Personal Recollections of a Cavalryman with Custer's Michigan... by James Harvey Kidd

Personal Recollections of a Cavalryman with Custer

He certainly did not evince a craving for preferment. Somewhat ungainly in figure, awkward in manners, and immature in mind and body, he appeared to be while he seemed neither ambitious to excel nor quick to learn. At first blush, he was not a promising candidate for a non-commissioned office. They were to name the man and the choice, made by ballot, fell upon Marvin E. A condition of the contract under which they were secured for my troop was that one of their number be appointed sergeant. One day a party of sixteen men came into camp and applied for enlistment. It is notable that Kidd writes that Sgt Marvin Emory AVERY would have received a field commission had he lived the commission was probably in the works at the time of Averys death. The following is an excerpt from Col Kidds book. At some point, he enlisted in Company E, 6th Michigan Cavalry under then Colonel James Harvey KIDD who, in turn, reported to General Custer.

In the 1860 census, he is in the household of his father and working on his fathers farm. Very little is known about his years before the Civil War. Sgt Marvin Emory AVERY died at the battle of Trevillion Station, between Richmond and Charlottesville Virginia, on just 4 days before his 24th birthday.

He and his father were descendants of Captain James AVERY, founder of the Groton Avery Clan. , was the 6th child of John AVERY and Sarah Ann COOPER.

Personal Recollections of a Cavalryman with Custer's Michigan... by James Harvey Kidd