More TWC Questions ... ?

[Tricia]

All--

As I was searching the internet for more information regarding the Custer tuebor medallion, I came across an interesting reference in regards to Tom Custer (at http://www.military.com). There was the typical article about GAC's younger brother, but it contained an interesting passage, which I am paraphrasing here: "on occasion, Tom allowed his girlfriends to sport his Medals of Honour," and it mentions an extant photograph which bears witness to this action. I've never seen a photo where a girl is clearly identified as Tom's girlfriend ... I know of his fiancee in Jersey who died in 1875 ... and of course, Becka Minerd.

Does anyone know to which photograph this article refers?

Regards,
Leyton McLean

[George Armstrong Custer]

Leyton,
This can only refer to the well-known picture (below) which is reproduced in large scale on p. 146 of Frost's The Custer Album. Surprisingly, Frost's caption doesn't identify the girl but merely states: 'Custer and Cooke. Lieutenants W. W. Cooke and Tom Custer with their girl friends. Tom's girl is wearing his two Medals of Honor.'

I presume that this caption is the source for your web reference that Tom's 'girl friends' sported his medals on occasion. The girl in the photograph is actually Nellie Wadsworth. Frost would seem to be the only source for suggesting that there was any romance between Tom and Nellie and between Tom's pal W. W. Cooke and Nellie's sister Emma. He seems to have based this idea on a series of photographs showing Tom and Cooke paying close attention to the two girls - sleigh rides, picnic expeditions on buggy's - when the girls were visiting their friend Libbie in Spring 1875. Frost also reproduces the picture shown below in his later General Custer's Libbie, and this time identifies the girls, stating: 'A Custer and Cooke Romance. Lieut. Cooke looks at Emma Wadsworth like Lieut. Tom Custer surveys Nellie Wadsworth. It could have been love. Owning two Medals of Honor gave Tom some advantage. Author's Collection.'

The 'It could have been love' in Frost's caption is the key, I think, to this being speculation on Larry's part! Tellingly, there is no mention of the Wadsworth's and Tom and Cooke in Merington or Leckie..............

Ciao,
GAC

[elisabeth]

And there's another photograph of the Wadsworth girls in the Langellier/Cox/Pohanka Keogh biography, p. 122. They're wearing Cooke's and Tom's uniform coats (against regulations, surely?!!!) and one of the two -- it looks more like Emma, actually -- is wearing Tom's medals. The other is wearing Keogh's St. Gregory medal. No suggestions in the caption as to any "girlfriend" status, however.

It'd be nice to know more about these Wadsworth girls ...

[Tricia]

Thanks for image and the details; I have The Custer Album, although it is hopelessly buried in the basement which time forgot. That's a great shot of TWC; it's certainly less "posed" than so many other photographs of the period (I'm supposing its a take on the fraternity tradition of "pinning"). One thing I have learned whilst reading about TWC was how indefinite the term "girlfriend" could be ... I can't remember the exact year, but there was a time when Cooke was away with GAC and when the adjutant returned to the fort, the girl had hooked up with Tom instead, much to Cooke's shagrin!

Must have been those medals! I'll expound upon your request, Elisabeth--it would be great to find out more information about the Wadsworth sisters, just like the Sisters Bean ... they're definitely tertiary characters, but they fill those gaps which round out the Custer story.

LMC

[Melani]

I get the impression from the various photographs of the Wadsworth girls that there was a lot of competition for their attention, but none of it looks very serious. They seem to have favored Tom Custer and Cooke, but there is one photo where Keogh is holding a fan belonging to one of them. The picture with the uniform jackets and the medals is very silly, with the girls presenting what seem to be purposely awkward salutes.

I'm sure all the unmarried officers would have been all over any visiting unattached females. It must have been paradise for girls wanting to get married.

[Tricia]

This photograph, if taken in the Spring of 1875, is raising more questions ... considering Lulie Burgess died on February 16, 1875, can it be safe to say Tom didn't allow any grass to grow under his feet? Yikes ...

Regards,
Leyton McLean

[weefly2]

The Custer Album" by Lawrence A. Frost pg 146
Custer and Cooke-Lt W W Cooke and Tom Custer with their girl friends. Tom's girl is wearing his two Medals of Honor (she may be one of the Wadsworth girls)

[historylover]

Do we know where Tom's 2 medals are today?  Are they in a museum? Held by the family?  Or lost in time?