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None Wounded, None Missing, All Dead: The Story of Elizabeth Bacon Custer.
Spirited music and laughter burst through the doors of Chicago’s Opera House. The velveteen drapes subdued the whir of roulette wheels that lined the theatre lobby and muffled the voices of the faro dealers. Patrons poured into the establishment, seeking entertainment and shelter from the freezing cold. Chicago was a city of handsome dwellings whose elegance and refinements were reflected in the brilliant social life. A throb beat through its every artery. One of the many acts that attracted the attention of the bustling crowds was Lydia Thompson’s British Blondes. This troupe of celebrated actresses, boasting overwhelming proportions and specializing in dancing and pantomime, performed nightly for packed houses. They had many devoted famous fans, including the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia, Wild Bill Hickok, and George Custer.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday in 1869, when George had left for his travels east without Elizabeth, he had attended the show a couple times, enjoying not only the burlesque styling of the irresistible sirens, but also partaking in the popular games of chance that greeted people when they entered the building. George had been in in Michigan taking care of family business and then he had traveled to Illinois to visit Philip Sheridan, his former army commander and respected mentor, who was ill. News that he was in the Windy City spread quickly, and George was soon inundated with invitations to attend dinners and theatrical openings. His reputation as a soldier and military leader, combat experience, preceded him. Everyone wanted to be in George’s company, as he delighted in the attention.
To learn more about Elizabeth Bacon Custer and how she lived to glorify her husband’s memory read None Wounded, None Missing, All Dead.
