CHAPTER XVIII.



A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MAJOR-GENERAL CUSTER.
                   (CONTINUED.)
  WHEN a campaign against the roaming hostile
Indians was decided on in 1876, Lient. Col. Custer
was naturally selected as the leader of the Dakota
column, which was organized at Fort Lincoln, and
mainly composed of his regiment.
  About this time a Congressional committe at,
Washington were investigating the charges against
Gen. Belknap, who had recently resigned the office of
Secretary of War. Many persons were called to tes-
tify; and while Custer was actively engaged in
organizing the Sioux expedition, he received a tele-
graphic summons to appear before the committee.
  On the receipt of the summons, Custer telegraphed
to Gen. Terry, the Department Commander, informing
him of the fact, stating that what he knew as to any
charges against the War Department was only from
hearsay evidence, and asking his advice as to what he
had better do. Terry, who was a lawyer as well as a
soldier, in repIly informed Custer that his services
were indispensable, and that he feared it would delay
the expedition if he had to go to Washington. He
suggested that if Custer knew nothing of the matter,
he might perhaps get excused from going there.