Letter, George A. Custer to Augusta Frary

[page 1]
West Point N.Y. Tues Dec 13/59

Dear Cousin
I must ask your
pardon for not replying to
your last letter much sooner.
Do not think, however, that my
long delay in writing is the
result of mere carelessness or
neglect, as such is far from
the truth. My real reason for
not being as prompt as usual,
is, that ever since the reception
of your letter we have been
reviewing our entire course of
studies preparatory to our exam-
ination, which will commence

[page 2]
on the first of next month
and continue until near
the close of the month, and
until yesterday our time has
been taken up with that part
of my studies, which my
classmates learned while I
was detained in the hospital
during the beginning of the
present term, our lessons
being twice as long in review
as when the were first given
out and being new to me I
was compelled to study almost
night and day to make up
for lost time, but everything
must have a beginning and an
end, so had this, we are now
in a comparatively easy part
of our studies and I again have
time to devote to my correspon-
dents. I have several letters lying
in my portfolio unanswered

[page 3]
for the same reason that
I just gave you, but to day I
have began the pleasant task of
corresponding again, and in
accordance with my own
inclinations I concluded
to let my fair Cousin be the
first of my correspondents
to whom I would write
Now Augusta do you freely
forgive me for not writing
sooner? or must I pay forfeit,
perform some task or undergo
some severe punishment as
an atonement for my offense?
You asked me in your letter
what I intended to do on “Thansgiv-
ing day” and if our bill of fare
would not be better than usual
To the last question I answer
that no change whatever was
made, or ever is, in our bill

[page4]
of fare, except on Christmas
and New Year’s day when we
have a slight improvement.
As the “day” is passed, instead
of telling you what I intend
to do I will tell you what I
did. During the day I attended
to my  studies and recitation
the same as on other days.
but having been invited to a
ball to be given in a little
town a few miles down
the “Hudson” I in company
with some of my comrades
concluded to go, but do not
imagine that we intended
to go with the consent of the
Commandant and other
authorities because we never
have permission to go beyond
a half mile from our “Barracks”
we had to be in our rooms
and in bed at precisely ten
oclock at night as on all
other nights, as at that time

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an officer enters our
room with a dark lantern
to see that we are all
present,  but because we are
in bed at ten oclock is no
reason why we should remain
there until reveille, (5 oclock)
so, as soon as the officer
left our rooms we hastily
arose and insted of wearing
our uniforms as we are
required at all times to do under
a heavy penalty in case we
do not, we arrayed ourselves
in plain citizen’s dress, in
order to prevent recognition
by an officer, and to enable
us to elude the vigilance
of the sentinels to be passed
and who would not notice
us in the dark as easily ^as if

[page 6]
we had worn our uniforms.
before leaving our rooms we
had to place something in
our beds resembling in size
and form a person sleeping
in bed, this was necessary
in case the officers would
inspect our rooms during
our absence, as it is frequent-
ly done during the night.
after having completed our
preparations we started for
the “ball” arrived there without
detection on the way and
passed a very pleasant
night, reached home a
few minutes before reveille
changed our citizens dress
for our uniforms and
were then safe but I
was in poor humor for
hard study during the next
day yet it had to be done

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and under the circumstances
I was almost (but-not-quite) sorry
that I had gone to the ball.
Such was the way I passed
“Thanksgiving night” if I did
not observe Thanksgiving day.
Instead of a “Thanksgiving dinner”
I had a “Thanksgiving” dance.
Are you fond of dancing?
You ask me what studies
I pursue this winter. I am
studying “Natural Philosophy”
embracing “Mechanics of Solids,” of
“Fluids” and of “Molecules”
I also take instructions in
Drawing and Painting, I do
this every other afternoon
from two until four; of
the languages I study French
and Spanish I will finish
French the first of next month
and shall finish Spanish
the coming May. I take lessons

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in riding every day, this I
enjoy very much. I will finish
the branch of Nat. Philosophy which
I now have the first of next
month, then I shall take up
the study of Astronomy, Optics
and Acoustics in its stead.
I finished the entire course
of Mathematics last June
hereafter I shall only have the
application of them to deal with
our recitations in Philosophy and
all similar branches continue
an hour and a half, in the
languages one hour, drawing
and painting two hours, riding
one hour infantry drill
one hour and a half, sword
exercise one hour. . . . . I am
glad that you do not endorse
the sentiments of Giddings + Co
I suppose I have written enough
for one time, Remember me to
your parents, and please do not
as I have done but write soon and
I will do better in future.
Wishing you a “Merry Christmas” and a “Happy

[side note]
New Year” I am your affectionate Cousin George.