Elizabeth Bacon Custer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Bacon Custer
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Custer, 1864
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| Born | Elizabeth Clift Bacon April 8, 1842 Monroe, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | April 4, 1933 (aged 90) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Pen name | Libbie Bacon |
| Occupation | Author, lecturer |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Period | 1885–93 |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Notable works | Boots and Saddles, Tenting on the Plains, Following the Guidon |
| Spouse | |
Elizabeth Bacon Custer (born Elizabeth Clift Bacon; April 8, 1842 – April 4, 1933) was an American author and public speaker. She was the wife of George Armstrong Custer, a famous U.S. Army general. Elizabeth spent most of their twelve-year marriage close to him. This was true even during his many military trips. These included the American Civil War and later postings on the Great Plains.
After her husband died, Elizabeth Custer had very little money. She became a strong supporter of his memory. She did this through her popular books and lectures. Because of her efforts, General Custer was seen as a brave hero for nearly a century. This image came from his final battle, the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Elizabeth Custer never married again. She passed away in 1933, just four days before her 91st birthday. Many actresses have played her in movies and on television since the 1940s.
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Elizabeth's Early Life
Elizabeth "Libbie" Bacon was born in 1842 in Monroe, Michigan. Her father was Daniel S. Bacon, a rich and important judge. He also served as a state representative. Her father had smart investments in land and other businesses.
Sad events happened often in her childhood. Her three brothers and sisters, and her mother, all died before she turned 13. Elizabeth was the only one of her father's children to live to be an adult. Her father cared for her deeply. Her dying mother had asked him to be both a mother and father to young Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Bacon was both beautiful and smart. She finished at the top of her class at a girls' school in June 1862. Her father hoped she would marry a man from a similar wealthy background. She turned down several men who wanted to marry her.
How Elizabeth Met George Custer
Elizabeth had met her future husband, George Armstrong Custer, briefly as a child. They met again in the fall of 1862. George had returned to Monroe for a break from the American Civil War. He later wrote that he fell deeply in love with her right away.
Elizabeth eventually felt the same way about him. But her father did not approve of George. He would not let then-Captain Custer visit their home. He also would not let Elizabeth meet him outside. George proposed marriage in late 1862, but her father refused. George came from a poor family. The judge wanted his daughter to have a better life than that of an army wife.
Just before the Battle of Gettysburg, George was promoted to brigadier general. He played a big part in that battle. After this, Judge Bacon finally agreed to the marriage. Elizabeth and George were married in Monroe on February 9, 1864. The wedding took place at the First Presbyterian Church.
Life as a Military Wife
Elizabeth Custer and her husband George had a loving relationship. But it was also sometimes difficult. Both of them were strong-willed and had firm opinions. They were also very ambitious.
After the Civil War, George's rank changed. He went from a major general to a lieutenant colonel. He did receive an honorary promotion to major general. This allowed him to wear that rank's uniform. He was sent to many boring and difficult places. These included Texas, Kansas, and the Dakota Territory.
Life at army outposts on the frontier was hard. George's career also faced problems. At one point, he faced a military hearing. This happened because he left his post to be with his wife.
The Last Home with George
The 1876 campaign against the Sioux people seemed like a chance for George Custer to gain fame. The couple's last home together was at Fort Abraham Lincoln. This fort was near what is now Bismarck, North Dakota.
From there, General Custer led the Seventh Cavalry. They were looking for Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and the Sioux and Northern Cheyenne tribes. These tribes refused to live on reservations.
Protecting Her Husband's Memory
In June 1876, George Custer and many of his soldiers died. This happened at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Many people then blamed him for the disaster. President Ulysses S. Grant publicly said it was Custer's fault.
Elizabeth Custer worried that her husband would be unfairly blamed by history. She started a campaign to improve his image. She helped Frederick Whittaker write the first book about George. This book was quickly published and became popular. It praised George's career. This book helped shape how people saw him for many years.
Elizabeth began writing articles and giving speeches. She praised her "martyred" husband. Her three books were Boots and Saddles (1885), Tenting on the Plains (1887), and Following the Guidon (1890). These books aimed to honor her husband's memory. They were written to show George in a positive light.
Elizabeth stayed completely dedicated to her husband. She never remarried. She traveled a lot throughout the United States and the world. But she never visited the Little Bighorn valley where her husband died. She was said to value a letter from President Theodore Roosevelt. He wrote that her husband was "one of my heroes" and "a shining light to all the youth of America."
In later years, historians looked again at George's actions. They found many things to criticize about his role in the battle.
After her husband's death, Elizabeth had some money problems at first. But she spent more than 50 years as a widow in financial comfort. She earned money from her books and lecture tours. When she died, she left over $100,000. She passed away in New York City on April 4, 1933. This was four days before her 91st birthday. She was buried next to her husband at West Point. A few years before she died, she told a writer her biggest sadness. She wished she had a son to carry on her husband's honored name.
Elizabeth Custer in Movies and TV
Elizabeth Custer has been played by several actresses:
- Olivia de Havilland in the 1941 film They Died with their Boots On.
- Mary Ure in the 1967 film Custer of the West.
- Blythe Danner in the 1977 TV movie The Court Martial of George Armstrong Custer.
- Rosanna Arquette in the 1991 TV mini-series Son of the Morning Star.
