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Lakeside Classics - 1952 - George Armstrong Custer · Guided by Faith

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: In the aftermath of the Civil War, surfaced one of the most famous and line U.S.
• 0:06
  SPEAKER_00: Army generals involved in the settling of the American West.
• 0:10
  SPEAKER_00: The 1952 edition of the Lakeside Classics features the memoir My Life on the Plains, originally written in 1874 by General George Armstrong Custer.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: Custer is remembered mostly for his unfortunate demise in 1876 at the Battle of Little Bighorn, where he advanced his troops to the battlefield without the support of Colonel John Gibbon as planned, resulting in he and his troops being routed by the Lakota Sioux, led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_00: Prior to his tragic ending, Custer bravely served in the Civil War under Generals McClellan, Grant, and Sheridan.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: Although there is no evidence of meaningful faith in the lives of Generals Grant or Custer, McClellan and Sheridan were both notably influenced by their episcopal and Catholic backgrounds, respectively.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_00: Because of his Civil War record, and notwithstanding his history of being more than a bit reckless, Custer was trusted, mostly by General Sheridan, to lead key missions as part of the Westward Expansion, including the Black Hills Expedition, which took place in the summer of 1874.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: This expedition was generally a peaceful mission designed to identify an appropriate location for a U.S.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_00: fort in this region and to further assess the Native American tribes in that part of the country.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_00: To assist him in navigating this relatively uncharted territory, Custer was assigned a small team of members of the Santee tribe.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_00: These scouts were organized by Reverend Samuel D.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: Hinman, an episcopal missionary who had preceded Custer and his troops out onto the plains.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: As the expedition neared its conclusion, Custer, in releasing the scouts back to Reverend Hinman, penned a letter of gratitude for their service.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: In this letter, he acknowledged them for their faithfulness, obedience, and trustworthiness.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: His comments were influenced in part by an experience in which he observed these scouts leading the regiment of soldiers assigned to the expedition and singing the hymn Rock of Ages.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_00: Whether or not this experience moved Custer to a greater personal belief in the Lord is not clear.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: But these words from his letter to Reverend Hinman testify to his acknowledgement of the power of God to change lives.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_00: And I shall long remember the pleasing effect produced by hearing these good old hymns sung, as I then heard them by men or the sons of man who, but a few years ago, roamed over this country in a state of barbarous wildness.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: So much for the labors of Christianity and civilization.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_00: Many times our awareness of the presence of God's power and influence comes from unexpected sources.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_00: In these instances, our observations require that we were paying attention to that person or persons who were reflecting God's presence.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_00: Like a custer during our daily routines, giving our attention to those we least expect to have influence on us, may provide a glimpse into the power and influence of the Holy Spirit that can change our lives or the lives of others.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_00: In the recognition of that day on the plains when General Custer was truly touched by the hand of God, let us close with the Rock of Ages.