AS the author of the original article about Sergeant Major William H. Sharrow from Sheriff Hutton who was killed alongside Custer at the Little Bighorn (April 28), I must reply to the comments made by two correspondents (Letters, May 6).

Firstly, I was somewhat surprised to read that the secretary of the Sheriff Hutton Parochial Church Council claimed that the age of death of William Sharrow senior's first wife, Ann, is shown as "40 years" on the gravestone.

Based on a recent visit to the churchyard, I can categorically state that Anne Sharrow's age is clearly shown as "49 years".

The correspondent from Catterton implied that the Evening Press was wrong to refer to Custer as being a "general" at the time of the battle.

Although it is true he never rose above the rank of lieutenant colonel in the post-Civil War army, he was universally known as General Custer by virtue of his brevet rank of major general, which he had held since 1865.

He is listed on the impressive Cavalry Monument, at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Montana, as "Bvt. Maj. Gen'l G.A. Custer". Originally buried on the battlefield, his remains were exhumed in July 1877 and re-interred in the Post Cemetery at the West Point Military Academy, New York State.

PG Russell,

Secretary, Custer Association of Great Britain,

Iverhurst Close,

Bexleyheath, Kent.

Updated: 11:08 Wednesday, May 28, 2003