sioux (& allies) camp about 15 miles west, visible from a hilltop lookout known as the Crow’s Nest. About that time, Custer discovered that the Sioux had spotted them from Indians rummaging through Army supplies left staged on the back trail. Tactical experience said attack before the Sioux could scatter and escape.
Custer’s tactical approach to the camp was sound enough, but her had the bad luck to run into the largest bunch of warriors in one place ever experienced on the plains (some 1500-2000). After the Reno flanking attack turned back and recrossed the LBH, that left everyone to attack Custer’s battalion.
One more thing- the Springfield Trapdoor the troopers had could put out a good volume of fire. (I had one, I know) Unfortunately, the bean counters in Army Ordnance opted for cheaper copper cases for the .45/70 ammo. That caused verdigris from contact with ammo belts with subsequent failure to extract, leaving you with a club.
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