Thank you, my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that December 5 is the anniversary of the birth of United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the American Indian Wars George Armstrong Custe.
He graduated from USMA, West Point in June 1861. His cullum [graduation] number is 1,966 [for comparison mine is 37,403]. He graduated last in this class of 34. During the Civil War, he was promoted to BG U.S. Volunteers in 1863; was wounded at the Battle of Culpeper Court House in September 1863; had 11 horses shot out from under him in combat, was promoted to MG U.S. Volunteers in 1865.
Sadly he was most infamous from the Battle of Little Big Horn River, Montana on June 25, 1876 which decimated much of his Seventh Cavalry Regiment

General George Custer : The Real Wild West. Full Documentary
"Like everything else about General George Custer, his martyrdom was shrouded in controversy and contradictions. The final act of his larger-than-life career played out on a grand stage with a spellbound public engrossed in the drama. In the end, his death would launch one of the greatest myths in American history."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_CDGsp_gx4

Images:
1. 1859 USMA Cadet George Armstrong 'Autie' Custer, ca. 1859.
2. George Custer at left photographed in Virginia in 1862.
3. 1863 George Armstrong Custer and Elizabeth Bacon Custer-Brady-Handy
4. 1862 George Armstrong Custer, right, with his captured West Point classmate CSA Lieutenant James B. Washington and an escaped slave after the Battle of Fair Oaks, or Seven Pines, VA.

Biographies
1. civilwarhome.com/custerbi.html
2. ohiohistorycentral.org/w/George_A._Custer

1. Background from civilwarhome.com/custerbi.html
Although better known for his Indian fighting, George Custer compiled a creditable record as a cavalry leader in the latter part of the Civil War. Graduating at the bottom of his West Point (1861) class, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the old 2nd Cavalry, later the 5th, on June 24, 1861.
His Civil War assignments included: first lieutenant, 5th Cavalry July 17, 1862); captain and additional aide-de-camp, USA June 5,1862 - March 31, 1863); brigadier general, USV June 29, 1863); commanding 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac June 28 - July 15 and August 4 November 25, 1863 and December 20, 1863 - January 7, 1864); temporarily commanding the division July 15 - August 4 and November 25 - December 20, 1863); commanding lst Brigade, lst Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac (March 25 - August 6, 1864) and Army of the Shenandoah (August 6 -September 26, 1864); temporarily commanding 2nd Cavalry Division, Army of West Virginia serving with the Army of the Shenandoah (September 26-30, 1864); commanding 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Shenandoah (September 30, 1864 - January 5, 1865 and January 30 - March 25, 1865) and Army of the Potomac (March 25 - May 22, 1865); and major general, USV (April 15, 1865).
Serving during the first two war years on the staffs of Generals McClellan and Pleasonton, Custer saw action in the Peninsular, Antietam, and Chancellorsville campaigns. Given his own star, he was assigned command of the Michigan cavalry brigade and, with it, took part in the Gettysburg, Bristoe, and Mine Run campaigns.
At Gettysburg he remained with General Gregg east of town to face jeb Stuart's threat to the Union rear, although he was previously ordered to the south. The combined Union force defeated Stuart.
In Grant's Richmond drive in 1864, Custer participated in the fight at Yellow Tavern where Stuart was mortally wounded.
Transferred to the Shenandoah Valley with his men, he played a major role in the defeat of Early's army at Winchester and Cedar Creek, commanding a division at the latter.
Returning to the Army of the Potomac in early 1865, he fought at Five Forks; and in the Appomattox Campaign. His victories against the rebel cavalry came at a time when that force was a ghost of its former self Custer was brevetted in the regulars through grades to major general for Gettysburg, Yellow Tavern, Winchester, Five Forks, and the Appomattox Campaign. In addition he was brevetted major general of volunteers for Winchester.
Remaining in the army after the war, in 1866 he was appointed Lt. Col. of the newly authorized 7th Cavalry, remaining its active commander until his death. He took part in the 1867 Sioux and Cheyenne expedition, but was court-martialed and suspended from duty one year for paying an unauthorized visit to his wife. His army career ended June 25, 1876, at the battle of Little Big Horn, which resulted in the extermination of his immediate command and a total loss of some 266 officers and men. On June 28th, the bodies were given a hasty burial on the field. The following year, what may have been Custer's remains were disinterred and given a military funeral at West Point. (Monaghan, Jan, Custer: The Life of George Armstrong Custer)"

2. Background from ohiohistorycentral.org/w/George_A._Custer
"George A. Custer
George Armstrong Custer was an American military leader who became known as a cavalry commander for the Union during the American Civil War and in the opening of the West in the years after this conflict.

Custer was born on December 5, 1839, in New Rumley, Ohio. He attended common schools in Ohio and briefly enrolled in a private academy. Custer was a bright student, but he disliked studying. Nevertheless, he secured an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1857. He graduated in July 1861, ranking last in his class. He participated in the Battle of First Bull Run with the Fifth Regiment of the United States Cavalry. Following the battle, he briefly served on the staff of General Philip Kearney. During the autumn of 1861, he returned to Monroe, Michigan, which had become his hometown. While visiting his sister, he pledged to abstain from alcohol. He honored this pledge for the remainder of his life.

Custer returned to active duty in February 1862. He led various cavalry raids against Confederate positions in northern Virginia, before he traveled to the James River Peninsula with the Army of the Potomac. During George McClellan's Peninsula Campaign, he first oversaw the use of hot-air balloons to spy on Confederate forces. McClellan eventually made Custer his aide-de-camp and promoted him to the rank of captain. Upon McClellan's removal from command of the Army of the Potomac, Custer returned to the cavalry. He commanded a division of cavalry under General Alfred Pleasanton during late 1862 and early 1863, participating in the Battles of Brandy Station and Aldie. On June 29, 1863 Custer was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, and he took command of the Second Brigade, Third Division, of the Union Cavalry Corps. He participated in the Battle of Gettysburg and was successful against General J.E.B. Stuart's Confederate cavalry. In the battle of Culpeper, Virginia, Custer was wounded in the leg and was forced to take a leave of absence from active duty.

Custer returned to the cavalry in 1864. He served in the Army of the Potomac, leading cavalry raids against the Army of Northern Virginia. He also led raids against Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital and participated in the Battle of Trevillian Station. During the late summer and early autumn of 1864, Custer was transferred to the Army of the Shenandoah, where he led his cavalry brigade in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign against Confederate forces under Jubal Early. He performed well during the campaign, receiving complimentary reports from his commanding officer, General Philip Sheridan and was promoted to major general of volunteers during the winter of 1864-1865. During 1865, Custer continued to serve under Sheridan. By early spring, the Union's Army of the Shenandoah and Army of the Potomac had united against the Confederacy's Army of Northern Virginia. These combined armies forced the Army of Northern Virginia to surrender in early April 1865.

Custer remained in the army following the Civil War. He was first assigned to Texas and was eventually placed in command of the Seventh United States Cavalry Regiment as a lieutenant colonel. From 1867 to 1871, the Seventh Cavalry participated in several offensives against American Indians in the West -- principally, against the Cheyenne. Custer performed quite well in these conflicts. Nevertheless, Custer came into conflict with superior officers. In 1871, he faced a court-martial for failing to follow orders and for being absent from duty without permission. Custer was found guilty of the various charges and sentenced to a year without pay and a demotion in rank.

In 1871, the Seventh Cavalry was divided into two separate detachments. One portion was located at Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and the second part was dispatched to South Carolina. Custer spent the next two years with the detachment in Kentucky. In 1873, Custer led the Seventh Cavalry to the Dakotas to protect workers on the Northern Pacific Railroad. Custer's reports inspired many white Americans to come to the Black Hills to seek gold and silver.

The influx of whites into American Indian territory angered the Sioux nation living in the area. A war resulted between the Sioux and the United States. In 1876, Custer was instructed to help drive the Sioux and Cheyenne onto reservations. He was to work in conjunction with units under the command of General George Crook and Colonel John Gibbon. On June 25, 1876, as the Seventh Cavalry approached the Little Big Horn River, the soldiers encountered a Sioux village. Although Custer had been asked to work in conjunction with the other two detachments, he took the offensive. He divided his force and advanced on the Sioux. The Sioux warriors greatly outnumbered Custer and his men. The American Indians succeeded in defeating the United States soldiers, killing Custer in the process.
George Armstrong Custer is buried at the United States Military Academy at West Point."

FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen LTC Greg Henning LTC (Join to see)LTC Jeff Shearer Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price CPT Scott Sharon CWO3 Dennis M. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG William Jones SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski PO1 H Gene Lawrence PO2 Kevin Parker PO3 Bob McCord LTC Stephen C. LTC Orlando Illi

Interesting man, hard to sort out the real story from the legend

Thanks for this bio, Marty.
Had a cousin in the 13th Virginia Cavalry with J. E. B. Stuart at the East Cavalry Field. One of his brothers was in the 12th New Jersey Infantry at The Angle during Gettysburg.
Another brother was in the 9th Texas Cavalry around Vicksburg at the same time.
All three had been born in Pennsylvania and raised as Quakers.