Love & Custer

On March 20, 1865, George Custer was at White House Landing in Virginia. “My darling,” he wrote his wife at the end of his work day, “we are now resting our horses and obtaining such supplies as are needed after a march of 500 miles. The staff are gathered about the camp fire singing: “It’s a Way we have in the Army,” and “Let every old Bachelor fill up his glass, and drink to the health of this Favorite Lass…. I long for the return of peace. I look forward to our future with earnest hope. Our state may be far below our present one. We may not have the means for enjoyment we now possess, but we shall have enough and to spare. Above all, we shall have each other.” The sentiment would have been much more compelling had he not been involved with other women. Still, it’s a much more romantic letter other post- Civil War letters I’ve come across. One letter in particular stands out that a husband wrote his wife around the same time period: “When you’re away, I’m restless and lonely, wretched, bored, dejected, only – here’s the rub, my darling dear, I feel the same when you are here.” I do think George and Elizabeth loved one another very deeply, but there are times the term is overused. Love has been used to describe everything from how we feel about diapers to the devotion and sacrifice of the Savior. I certainly think it’s too easy to say. And only in rare exceptions does it have staying power. For example, I received an email from a niece a few weeks ago that read, “I love and care about you, Aunt Chris.” Not less than a day later another email arrives from the same niece informing me that she “never wants to hear from me again – ever!” The Elizabeth Custer book will soon be released. I want readers to…dare I say it…love the book. If being in this profession has taught me anything, it’s that people who might hate the book won’t be shy about hiding their feelings. None Wounded, None Missing, All Dead represents a sizeable chunk of my writing life. I loved the opportunity – at the very least I want people to like it. But it’s out of my hands now – a situation I’m never very comfortable with. A wonderful author by the name of Chuck Parsons once shared a quote with me by Michener, it goes “Never complain, never explain, never disdain.” I’m going to try, Chuck.